THE MESSIAH COMES

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Jesus’ Birth and Childhood

(Matthew 1:18-24; Luke 2:41-52)

2. Jesus’ Earthly Ministry (Luke 3:21-22; 4:14-21, 31-37; 5:17-26)

3. Jesus’ Death and Resurrection (John 19:16-18, 28-42; 20:1, 11-22)

Central Truth: God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to save us from sin.

Focus: Praise God for His provision of salvation and proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ to all.

Evangelism Emphasis: God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to save us from sin.

Golden Text: “ Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us” (Matthew 1:23).

INTRODUCTION

Somewhere between 4 and 1 BC, numerous Old Testament prophecies found their fulfillment in the birth of one Jewish Child in Bethlehem—a Child born of a virgin. The first of such prophecies springs from Genesis 3:15: “I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.” The last prophetic utterance probably occurs in Malachi 3:3: “And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver.”

During this approximate 4,000-year span, hundreds of declarations concerning the coming of Messiah were made. The patriarchs, the Mosaic Law, the Tabernacle with its distinct trappings, priests, judges, kings, and prophets all foreshadowed the coming of a divine Redeemer destined to bridge the gap between a holy God and a sin-cursed race.

Seeing that the Old Testament provides such a systematic foretelling of the first coming of Christ, and seeing that the New Testament presents His actual revelation, any serious student of the Bible clearly sees that Jesus Christ is the epicenter of history. Just as Old Testament Israel looked forward in anticipation to the fulfillment of these messianic prophecies, the New Testament church today looks back with rejoicing in their literal fulfillment.

God’s plan of redemption was never an afterthought. The abject failure of Adam and Eve did not catch the Creator by surprise. Although God did not foreordain sin, He did foreknow it. And in foreknowing sin, He prepared for its eradication. Peter wrote that Christ “was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you” (1 Peter 1:20).

God’s eternal purpose revealed in the coming of Messiah was a masterpiece intricately designed and judiciously framed and put into place at just the right moment in history. Not a piece remained out of sequence. The Law and the Prophets provided the foundation on which God would build His New Testament church. In the fullness of time and in a single stroke of divine justice and mercy, Christ came to destroy sin and to provide salvation to all who put their trust in Him.

1 . JESUS’ BIRTH AND CHILDHOOD

A. The Salvation of God (Matthew 1:18-24)

21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

The four hundred “silent years”—time between the last Old Testament Book written and the beginning of the New Testament—had now ended. Mary, betrothed to Joseph and still a virgin, discovered she was pregnant through the work of the Holy Spirit. Joseph, a just and protective man, chose to secretly hide her from public view to preempt the wagging of tongues. Knowing Joseph needed assurance of the divine nature of Mary’s pregnancy, God sent an angel, who appeared to him in a dream, to inform him that Mary’s conception was of the Holy Spirit and he should take her for his wife without fear (vv. 18-20).

Observe that the angel announced to Joseph that Mary would give birth to “a son”—not his son. Conversely, the angel declared to Zacharias in Luke 1 concerning the birth of John the Baptist, “Elisabeth shall bear thee a son” (v. 13). The words spoken to Joseph was an attestation to the virgin birth of Jesus. Although Zacharias was John’s biological father, Joseph had no such organic relationship to Mary’s unborn child, for the Holy Spirit supernaturally formed Jesus in her womb. Matthew recorded that this was done to fulfill the words spoken by the Lord through Isaiah, saying: “Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us” (Matt. 1:23).

The name Jesus is the Greek form of Joshua , which is a combination of Hoshea with the name of God added as a prefix— Je- hoshua , shortened to Joshua . Since Hoshea means “deliverer,” Je- hoshua means “God is deliverer,” or, “Jehovah is salvation.” Emmanuel —“God with us”—embodies this concept. Therefore, the message in the name Jesus is that “He himself shall save His people.”

The mystery of the Incarnation is precisely that—a mystery. It lies beyond the scope of human understanding and, therefore, lies beyond our ability to explain. But through faith, we can lay hold on the truth that the virgin birth of Jesus did happen, and in happening, it provided the foundation upon which God has raised the framework of eternal salvation to all who believe on the name Jesus .

“Here again the coming event exceeds all human expectation. From what are the people being saved? Not from visible warfare or barbarians but something far greater: from their own sins, a work that had never been possible to anyone before” (Chrysostom, Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture ).

Why was the Virgin Birth necessary?

B. The Business of the Father (Luke 2:41-50)

46 And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions.

49 And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?

We have no stories of Jesus’ childhood save the one before us, as well as a single reference in Mark 6:3 to Him being a carpenter. But we can reasonably assume that His physical and social developments were normal for a Jewish boy in first-century Palestine. Although He was a sinless child, there is no indication that He displayed miraculous power as a boy. However, the absence of sin in His life most certainly contributed to more rapid intellectual and moral growth.

Verses 41-48 recount His journey with His parents to Jerusalem for the Feast of Passover. Jesus, only twelve years old, lingered behind in the city after His parents had departed for home. Supposing Him to be with kinfolk or friends, Joseph and Mary initially thought little of His absence. After a day’s journey, they became concerned and began a thorough search, no doubt worrying that some mischief had befallen Him. In desperation, they returned to Jerusalem hoping to find Him safe, perhaps in the security of a caring family.

Regardless of what Joseph and Mary expected to find when they returned to Jerusalem, what they actually encountered was amazing. Verses 46-48 describe the scene before them upon their arrival. They, along with others, were astonished to hear Jesus discussing deep truths with the doctors of the Law, while displaying incredible understanding and wisdom—especially for a twelve-year-old boy.

This seems the defining moment when Jesus’ boyhood ended and a new day began. He wondered why His parents were not aware that He had to be about His heavenly Father’s business. He offered no apology for His absence but indicated that He was first answerable to His Father in heaven. His words, “I must be about my Father’s business,” were repeated some years later when He spoke to His disciples in John 9:4: “I must work the works of Him who sent Me” (NKJV). When we find Christ, we always find Him doing His Father’s work.

How should we be carrying out the “Father’s business”?

C. The Development of the Son (Luke 2:51-52)

51 And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart. 52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.

Mary had not forgotten how she had conceived Jesus by the Holy Spirit. She knew His birth occurred while she was still a virgin. How could she not now deeply contemplate His life as developing beyond all that was earthly and natural? She may not have fully understood the far-reaching implications of her Child’s life, but she kept these things in her heart, surely believing God’s plan was unfolding before her eyes. As she carefully watched, her Son grew in wisdom and understanding, gaining favor with His heavenly Father and with the people around Him.

Jesus’ remarkable development—social, emotional, intellectual, and moral—was certainly visible to all who knew Him. Speaking of Jesus, John the Baptist announced, “He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30). About two decades later, His development as the perfect man would lead Him to the most defining moment in history—the crucible of the cross.

Perfect Obedience

In the simple words, “He went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them,” Luke summed up the work of Jesus until His baptism. He developed from boyhood to manhood, demonstrating filial obedience to both His human parents and His divine Father.—J. Oswald Sanders

2. JESUS’ EARTHLY MINISTRY

A. Jesus’ Baptism and Anointing (Luke 3:21-22)

21 Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened, 22 And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.

Many came to John for baptism. He must have turned some away, because he saw the need in them to “bear fruits worthy of repentance” (Matt. 3:8 NKJV). Here we see an unconventional preacher demanding proof of genuine change before agreeing to baptize someone. Initially, he refused to baptize Jesus, not for the same reason, because the Son of God needed no repentance. Rather, John recoiled at the thought of baptizing the Lamb of God, because he saw himself as a most unworthy agent of such an act. Still Jesus, as an act of submission, and to “fulfil all righteousness” (v. 15), insisted that John baptize Him in water.

The accompanying appearance of the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove and the Father’s declaration of Jesus as His well-pleasing Son signified that Jesus’ human nature was supernaturally empowered as God’s instrument. Although He is God, His human nature needed this anointing of the Holy Spirit. Acts 10:38 records: “God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him” (NKJV).

The Holy Spirit who empowered Jesus to do good and mighty works and overcome temptations in the wilderness (Luke 4:1-13) is the same Spirit who empowers His followers today. The resources of heaven that were available to Jesus as He embarked on His earthly ministry are also available to us as we follow Him.

Why do you suppose the Holy Spirit descended upon Jesus in such a visible manner?

B. Jesus’ Declaration of His Calling (Luke 4:14-21)

18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, 19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.

21 And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.

Following His baptism and temptation in the wilderness, Jesus returned to Galilee “in the power of the Spirit” and began teaching in the Jewish synagogues (vv. 14-15). Arriving in Nazareth, He pursued His customary practice of attending synagogue on the Sabbath (v. 16). Here is a good example of the importance of regularly attending public worship, an example of the importance of sharing in public worship when given the opportunity (vv. 17-19). Interestingly, synagogue services featured considerably more flexibility in individuals speaking up than what most people are familiar with in North American churches today. For example, using young men as readers and calling upon a guest to exhort the people was common practice.

On this day as Jesus stood to read, a synagogue minister handed Him the scroll of Isaiah (v. 17). After reading the portion of prophecy that referred to the mission of the Messiah, He returned the copy to the minister, sat down, and began expounding Isaiah’s words. There was nothing obscure in His exposition, for He forthrightly declared that this prophecy referred to Him by announcing, “This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears” (v. 21). Isaiah’s reference to the anointing of the Spirit upon the One sent to heal the suffering, to set captives free, to deliver the oppressed, and to proclaim restoration is about God’s eternal purpose that would find its fulfillment in Jesus Christ.

List the types of people Christ came to rescue.

C. Jesus’ Pursuit of His Calling (Luke 4:31-37; 5:17-26)

4:36 And they were all amazed, and spake among themselves, saying, What a word is this! for with authority and power he commandeth the unclean spirits, and they come out.

5:23 Whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Rise up and walk? 24 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power upon earth to forgive sins, (he said unto the sick of the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy couch, and go into thine house. 25 And immediately he rose up before them, and took up that whereon he lay, and departed to his own house, glorifying God.

Following the proclamation that His coming fulfilled Isaiah’s prophecy, Jesus came to Capernaum and taught on the Sabbaths. “And they were astonished at his doctrine; for his word was with power” (4:32). His hearers were amazed because He didn’t teach as the scribes and Pharisees did. They seemed content to quote certain authorities and debate the merits of the hundreds of commandments they had pompously added to the Law, whereas, Jesus taught what He knew to be truth.

When Jesus silenced a demon that possessed a certain man and commanded the unclean spirit to come out, the demon had no alternative but to obey (vv. 33-34). Such a manifestation of God’s supremacy was unheard of and propelled the person and ministry of Christ to the forefront of many conversations (v. 36). “And the report about Him went out into every place in the surrounding region” (v. 37 NKJV).

In Luke 5:17-25, Jesus’ teaching was interrupted by men bringing a paralyzed friend, lowering him from the housetop in order to get him as close to the Master as possible. Immediately, Jesus declared his sins forgiven, enraging the scribes and Pharisees in the process, and prompting them to identify Jesus as a blasphemer. Discerning their thoughts, Jesus asked whether it was easier to forgive sins or to heal a sick body. To prove His power to forgive sins, He immediately healed the man sick of palsy and commanded him to take up his bed and return home. In his Exposition of the New Testament , John Gill noted, “Neither of these things could be effectively said by a mere man, but to Jesus both were equally easy. If Jesus could forgive sins, surely He could heal a paralyzed body.”

Miracles that flowed from the hands of God’s Son affirmed His calling, testified of His sovereignty, and announced His complete authority over Satan’s wicked empire. For us to know that disturbing demonic forces, agonizing physical infirmities, and tormenting sins are subject to our Master’s authority, power, and forgiveness strengthens our faith in Jesus in our times of temptation and tribulation.

Ministry of the Holy One

“The restoration of human nature to freedom from demoniac temptation is one great object of the Savior’s work. Clothing men in their right mind again, enabling them to think and act for themselves, and to resist the subtle temptations to impurity and sin—this is a glorious function of the Holy One of God.” Pulpit Commentary

3. JESUS’ DEATH AND RESURRECTION

A. The Crucifixion (John 19:16-18, 28-30)

17 And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha: 18 Where they crucified him, and two other with him, on either side one, and Jesus in the midst.

The unparalleled earthly ministry of Jesus—filled with profound teaching and incredible miracles—engendered much anguish and animosity among the Jewish religious elite. The scribes, Pharisees, and Sadducees had challenged Him at every turn and had stubbornly refused to accept His divine authority, harshly declaring Him an enemy of God—a blasphemer. Now, their deep-seated prejudices against anyone who would openly oppose their convoluted interpretations of the Law brought them to the breaking point in their dealings with Jesus. They insisted on His arrest and trial for supposedly trying to destroy the Law, for bypassing religious tradition, and for daring to forgive sins, which equated Him with God. Following His illegal, farcical trial, the utter contempt of His detractors reached a fevered pitch as they derisively cried out, “Crucify Him; crucify Him!”

Following the scourging and mocking of Jesus, Pilate delivered Him to be crucified. Arriving at Golgotha, the soldiers crucified Jesus between two thieves (vv. 17-18)—the ultimate humiliation, because such an act classified Jesus as the chief of criminals. Still, Pilate wrote an inscription on the cross in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin: “Jesus of Nazareth the King of the Jews” (v. 19). Although his action was probably an act of revenge for the indignity the Jewish hierarchy brought upon him, this act served God’s purpose in publically announcing, in the words of the Roman governor, that Jesus was truly the King of the Jews.

The crucifixion of Jesus perfectly fulfilled the ancient prophecies from the Old Testament. Jesus could have resisted, He could have spoken up in His own behalf, or He could have called legions of angels to come to His rescue, but He did not. For the sake of sinful humankind, He saw to it that every ancient prophecy concerning Him was fulfilled to the letter. In His final moments, Jesus took the proffered vinegar and declared, “It is finished.” Having made such a declaration, He “bowed his head, and gave up the ghost” (v. 30).

Christ’s crucifixion was unlike any execution that took place before or after Him. As similar as all such crucifixions may have seemed to the Roman soldiers and to the Jewish religious community, there was one notable difference, and we find that difference in the mainly Old Testament word atonement and in the New Testament’s corresponding word, propitiation . Atonement has to do with the vicarious sufferings and death of Christ as the Lamb of God—death and suffering in our place. The last three words in Galatians 2:20, “himself for me,” succinctly define atonement and embrace the mystery of the ages.

Why was Jesus’ final statement, “It is finished,” so significant?

B. The Burial of Jesus (John 19:38-40)

38 And after this Joseph of Arimathaea , being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave him leave. He came therefore, and took the body of Jesus. 39 And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight. 40 Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury.

Take notice of an irony with certain of Christ’s followers. For example, during the arrest and trial of Jesus, His twelve disciples either fled or followed Him afar off. One, Simon Peter, even denied three times that he knew Him. Now after His death, two of His secret followers—Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus—prepared the body of Jesus for burial. Both were members of the Sanhedrin and initially feared the reaction of the Jews toward them if they were discovered as believers in Jesus. Yet, their love for Christ prompted them to fight back their fears, seek the body of Jesus, anoint Him for burial, and place Him in a never-before-used sepulcher nearby.

The message is that Jesus came for all people, whether fishermen, tax collectors, or members of the Jewish hierarchy. The irony is that the Twelve who had been with Him for three years or more, learning and ministering, had no part in His burial, while two members of the Sanhedrin buried Him with the utmost dignity. Doesn’t this assure us that God accepts all who come to Him?

Who surprised you when they became a devoted follower of Jesus?

C. The Empty Tomb (John 20:1, 11-22)

1 The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre , and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre .

18 Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her. 19 Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.

Early on the morning of the Resurrection, Mary Magdalene came to anoint the body of Jesus with the traditional ointments and spices. If she came alone, it was not for long, as other women also came to the tomb (see Luke 24:1). These loyal women were among the last to leave the cross and the first to come to the tomb.

When Mary arrived at the burial site, she discovered the stone rolled away and the body of Jesus missing (John 20:1-2). Breathlessly, she ran to tell Peter and John of her discovery. Both disciples hurried to the tomb and found it as Mary had described. Awestruck by the empty tomb, each returned to his home to ponder the meaning of it all (v. 10).

Mary, remaining after the departure of Peter and John, stood outside the tomb weeping. Once again she looked inside, this time seeing two angels, one seated at the head and the other at the feet of where the body of Jesus had lain (vv. 11-12). As she explained to the angels the reason for her weeping, she turned and saw Jesus, but supposed Him to be the gardener. When He called, “Mary,” she recognized Him as “Master” (v. 16). As she reached out to touch Him, He refused her, saying, “Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God” (v. 17).

In obedience to Jesus, Mary went to tell the disciples that she had seen the Lord. That same evening as the disciples assembled in a private room for fear of the Jews, Jesus appeared to them and declared, “Peace be unto you” (v. 21). Showing them His hands and side as proof of His resurrection, He breathed on them, saying, “Receive ye the Holy Ghost.”

The resurrection of Jesus validated His ministry and crucifixion. Had the Resurrection not happened, then our preaching and our faith mean nothing (1 Cor. 15:14). It is in the resurrection of Jesus Christ that our hope is established—the spiritual hope that anticipates the return of our Savior and the resurrection of believers.

The Gift of Redemption

God could have given suns of gold, and stars of silver, or constellations glowing with precious metals; but none of these would have been sufficient to free one soul from the curse or penalty of sin, or to change it into a loyal and loving subject of His reign. Though the scales of the universe groaned on the one side with the heaped treasures of heaven, the jewels of its walls, the gold of its pavements, yet one soul placed on the other would outweigh them all. Matter accounts for nothing in the weighing-chamber of eternity. And therefore the Creator must give not things, but life—not His gifts, but Himself—ere He could redeem.—F. B. Meyer

THE MESSIAH’S ONGOING MINISTRY

The life, ministry, death, and resurrection of our Savior did not happen secretly, but publically. Consequently, we have a good record of all these events in the earthly life of the Son of God. For example, not only did Christ’s twelve disciples see Him in His resurrected body, more than five hundred brethren saw Him on a single occasion (1 Cor. 15:5-6). Christ preached the gospel of the Kingdom, died to identify with us and to meet the demands of the Law, and established all that He taught and did by His victory over the grave. Because of this one solitary life, the good news of eternal salvation has come to the world “that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16 NKJV).

Daily Devotions:

M. From the Seed of Woman ( Genesis 3:13-15 )

T. From the House of David ( 1 Chronicles 17:7-14 )

W . Christ’s Priesthood Foretold ( Psalm 110:1-6 )

T. Christ’s Compassionate Ministry ( Matthew 9:35-38 )

F. Christ’s Death Frees From Sin ( Romans 6:4-14 )

S. Jesus the Messiah Brings Life ( 2 Timothy 1:8-11 )

*Adopted from the Evangelical Sunday School Lesson Commentary 2020-2021