The Great Fulfillment : Nazareth

Matthew 2:19-23

Isaiah 53:1-3

Herod dies and they return

When Herod dies, the hunt for Jesus is no more

Matthew uses “people” (plural) to signify the entirety of those loyal to herod who were involved in searching for Jesus to kill Him

An angel tells Joseph to return to Israel

This is the fourth dream of Matthew’s account, and an angel of the Lord shows up to instruct Joseph

As before, Jesus is primary: “Jesus and His mother”

They rose and returned to Israel

They obeyed and now the Egypt prophecy from verse 15 is completed

They go to Nazareth rather than Bethlehem

They hear that Archelaus has been given rule over Judea

Joseph likely would have expected Herod Antipas to be ruling over all of Herod the Great’s kingdom

This was the original will of Herod the Great

Last minute Herod changes his mind and edits the will to divide the kingdom between his three sons: Philip, Antipas, and Archelaus

Archelaus was cruel, ruthless, and violent

He slaughtered 3,000 people around the temple precincts according to Josephus

It is evident that Joseph had intentions of settling in Judea permanently

He likely wanted to return to Bethlehem to live and raise Jesus

When Joseph heard that Archelaus was the one ruling over Judea he became fearful of settling there

Joseph is warned in a dream not to stay in Judea, which leads him to move them to Nazareth

This was to fulfill

This is the capstone of Mathew’s proclamation about God’s orchestration

If you had any doubt up until this point about God’s invincible design and providence, then Matthew wants you to doubt no more

The Christmas story is not ONLY the story of God sending His Son

It is also a story of God’s faithfulness to His word and His poeple, and His ability to do all that He pleases

“That He would be called a Nazarene”

This simply means “inhabitant of Nazareth”

There is a difference in language from the other fulfillments

Here it is not “what was written/spoken by the prophet”

Rather, the language is plural

“what was spoken by the prophets”

This is not referring to any one specific prophecy or OT text

Rather, it is referring to, definitely one, and possibly two themes strung through the prophets

Two prophetic themes:

Possible allusion to “Neser” wich means branch

Isaiah 11:1- There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit.

He would be the righteous branch of Jesse

The branch has come from the chopped-down tree of the Davidic kingly line

Almost certainly an allusion to the prophetic theme of the Messiah being despised

Psalm 22:6-8- But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by mankind and despised by the people. All who see me mock me; they make mouths at me; they wag their heads; “He trusts in the Lord; let him deliver him; let him rescue him, for he delights in him!”

Psalm 69:8- I have become a stranger to my brothers, an alien to my mother's sons.

Isaiah 49:7- Thus says the Lord, the Redeemer of Israel and his Holy One, to one deeply despised, abhorred by the nation, the servant of rulers: “Kings shall see and arise; princes, and they shall prostrate themselves; because of the Lord, who is faithful, the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen you.”

Why would He be despised because of Nazareth?

Nazareth was a place looked down on as insignificant and despised even by other Galileans

John 7:52- They replied, “Are you from Galilee too? Search and see that no prophet arises from Galilee.”

John 1:46- Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.”

Acts 24:5- For we have found this man a plague, one who stirs up riots among all the Jews throughout the world and is a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes.

He is Jesus of Nazareth, not Jesus of Bethlehem

The title “Jesus of Bethlehem” could have potentially bestowed on Him some honor since it was the city of David

“Jesus of Nazareth” guaranteed that He would receive no such honor or benefit because He was from a despised town in a region looked down on by Judeans

Why does it matter to you?

He is a lowly Savior who receives all who come to Him

He didn’t come in royal robes

He didn’t receive the praise of others for His royal pedigree

He wasn’t honored for His great social status

He wasn’t lavished in wealth and earthly splendor

He is a gentle and lowly Savior who doesn’t turn away the despised

He is a meek and humble Savior who kneels to serve His people instead of demanding that we work for Him to earn His favor

He is a loving Savior who came, not receive the praise of man, but to be spat on, mocked, stripped, flogged, nailed to a cross, and bear the wrath of God for the sin of His people

Matthew 11:28-29- Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

What response will yours be?

The priests priests and scribes

Passive and unconcerned

Herod

Aggressive and antagonistic

The maggi

Humble and worshipful

Isaiah 53