Preparation For Jesus

Let’s look at the New Testament book of Matthew, which contains the best commentary about the law of Moses, and its application in the spirit for Christians.

First, let’s understand the circumstances of Jesus' birth and John the Baptist’s preparatory ministry.

Names

Names used to be important for their meaning.

“She will give birth to a son, and you will call him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:21 CEB)

Jesus’ name means “YHWH (the Lord) saves.” His name is the hope of the whole world (Matthew 12:15-21).

Another name for Jesus is Immanuel, which too has an important meaning.

“ ‘A virgin will have a baby boy, and he will be called Immanuel,’ which means ‘God is with us.’ ” (Matthew 1:23 CEV)

Jesus is the cornerstone of Christianity, His birth, resurrection, salvation, divinity and humanity.

Perpetual Virginity?

Joseph married a virgin.

“But he didn’t have sexual relations with her until she gave birth to a son. Joseph called him Jesus.” (Matthew 1:25 CEB)

Was Mary a Perpetual Virgin? If she was, the word “until” is pointless. A plain reading of the New Testament clearly shows that Jesus had siblings (Mark 6:3; Matthew 13:55; John 7:3; Acts 1:14; 1 Corinthians 9:5). Some claim they were cousins, but the Greek word for cousins was not used. A prophecy of Jesus plainly states that “my brothers” are “my mother’s sons.”

“I have become estranged from my brothers, And a stranger to my mother’s sons.” (Psalm 69:8 NASB)

Why insist that Mary was a perpetual virgin? Why make it a central dogma when neither Jesus nor the Apostles do so anywhere in the Bible?

John

How did John the Baptist prepare for our Savior? John the Baptist preached a public announcement to prepare. How?

“In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea and saying, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.’ This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: ‘A voice of one calling in the wilderness, “Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.” ’ ” (Matthew 3:1-3 NIV)

Repentance is a change of heart but that’s just where it begins. True repentance also is proven by action, fruit.

“Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God.” (Matthew 3:8 NLT)

John the Baptist told the Pharisees to show the fruit of a changed lifestyle. One such fruit is how we treat others.

Fire

John spoke about hell but Jesus spoke more about hell than anyone else in the entire Bible.

“I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” (Matthew 3:11-12 NKJV)

Baptism of fire has two possible meanings: the tongues of fire on the faithful at Pentecost (Acts 2) and the unrepentant baptized or immersed in a lake of fire. The context seems to indicate that John meant hell here.

Should we seek preaching about smooth things that tickle our ears, church traditions that neither Jesus nor the Apostles thought were important enough to even mention, or stay with the New Testament message of repentance and faith? Repentance begins as a change of heart and mind but reveals itself in a life turned from sin and to God. Will you repent and believe the good news of God’s reign? You decide!