Christmas time is here! And if you’ve been dreaming of a white Christmas, I hope you get your wish. Now, to find what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown, Matthew’s Gospel is a great place to start.
Matthew makes clear that Jesus is the Person all of Scripture is telling us about. Matthew 1:1 tells us Jesus is the Messiah (“Son of David”) and rightful Heir of God’s promises to Israel (“Son of Abraham”). His preaching, power, and Passion, go on to demonstrate the truth of the angelic announcement–Jesus is Immanuel: “God with us” (1:23).
By Jesus’ preaching He reminds us, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God” (4:5), and the sermons Matthew records demonstrate the nourishing necessity of God’s Word. Jesus’ teachings reveal Him “as One having authority, and not like their scribes” (7:29).
Jesus’ power is seen in His miracles, as “the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them” (11:5). Demons are cast out, as “the crowds marveled saying, ‘Never was anything like this seen in Israel'” (9:33).
Jesus’ Passion refers to His suffering and death for us. The charge nailed above Him on the cross could be the title to Matthew’s gospel: “This is Jesus, the King of the Jews” (27:37). The soldiers mock Him with this title and crown Him with thorns (27:29). But after His atoning sacrifice, He rises again–not just as Israel’s King–but having “all authority in heaven and on earth” (28:18).
Oh for the Day when we too can take hold of His feet and worship Him (28:9). Then our days will be forever merry and bright.
