The theme of fulfillment is prominent in Matthew’s gospel. The promises of God are fulfilled in Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of God sent to redeem Israel and rule the nations. Peter, for example, on the road to Jerusalem confirmed that he was the “Messiah.” Nevertheless, he failed to understand that he would accomplish that calling as the suffering “Servant of the LORD.”
The Gospel of
Matthew calls Jesus the “son of David, the son of Abraham.” He
was the royal descendant of David destined to rule the nations. Moreover, he
was the heir of Abraham who would fulfill the covenant.
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Abraham was wealthy. David was a victorious warrior king who reigned in Jerusalem, but how could a poor man from an insignificant village in Galilee accomplish all that God had promised in the Hebrew Scriptures?
An angel informed
Joseph that Mary was pregnant and commanded him to name the child Jesus, “for he will save
his people from their sins.” That name means “Yahweh saves,” indicating
what God was about to do for His children.
The declaration that
he would “save
his people from their sin” echoed the description of the “Servant of the LORD” in the Book of Isaiah, providing insight
into what kind of Messiah Jesus would be:
- “Behold, MY SERVANT shall deal wisely, he shall be exalted and lifted up, and shall be very high… And Yahweh has LAID ON HIM THE INIQUITY OF US ALL… Who among them considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living FOR THE TRANSGRESSION OF MY PEOPLE TO WHOM THE STROKE WAS DUE?... He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by the knowledge of himself SHALL MY RIGHTEOUS SERVANT JUSTIFY MANY; AND HE SHALL BEAR THEIR INIQUITIES… Because he poured out his soul unto death and was numbered with the transgressors: YET HE BARE THE SIN OF MANY, and made intercession for the transgressors.”
After he was
baptized, the Spirit descended on him “like a dove,” and the “voice
from Heaven” called him “my Son.” Thus, God confirmed his status as
the Messiah of Israel, and He also defined HOW he would
complete that role as His “Servant” - (Psalm 2:7):
- (Isaiah 42:1, 6-7) - “Behold, MY SERVANT whom I uphold; my chosen one IN WHOM MY SOUL DELIGHTS. I HAVE PUT MY SPIRIT UPON HIM; he will bring forth justice to the nations… I, Yahweh, have called you in righteousness and will hold your hand, and will keep you, and give you for a covenant of the people, for a light of the nation.”
THE SERVANT
Jesus was the “Son”
anointed by God’s Spirit to rule the nations, but he began his reign as the “Servant
of Yahweh.” His sovereignty over the Earth commenced from the Cross. In Matthew,
the same passage from Isaiah is cited again to describe his
ministry, only more fully:
- (Matthew 12:18-22) - “And perceiving it, Jesus withdrew from thence: and many followed him; and he healed them all and charged them that they should not make him known: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through Isaiah the prophet, saying: Behold, MY SERVANT WHOM I HAVE CHOSEN; MY BELOVED IN WHOM MY SOUL IS WELL PLEASED. I WILL PUT MY SPIRIT UPON HIM, AND HE SHALL DECLARE JUDGMENT TO THE NATIONS. He shall not strive, nor cry aloud; Neither shall anyone hear his voice in the streets. A bruised reed shall he not break, And smoking flax shall he not quench, till he sends forth judgment unto victory. AND IN HIS NAME SHALL THE NATIONS HOPE.”
At his Transfiguration,
the same voice echoed Isaiah again, “While Peter was
yet speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold, a voice out
of the cloud, saying: THIS IS MY
BELOVED SON, IN WHOM I AM WELL PLEASED; HEAR HIM” - (Matthew
17:1-5).
The Transfiguration
was preceded by three incidents that prepared the disciples.
First, Jesus asked what others were saying about “who the
Son of man is?” They responded, “Some say John the Baptist, others
Elijah, or one of the prophets.” Then he asked who they believed he was.
Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God”
- (Matthew 16:13-20).
Secondly, he predicted
his suffering and death at the hands of the “elders and chief
priests and scribes.” Peter found the idea intolerable and "began to
rebuke him.” His momentary revelation evaporated almost immediately
- (Matthew 16:21-23).
Thirdly, Jesus explained that if anyone desired to follow him, he must deny himself, take up his Cross, and follow him. “Whoever will lose his life for my sake will find it.”
He told the
disciples that some of them would “see the Son of man coming in his kingdom”
before they died. In the narrative, these words are followed by the
transfiguration - (Matthew 16:24-28).
Afterward, they asked
why the Scribes claimed that “Elijah must come first.” He responded: “Elijah”
had come, alluding to John the Baptist. To him, the Scribes, and the priestly
leaders, “did whatever they would. Even so, shall the Son of
man also suffer” - (Matthew 17:9-13).
SUFFERING BEFORE EXALTATION
Two themes become
prominent in the narrative. First, his coming suffering and death. Second, his
disciples were summoned to follow him by engaging in sacrificial service for
others and his Kingdom.
Later, two disciples
requested high positions “when
you come into your kingdom.” This displeased the others. However, Jesus used the opportunity
to explain how “greatness” would be measured
in his Kingdom:
- (Matthew 20:25-28) – “But Jesus called them unto him and said: You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. Not so shall it be among you: but whosoever would become great among you shall be your servant, and whosoever would be first among you shall be your slave, EVEN AS THE SON OF MAN CAME NOT TO BE SERVED, BUT TO SERVE, AND TO GIVE HIS LIFE A RANSOM FOR MANY.”
The royal Messiah of
Israel pointed to his sufferings and death as the true example of what it meant
“not to be served, but to serve.” He echoed the description of the “Servant
of Yahweh” - “Because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered
with the transgressors. Yet he bore the sins of many and made intercession for
the transgressors.”
His death was the “ransom price” for the redemption of the “many.” Paul employed this same image when demonstrating how we are to attain and manifest the “same mind, which was in Christ Jesus.”
Unlike Adam, Jesus
did not attempt to seize the “likeness with God.” Instead, he “poured
himself out and took the form of a servant… becoming obedient unto death,
even, the death of the cross” – (Philippians 2:6-8).
Shortly before his
death, he broke bread and told the disciples to eat it, “for this is my body,”
then he passed the cup and told them to drink its contents, “for THIS IS MY BLOOD OF THE COVENANT.”
Once more, he used language from the Book of Isaiah describing the
“Servant of Yahweh”:
- “I, Yahweh, have called you in righteousness and will hold your hand, and will keep you and GIVE YOU FOR A COVENANT OF THE PEOPLE, for a light of the Gentiles” – (Isaiah 42:6, Matthew 26:26-28).
After his resurrection,
Jesus received “All
authority in Heaven and on Earth.” He had become the Messianic King. Therefore, he
sent his disciples to proclaim the Good News to “all the nations.” He has been doing so ever
since.
His enthronement
came only after paying a great price. The suffering “Servant of Yahweh” is the Messiah who
sits on the Davidic Throne and reigns over the nations of the Earth.
Jesus of Nazareth is
the Servant
of Yahweh who “gave
his life as a ransom for many.” Neither his identity, mission nor his reign can
be understood apart from his sacrificial death. His life is the model and
imperative for how we are to live in this sin-dominated world.
SEE ALSO:
- Opposition Begins - (Jesus began to proclaim the Gospel following the arrest of John, foretaste of the opposition that would plague his ministry – Mark 1:14-15)
- His Authority - (He is the Son of Man foreseen by Daniel, the Messiah who has absolute authority from Yahweh over all things)