A, The First Sunday after Christmas - Matthew 2:13-23 "The Prophetic Fulfilment"

Herod and his brother Phasael were tetrarchs of Judea, or deputies, under John Hyrcanus II, the Judean leader and Jewish priest appointed by Mark Antony, the Roman politician and general.  When Hyrcanus II was ousted by his nephew with the help of the Parthians (geographically where the old Persian Empire ruled, or ancient Iran), Herod fled to Rome to have Hyrcanus II restored to power.  But instead, the Roman Senate appointed Herod as king of Judea.

On his return to Judea, Herod battled with and won the throne from Antigonus, Hyrcanus II’s nephew, also married Hyrcanus II’s granddaughter in a bid to win favour with the Jews.  Herod’s win ended the one-hundred-year Hasmonean dynasty in Judea, ushering in what is historically known as the Herodian Dynasty.

Herod the Great was not liked by the Jews, despite his marrying the Hasmonean priest and ruler’s granddaughter and his rebuilding of the second temple in Jerusalem.  To the Jews, Herod the Great was an Idumean, an Edomite, despite being raised as a Jew.  He is also remembered for his tyrannical authority, as a tax farmer, and as a client king for the Romans. Herod the Great was not well received by the Jewish Sanhedrin for his brutality, and the wider Jewish community despised the decadence oozing from the Herodian palace.

The political and religious turmoil that swirled around Jerusalem during Herod’s reign meant he constantly lived with one eye over his shoulder keeping watch for uprisings against his leadership.  The birth of Jesus, proclaimed as the King of the Jews by the Magi from the east, was a threat to Herod.  This political king needed to quickly quell any talk of a true son of David returning to the throne.

We hear, “Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet: “ ‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’ ” Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.” (Matthew 2:1–8 ESV)

Worshipping this new Christ child was the last thing on Herod’s mind.  He and all Jerusalem were troubled by the news of the Magi.   The Jewish priests were also caught out and had egg on their faces since the Holy Spirit had side stepped them and revealed the coming of Christ the King, to pagan magicians from the east.  It was only after the Magi came enquiring that they were forced to find the prophecy written in the books of Micah and Ezekiel (Micah 5:2, Ezekiel 34:23).

With political instability and the disapproval of the Judean countrymen, any news of a genuine Jewish king being born in the line of David was frightening to Herod as he sought to maintain his leadership.  This is the background into which Jesus was born at Bethlehem, the town of David!

Today Matthew’s gospel account is the only one out of the four Gospels that records the coming of the Magi from the east, and Herod the Great’s dismay that a king had been born.  If it weren’t for Matthew’s account, we would only hear of Herod’s progeny who ruled after his death. 

The events reported from Matthew’s Gospel not only give us a picture of the political mischief in Jerusalem at the time of Jesus’s birth.  It also works as a bridge that connects the Christian church and the New Testament back to the Jewish faith when God spoke through the prophets in the Old Testament.

Herod the Great proved to be the tyrant that he was over his people.  Any threats to his kingship were quickly quashed.  The babies of Bethlehem are only one example of his treachery.  Herod was a paranoid person, in addition to the babies of Bethlehem he murdered forty-six members of the Sanhedrin, killed any surviving members from the Hasmonean family including his own wife, and some of his children.

However, such tyranny and murderous intent did not hinder the life of Jesus Christ.   It might seem as though it would be a simple thing to track down and exterminate a family that lived in weakness. After all, they were unprotected and relatively poor against the might and resources of Herod’s treachery. 

The faithfulness of God the Father comes to the fore as the Magi and Joseph are warned by angels of the Lord, faithful messengers.  And Matthew, a tax collector, called as a disciple and apostle, faithfully connects the dots between the old and new covenant, reporting to us in his Gospel this continuity in God’s plan of salvation, through and despite Herod’s horrific actions.

The humble circumstances through which our Saviour entered the world, are equally matched with a tax collector being the one through whom God chose to be a disciple, apostle, and writer of this “segue” Gospel.  Matthew, who formerly took tax from his people on behalf of the Romans, not unlike Herod, now gives a testimony to catechise and teach God’s chosen people that Jesus Christ is the true king of Israel, whom the prophets spoke of throughout the scriptures of the Old Testament.

In the story of the Magi, Herod’s response, and Mary, Joseph, and Jesus’ escape to Egypt we hear a repeated phrase, “This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet.” (Matthew 2:15 ESV) In fact, similar words are common right the way through Matthew’s Gospel, some twelve times including Jesus’ own testimony in Matthew chapter five where Jesus says, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.” (Matthew 5:17 ESV)

The hardship of Israel can be seen as carried and fulfilled in Jesus Christ.  He went to Egypt as did Joseph, Jacob, and their family.  He came out of Egypt with his parents as did Israel.  He wandered and suffered in the wilderness for forty days, after being baptised in the Jordan.  He then walked the way of the cross to be the Passover Lamb, reversing what happened to Israel who left Egypt after the Passover and tenth plague of death, a reversal of Herod’s plague of death at Bethlehem, and Israel was led in the Sinai wilderness by Moses under the Law for forty years.  The Israelites were saved by Joshua (the Hebrew name for Jesus) at the Jordan when they crossed over into Canaan, conquering the land of milk and honey, with God’s leadership through Joshua calling him to be bold and courageous.

When the Jews heard the Gospel of Matthew, they were called to see Jesus as the Christ, the Son of David, Immanuel, as proclaimed by the prophet Isaiah.  When we hear the Gospel of Matthew, we too are called to see the Messiah in this Christ Child, that he is the Son of David, that he is the Son of God, that he is our Servant King crucified on the cross.  Jesus is the holy sacrifice, and High Priest fulfilling all righteousness as he proclaimed to John the Baptist, compelling John to baptise him at the Jordan River into God’s plan of salvation for you, me, the Gentiles and the Jews.

In these days of confusion and trial, inside and outside the church, you and I are called to see that Jesus Christ is the fulfilment of God’s plan for salvation as written in the Old and New Testaments — the word of God.  That despite the treachery of our times and the times yet to come, this Jesus of whom the prophets spoke and waited, is God with us, Immanuel, in our lives. 

Jesus is seeking to fulfil all righteousness in you, and his holy church, through his holy gifts. Amen.

Let us pray.

Keep each of us in your word Lord God Heavenly Father. So, the Holy Spirit can fulfil all righteousness within us. So, we are not caught out and left out when Jesus Christ, our Holy King returns to finally finish your holy plan of salvation, Amen.

A, The Third Sunday of Advent - Isaiah 35:8 "The Way of Holiness: Prophets True or False"

Isaiah 35:8 (ESV) And a highway shall be there, and it shall be called the Way of Holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it. It shall belong to those who walk on the way; even if they are fools, they shall not go astray.

Jesus speaks to the crowd after John the Baptist’s disciples are sent back to him to report that Jesus is “the one”.  Jesus questions the crowd as to why they went to see John.  After all, John was not a man dressed in soft clothing, he was dressed like a nobody, a wandering nomad.  And the message he brought wasn’t a gentle message to the ears that heard it!  No! John was calling Judea, those who lived in the region of the Jordan River and all of Jerusalem to repentance.

Other prophets before John weren’t treated favourably for calling Israel and Judah to repentance. We know of Elijah fleeing from the wrath of King Ahab and his vindictive wife, Jezebel, after he killed the false prophets on Mount Carmel.  Also, Jeremiah faced ridicule, arrest, and was dropped into an underground dry well as punishment.    

The author of Hebrews continues, “Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated— of whom the world was not worthy—wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.” (Hebrews 11:36–38 ESV)

John the Baptist knew the plight of being God’s prophet or messenger!  We also know he ultimately had his head chopped off for his trouble!  So why did he put himself in this situation?  Why did the prophets before him risk life and limb to call God’s straying people to account?  In today’s standards it seems like a foolish thing to do!

So, what is a prophet?  And what is a false prophet?  How do you discern the difference?  In the New Testament the Greek word for prophet is a “foreseer”.  Literally a prophet is shown something by God and then called to tell others what they have seen!  This could be a future physical event or something that is going to occur to a person or persons. But it always comes from the faithfulness of God to save someone from danger or error.

On the other hand, a false prophet is one who is faithful to themselves.  Who appears to proclaim on behalf of God but really leads people away from God’s faithfulness into deception, to believe the false prophet’s dreams and desires.  A false prophet glorifies the god of the self and not our Heavenly Father. Their dreams and desires  usually end up being the nightmares of those who are deceived by their message.

John the Baptist with his camel skin clothes, his diet of wild honey and locusts, shows us a couple of things.  He did not need the sponsorship of others to survive.  Therefore, he wasn’t promoting anyone’s message in exchange for favours.  Also, he wasn’t seeking honour for himself.  He was a dirty and dishevelled looking individual, doing a deed that disturbed and disrupted those to whom he was called to speak. John the Baptist was selfless, blunt and abrasive to those who could have comforted him with their comfortable positions.  Yet he just didn’t care about his wellbeing in the world, as opposed to his wellbeing in the face of God, who called him to be God’s foreseer of Jesus Christ.  

So why did the people flock to John the Baptist?  There was power of some sort that drew people to him.  Likewise, prophets and false prophets operate with power and authority too.  Many are led by prophets, and more are led to false prophets. Saint Paul rightly reflects to Timothy, “For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.”  (2 Timothy 4:3–4 ESV)

Peoples’ ears never itch to be called to repentance!  No! But God knew that is what was needed!  John the Baptist’s preaching was induced by the Holy Spirit as was promised to his father, Zechariah, by the angel of the Lord who said of John, “…he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb. And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.” (Luke 1:15–17 ESV)

The only reason John, with his hard looks and message, drew and baptised people for the repentance of their sins, was that the Holy Spirit was doing the work of softening hearts!

To most today, even within the walls of churches, the way of John the Baptist, seems the way of foolishness.  However, “the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.” (1 Corinthians 1:25 ESV) And “God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong.” (1 Corinthians 1:27 ESV) Also, “Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise.” (1 Corinthians 3:18 ESV)

John the Baptist was not concerned about what people thought.  His care factor was zero and it shows in the way he dressed, in what he ate, in what he said, and to whom he said it!  Rather, he was concerned about God and the message he called him to proclaim. Led by the Holy Spirit, John walked the highway of heaven, albeit by the humblest of ways!  This way Isaiah names the Way of Holiness.  He may have looked like a fool following this way, but his foolishness shamed the wise of the world.

As God’s people we are called to follow the Way of Holiness.  Some are called to be prophetic speakers on behalf of God, for his glory, and patiently endure suffering from sinners inside and outside the church.  However, all are called to follow God’s word, on his Way of Holiness.  It makes no difference if it’s a bishop or a fledgling disciple, whether one is seemingly wise or foolish, none are above God or the word he sends through his messengers, no matter how unpopular it seems.

Because some of us have been marinating in the way of the world for most of our lives, we’re deceived into thinking we can choose who and what we want to hear when it comes to God speaking to us.  How might it make you feel when someone chooses to ignore what you say?  Now consider how God feels about us when we choose to reject what he wants. 

Jesus endured similar anger and rejection.  “Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.” (Hebrews 12:3 ESV)

This consideration goes both ways!  Firstly, you’re called to consider the hostility Jesus endured from sinners to save you.  Hostility that put him on the cross.  Secondly, you’re called to consider what could happen to you when you also act in hostile or passive aggressive ways towards those God sends in the name of Jesus to lead you to eternal salvation!  Are your actions in accord with the Way of Holiness?

In your consideration, let the Holy Spirit determine in you if you’re hearing God through those, he has sent to proclaim his word. Establish where your glory is going in your conduct. Is your foolishness, folly to the world, or is your foolishness, folly in the eyes of God? 

Consider your grumbling might be against God when you grumble against God’s called servants. We’re told, “Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door. As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.”  (James 5:9–10 ESV)

It’s better to be judged by the world as a prophetic fool and receive mercy from God who forgives repentant people who seem like fools.  Alternatively, it’s foolish to be judged faithful by the world and reject God’s faithfulness in sending you, his servants, even when their prophetic message seems foolish in popular thought.  All need to consider what foolishness to follow. Foolishness that follows the Way of Holiness, or foolishness that falls and follows a hellish way thereafter!

Every person needs to pray for the Holy Spirit’s help to test the spirits! To test the prophets, to test the bishops, to test your pastor, and establish which way is truly the Way of Holiness.  Not all ways are ways of forwarding the faith to future generations and glorifying God! Other “ways” that glorify itching ears, popularity, immediate gratification, visual growth, and deviation from God’s word might forward the fruit people want.  But when these ways are not the Way of Holiness, Jesus’ way, truth, or life, they won’t faithfully forward the eternal fruit God desires.   

We are called to, “Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” (Hebrews 13:7–8 ESV)

However, don’t just blindly be led by those who lead.  After all, Jesus confronted the blind guides of Judaism, and they put him on the cross.  Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Therefore, allow the Holy Spirit to make sure your guides have been sent by Jesus to lead you to the cross for eternal salvation.  Make sure you are not re-sacrificing Christ on a false prophet’s cross of vainglory and eternal shame. Amen.