Matthew begins his Gospel with Jesus’ genealogy. I’m always struck by how historical the story of redemption is. The gospel is deeply rooted in historical events and persons. I guess someone might be able to understand the good news without any knowledge of that history, but it sure would be difficult, it seems to me. That’s why, in missions, chronological Bible storying is so fruitful; the presentation begins at the beginning, i.e., creation, and moves through the whole story up to the resurrection. It’s the story of what God has done in history to save his people from their sins. And what he has done specifically, and according to what the prophets declared (1:22) beforehand, is to send his son into the world to save his people from their sins (1:21).
When John came preaching, he preached: “For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah” (3:1). When Jesus left Nazareth, he went and lived in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, “so that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled” (4:14). And on and on . . . The birth, ministry, death, resurrection, ascension, and return of Jesus is all part of a grand historical story of redemption, of which we are the blessed recipients!
Hark! the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn King:
peace on earth, and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled!”
Joyful, all ye nations, rise,
join the triumph of the skies;
with th'angelic hosts proclaim,
"Christ is born in Bethlehem!”
Hark! the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn King.” -- George Whitefield & Charles Wesley (1739)
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