The Christmas Story Part 6 Return From Egypt To Dwell At Nazareth
We have been studying Matthew's account of the birth of Christ and the story of Christmas.
We have seen that Jesus was born by a miracle of the Holy Spirit placing the "seed" of God into her womb so that the baby born is the Son of God.
We saw that Joseph was told to name this child, Jesus which means Jehovah savior.
We saw the account of the wise men who traveled to find the Messiah child so that they could worship Him.
We saw how God worked all these things out and how He told the wise men to return home a different way so that Herod would not know where to find baby Jesus.
We saw that God warned Joseph in a dream to flee to Egypt with His family.
Then, we saw how evil Herod slaughtered baby boys two years old and younger.
Matthew made sure to show us how Old Testament prophecies concerning Christ were literally fulfilled by the events surrounding the birth of Jesus.
Matthew's part of the Christmas story ends with this lesson.
Matthew 2:19-20 But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, 20 Saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead which sought the young child's life.
King Herod died while Joseph and Mary were in Egypt.
The angel of the Lord appeared once more to Joseph in a dream as he said he would do.
He commanded Joseph to take his family and return to Israel because Herod was dead.
The death of Herod paved the way for Joseph, Jesus and Mary to return to Israel.
Ancient historians said Herod's death came quickly, about three months after the murder of the infants.
Josephus gives his account of the death of Herod (See Josephus Antiq. 17.146-199).
His record says that Herod was seized with a disease which burned him inwardly with an inexpressible torture because he was insatiably greedy of meat and was afflicted with colic, gout, and dropsy.
As a result of his illness, Herod had an intolerable stench such that none could come near him.
The wicked king was a terror to all that attended him because his cruelty increased with his illness and made him more barbaric than before.
Herod ordered his own son to be put to death and imprisoned many of the nobility with orders that as soon as he was dead they should be killed.
Such quick work did divine vengeance make!
The Herodian line of kings were evil and corrupt usurpers to the throne of David.
Acts 12:21-23 On an appointed day Herod put on his royal robes, took his seat upon the throne, and delivered an oration to them. 22 And the people were shouting, “The voice of a god, and not of a man!” 23 Immediately an angel of the Lord struck him down, because he did not give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and breathed his last.
A similar fate fell upon Herod's grandson son, King Herod Agrippa.
This wicked king also was arrogant and murderous toward his political foes.
For example, He had James the brother of John killed with a sword.
One day, he made a royal feast that all the powerful and wealthy people attended.
He put on his kingly robes for this occasion and gave a public speech to his audience.
Whatever the king said it stirred the people's emotions and they shouted "It is the voice of a god and not the voice of a man!"
God responded and the angel of the LORD smote Herod Agrippa such that worms consumed him and he swiftly died.
Joseph heeded the angel of the Lord's instruction and they all returned to Israel.
Matthew 2:21 And he arose, and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel.
Once again we see the obedience of Joseph to God's instructions.
He woke up, packed up their belongings and then traveled back to the land of Israel.
Joseph is an excellent example of hearing God's Word, and believing it followed by obedience to what He says.
God guided Joseph's steps to go to Galilee and live at Nazareth.
Matthew 2:22-23 But when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judaea in the room of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither: notwithstanding, being warned of God in a dream, he turned aside into the parts of Galilee: 23 And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene.
Herod left three sons, and the kingdom was divided between them.
Joseph knew how murderous and corrupt the Herodian kings were so was afraid to travel back to Judea.
Again, God warned Joseph in a dream and he turned to go live in Galilee.
Joseph settled in a city called Nazareth.
There Philip ruled, who was a mild, quiet, man.
The providence of God sometimes orders it that his people shall not lack a quiet retreat from the storms of life.
Galilee lay far north and Samaria lay between it and Judea.
Joseph traveled to Nazareth, a city upon a hill, in the land of Zebulun where the mother of our Lord lived, when she conceived that the Christ child (See Luke 1:26-27).
Isaiah 11:1-2 And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: 2 And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD;
Matthew finished his account of the Christmas story by showing how Jesus arrived at Nazareth and how this literally fulfilled more Old Testament prophecy about Christ.
Isaiah most clearly points to Christ because it is a Messianic prophecy.
Christ is called the Righteous Branch descended from King David.
The word translated "Branch" is the word for a tender shoot springing up.
This Hebrew word is the same word translated "Nazarite" in connection with the vow of a person dedicated to God.
A Nazarite could be a man or woman who voluntarily took on this commitment.
It could be a commitment of separation to the LORD or of expressing thanksgiving to God for His work in the individual's life.
The vow of a Nazarite had a definite beginning and end, although scripture does not specify the length of this vow.
Scripture gave three specific requirements of this vow.
First, the man or woman could not drink any fermented beverage like wine.
Second, this person must not cut his or her hair during the period of fulfilling the vow.
Last, that person could not touch a dead body.
The vow of a Nazarite is closely connected with Roman 12:1-2, where Paul tells us to present our bodies to God as a living sacrifice.
Jesus was a Nazarene, that is one who lived in the village of Nazareth.
Scripture never says that Jesus took on the vow of a Nazarite.
Scripture does not say Jesus let His hair grow long and He did touch dead bodies when we raised people from the dead.
In connection with Isaiah, it seems to point to Messiah growing up in a relatively obscure place.
The word Nazarene was commonly used in reference to a person who is despised and rejected.
In the first century, Nazareth was a small town about 55 miles north of Jerusalem, and it had a very negative reputation among the Jews.
Galilee was generally looked down upon by
Judeans, and Nazareth of Galilee was especially despised (See John 1:46).
Psalm 22:6 But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people.
It’s true that Nazarenes were scorned by everyone and so we see this messianic prophecy as a clear allusion to Jesus’ hometown of Nazareth.
Isaiah 53:2-3 For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. 3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
In Jesus’
day, Nazarenes were despised and rejected and so Isaiah’s prophecy is an indirect reference to Jesus’ background as the supposed son of a
carpenter from Nazareth.
What does this lesson teach us about the Christmas story?
First, that God the Father set all things in order and carried them out in exact accord with His Word.
Second, we see the loving hand of God guiding Joseph through each step in the birth of Jesus Christ.
He comforted Joseph, and helped them along the way and guided their steps, just He He seeks to do for each one of His children.
Third, all of these details concerning the birth of Jesus Christ the Son of God, are a powerful demonstration of how much God loves us and worked to bring salvation to all who repent and believe.
Fourth, these truths should increase our faith and trust of God's Word.
What He promises to each child of God is true and He will keep every single promise.
Psalm 48:14 For this God is our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide even unto death.
The Christmas story teaches us about our God.
He is the One, True God of heaven who will guide us each day until He calls us home to Himself.
Psalm 121:1-8 A Song of degrees. I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. 2 My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth. 3 He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber. 4 Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. 5 The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand. 6 The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night. 7 The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul. 8 The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.
Thus, we look to heaven for help and for hope.
God alone is the source of help, comfort and blessing.
May the Psalmists Spirit guided words bring comfort and encourage us this Christmas season.
Bob
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