“The Back Story”

Series: The Gospel Truth

Text: Matt. 2:16-3:12

Introduction: (What?)

The early days of the life of Jesus were almost like a “who-dunnit” novel. From the complete over reaction of Herod to being outwitted by the wise men to the appearance of a mystery man out in the wilderness, who dressed funny, ate bugs, and preached “fire and brimstone” messages these early days were anything but “normal”. Perhaps we have gone too far in domesticating the gospel in order to avoid offending anyone.

Examination: (Why?)

1. Infanticide before abortion (2:16-18)

When Herod realized that the Magi had violated his command and sneaked away by another route rather than coming back and reporting to him, he flew into a rage and instigated a wave of infanticide.

“Then Herod, when he realized that he had been outwitted by the wise men, flew into a rage. He gave orders to massacre all the boys in and around Bethlehem who were two years old and younger, in keeping with the time he had learned from the wise men.”

His desire to murder the Lord’s Anointed One…Jesus, was so great that he ordered the murder of untold numbers of make children age 2 and under. This is one time that I wish that prophecy had not been fulfilled.

Jer. 31:15 “This is what the Lord says: A voice was heard in Ramah, a lament with bitter weeping— Rachel weeping for her children, refusing to be comforted for her children because they are no more.”

Rachel was Jacob’s favorite wife and the mother of Joseph and Benjamin. Her mourning, while it came at the time of the Babylonian captivity, was prefiguring, or looking ahead to Herod’s massacre of the innocents. Untold Jewish mothers wept as Herod had their babies killed.

Although we have not experienced anything quite like this in our day, we have allowed abortion on demand to become the law of the land. Let me ask you, who is weeping for the aborted babies in America? Who has awakened to the fact that abortion on demand was born out of a selfish desire to get rid of anything that might hinder a person’s lifestyle and keep them from having to take responsibility for their behavior? Are we any different from Herod? Because of his selfish ambition, he ordered the murder of baby boys. Because of selfish ambition many today have opted to kill the baby in the womb. The CSB Study Bible notes that “Human jealousy and ambition lead to evil acts causing innocent people to suffer.”

2. The long way home (vv 19-23)

The heinous crimes of Herod took place while Joseph and his little family were refugees in Egypt. They went there in obedience to the command of God, delivered by His angel in a dream. Whatever plans Joseph might have had were laid aside for the second time as he obeyed God’s direction for his life.

“After Herod died, an angel of the LORD appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying ‘Get up, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel because those who intended to kill the child are dead.’”

By this time Joseph was accustomed to hearing from God in this manner and immediately obeying. Notice that the angel only said, “go to the land of Israel”. He did not stipulate where in Israel Joseph should take his family. That meant the Joseph had some “wiggle room” as to where they eventually ended up.

“But when he heard that Archelaus was ruling over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. And being warned in a dream, he withdrew to the region of Galilee. Then he went and settled in a town called Nazareth to fulfill what was spoken through the prophets, that HE would be called a Nazarene.”

While it is not clear whether Joseph had the “words of the prophets” in mind, it is clear that God’s purposes were fulfilled by his obedience and his choices. John McArthur notes that “Nazareth was an obscure town 70 miles No. of Jerusalem, and was a place of lowly reputation. Some have suggested that “Nazarene” is a reference to a Hebrew word for branch in Is 11:1 “Then a shoot will grow from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots will bear fruit.” Quite likely Matthew used the word “Nazarene” as a synonym for someone despised or detestable---because that is how people from this area were often characterized.” That would also fit the description of Jesus in Is 53:3 “He was despised and rejected by men, a man of suffering who knew what sickness was. He was like someone people turned away from; he was despised, and we didn’t value him.”

At any rate, Joseph took the long way to what would be the hometown of Jesus. After He grew up and began His ministry Jesus moved his hometown to Capernaum. If you go to Israel today and go to Capernaum, you will see a sign as you enter the town reading, “The hometown of Jesus”.

(Share my story, from plans to be a chemist to becoming full time minister.)

3. The Front man and his message (3:1-12)

In chapter three we move from the birth and early childhood of Jesus to the days just prior to His baptism and launching His earthly ministry. He had a “front man” who paved the way for Him.

“In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea and saying, ‘Repent, because the kingdom of heaven had come near!’

For he is the one spoken of through the prophet Isaiah who said, ‘A voice of one crying out in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way for the LORD; make His paths straight!’”

John got his title “The Baptist” not because of any denominational affiliation, but because of his practice of immersing in water any who came repenting of their sins. The area where he preached was a barren desert just west of the Dead Sea. The Jewish sect of the Essenes inhabited the area although there seems to be no connection between them and John. The message that John preached came from Jer 35:15 “Time and time again I have sent you all my servants the prophets, proclaiming, “Turn, each one from his evil way, and correct your actions. Stop following other gods to serve them. Live in the land that I gave you and your ancestors.” But you did not pay attention or obey me.”

When John said that the kingdom of heaven has come near” he was referring to the person of Jesus. In Col 2:9 “For the entire fullness of God’s nature dwells bodily in Christ,”. Now the Kingdom of God is embodied in the Holy Spirit who dwells in every true Christ follower. Therefore the Kingdom of God WAS near in the bodily presence of Jesus. It is even NEARER in the indwelling Holy Spirit in the lives of all believers, and it will be NEARER STILL at the second coming of Jesus.

As is often the case, God used an unlikely person to get His message out. “Now John had a camel-hair garment with a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey.”

His clothes, his demeanor, his life-style and his message were similar to that of Elijah.

Mal 4:5 “Look, I am going to send you the prophet Elijah before the great and terrible day of the Lord comes.” is a scripture that Jesus referred to when He said in Matt 17:11-12 ““Elijah is coming and will restore everything,” he replied. “But I tell you: Elijah has already come, and they didn’t recognize him. On the contrary, they did whatever they pleased to him. In the same way the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands.””

The balance of John’s message dealt with those who came fraudulently to hear him. They had no intention of responding to the message of repentance. They just wanted to “join the church” so to speak. John called them out. His message is fitting for our day as well.

“Then people from Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the vicinity of the Jordan were going out to him, and they were baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins. When he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, ‘Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Therefore produce fruit consistent with repentance. And don’t presume to say, ‘We have Abraham as our father. For I tell you that God is able to raise up children for Abraham from these stones. The ax is already at the root of the trees. (judgment is coming) Therefore, every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. (the message of Jesus in John 15:1-8 ““I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. Every branch in me that does not produce fruit he removes, and he prunes every branch that produces fruit so that it will produce more fruit. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, and I in you. Just as a branch is unable to produce fruit by itself unless it remains on the vine, neither can you unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without me. If anyone does not remain in me, he is thrown aside like a branch and he withers. They gather them, throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you want and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this: that you produce much fruit and prove to be my disciples.”)

I baptize you with water for repentance, but the One who is coming after me is more powerful than I. I am not worthy to remove his sandals. He Himself will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. His winnowing fork is in His hand, and He will clear His threshing floor and gather His wheat into the barn. But the chaff He will burn with fire that never goes out.”

Application: (How should I respond to this message?)

Have you repented of your sin, confessed Christ as LORD and followed Him in baptism?

Are you producing fruit consistent with repentance?

Are you ready for the judgment day?

These are questions that must be answered as the Day of the LORD grows nearer. What should you do today?