Jesus The Messiah Series

Text: Matthew 1:18-25

Theme: Jesus the Messiah

Greetings: I wish you all a Merry Christmas.

Joke:

Two men were discussing after their Christmas gift to their wives:

First Man: ‘My wife warned me that if I got her another senseless gift this Christmas, she would burn it.’ I brought a Gift, presented to her, and she burnt it.

Second Man: What gift you gave her?

First Man: I gave her a candle.

The first man asked the second man, what did you to your wife:

When I asked my wife what she wanted,

She said she’d be happy with anything with lots of diamonds in it.

Then I presented a pack of playing Diamond Cards.

TODAY, I would like to reflect with you three revelations of God in the Gospel of Mathew 1:18-25. The reflections are on Jesus, the Son of David the Messiah (he was the son of David, son of Abraham, son of Shem, son of Seth, son of Adam); Jesus, the Savior; and Jesus, the Immanuel.

JESUS, THE MESSIAH 

The Word Messiah is the English translation of Hebrew word ‘Moshiach.’ The word ‘massoch’ means to anoint. The Jews were familiar with the anointing of Kings, High Priests and Prophets. 

The Old Testament specifically records the anointing of the six Kings in the history of the Jews, namely Saul (1 Samuel 10:1), David (1 Samuel 16:13), Solomon, Jehu (1 Kings 19:16), Jehoash, and Cyrus (Isaiah 45:1). The Seventh will be the Messiah, who will hold three offices together. That seventh messiah was Jesus the Christ, who was anointed as prophet priest and king. (John 1:32-33; Acts 4:27; 10:38).

In fact, the prophecy of Messianic Era has started with the Blessing of Jacob as a Scepter shall not leave until the Lawgiver comes (Genesis 49:10). Then in Prophecy of Balaam’s fourth oracle. Balaam sees concerning a “star coming out of Jacob,” a “scepter arising out of Israel.” Balaam says that “he sees him, but not now,” and “he beholds him, but not near”. (Numbers 24:17). Here the Star and sceptre refer to a Person. The symbols of "a Star" and "a Scepter" are both ancient and widespread figures for kings or monarchs, in Israel it refers to Moshiach.  

Jesus was a prophet promised by Moses after him (Deuteronomy 18:15), Messiah was prophesied through Prophet Nathan through Davidic Covenant for eternal kingdom (2 Samuel 7:12-16), Messiah was promised through Prophet Jeremiah as the New Covenant (Jeremiah 31:31–34).

Therefore, the Messiah is a specific Davidic King according to Isaiah 11:1-11, Jeremiah 23:5-6, 30:7-11, 33:14-17, Ezekiel 34:23-30, 37:24-28, Hosea 3:4-5, Zechariah 9:9-10. The  prophecies found in Deuteronomy 30:3, Isaiah 2:1-4; 11:1; 32:18; 60:18; 60:7; 66:20. Jeremiah 30:3, Ezekiel 11:17, Ezekiel 40-44, Micah 4:1 are referring to futuristic events under a messiah. 

There were many false Messiahs before and after Jesus Christ. The HASMONEAN DYNASTY of Judea during Hellenistic times of the Second Temple period from c.?140 BC to 37 BC. YOSEF BEN MATITYAHU was appointed as the rebel commander in Galilee, and Eleazar ben Hanania as the commander in Edom,  Menahem ben Yehuda in Jerusalem. These leaders were crushed by the Roman general Vespasian who was tasked by Nero in 67 AD. Titus besieged Jerusalem, Romans finally succeeded in breaching the defences in the summer of 70 AD. SHIMON BAR KOKHBA try to fulfill Jewish expectation of a homeland, a Holy Temple, and an end to the slavery under the Romans. Barcochab, signifies the son of a star. The final battle of the war took place in BETHAR, In 135 AD. Hadrian discriminated with worst persecution. He made anti-religious decrees forbidding Torah study, Sabbath observance, circumcision, Jewish courts, meeting in synagogues and other ritual practices.

The Jews expect a righteous person like King Josiah (2 Chronicles 35; 2 kings 23:28) would die in the battle and they would mourn for him. Jesus was not involved in the battle but died.

The Jews were fed up rejecting everyone and still awaiting for the One. They believe that:

1. Messianic era is a time or an age (Deuteronomy 30:8). Messiah would rule the world and he will transform the world. The rule of love and peace. 

2. A king will come after the lions of David and will rule the entire world (Hosea 2:18; Zechariah 8:23, 9:9-17; 14:9). He will be a branch of David (Jeremiah 23:5-6; 33:14-16)

3. Exiles would be gathered back to Israel (Micah 5:1-5). Jews will be gathered and reunited in the land of Israel (Deuteronomy 30:3, Isaiah 11:11-12, Jeremiah 30:3, 32:37, Ezekiel 11:17, 36:24, 37:25).

4. Temple will be built (Isaiah 2:2-3, 56:6-7, 60:7, 66:20, Ezekiel 37:26-27, Malachi 3:4, Zechariah 14:20-21).

5. He will make people to return to Torah observances (Isaiah 11:1-9; 66:23, Jeremiah 31:32, Ezekiel 34:23-31; 36:26-27).  National Repentance would take place and Embrace the Jews would embrace the Torah like the days of Nehemiah 1:9 -