Welcome to the “But first, Bible” daily devotional podcast with Dave Miers.
Today’s readings are from Genesis 3-5 and Matthew 2. Once again, before you listen to my thoughts, make sure you read the Bible first.
Today I want to focus on the reading from Matthew 2.
There are four Gospel accounts of Jesus in the New Testament: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Each of them are like biographies of Jesus Christ, written for different audiences.
Matthew was written to a Jewish audience. Matthew wants to show his readers the many different ways that Jesus fulfils God’s promises from the Old Testament.
The Old Testament is full of promises from God, and the New Testament – particularly in the Person and Work of Jesus – is full of fulfilment.
2 Corinthians 1:20 puts it like this,
“For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory.” (ESV)
As you are reading these opening chapters of Matthew, not just today, I want you to notice the number of times that a verse from the Old Testament is quoted and Jesus is shown to be the fulfilment of that promise.
Let me highlight two of them from Matthew chapter 2.
First, look at the significance of the place where Jesus was born…
[1] 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, [2] 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.” [3] When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; [4] and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. [5] They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet:
[6] “‘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.’” (ESV)
Verse 6 is a quote from Micah chapter 5 in the Old Testament.
Matthew wants us to see that JESUS is the ruler born in Bethlehem, who will be the shepherd of God’s people.
King Herod is already threatened by the presence of Jesus and has a plan to kill all the male children under the age of two in the Bethlehem region.
Second, have a look at the significance of Joseph, Mary and Jesus fleeing to Egypt…
[13] Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.” [14] And he rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed to Egypt [15] and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, “Out of Egypt I called my son.” (ESV)
I love that even these gritty details of the early life of Jesus are all part of God’s plans to fulfil his promises in His Son. Jesus is the true and better Son of God, Jesus is the true and better People of God.
As we begin 2019, I want you to see that God is trustworthy. He makes promises. He keeps promises. And so entrust yourself to him this year.
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Until tomorrow, keep trusting Jesus.