King? Shepherd? Refugee, Provincial Carpenter, Rabbi
Matthew 2:13 – 23. After the events around Jesus’ birth, things “went quiet” for a ‘long’ time – about 30 years. Many must have come to assume that the Messiah was still awaited…
Expecting the Messiah.
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The narrative of the whole Bible is woven with the story of the expected Messiah. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3dEh25pduQ8
As we approach again the celebration of Jesus’ birth, it is a good time to explore the expectation through the eyes of the Jewish people, who were the first to be expectant and who waited a long time for the big reveal.
We too can remember to be expectant, and not ambivalent, as we await our Christmas celebrations.
Messiah? Really?
Luke 2: 1 – 7; Matt 2: 5 – 6. God’s chosen rescuer and restorer of the kingdom, born somewhere unknown in Bethlehem and put to sleep in a feeding trough. Is this mistaken identity? Certainly not!
Light of the World = Messiah.
Christingle Service.
The long-expected Messiah. Tell — Shepherds?
Luke 2: 8 – 15 King David had been a shepherd, and the Messiah was spoken of as becoming a shepherd. The shepherds outside Bethlehem were probably the lower parts of society, but that is exactly who the Messiah was coming to rescue. And they were probably good at talking…
Outsiders recognise an important event – The Magi
Matthew 2: 1-12. Beyond the borders of the Jewish homeland foreigners recognise a sign in the stars. This event carries importance and they are motivated to set out and discover the truth.
Mary and Joseph – King’s parents? Unexpected choices.
Luke 1: 26 – 56; Matthew 1. After hundreds of years of waiting the expectations for a Messiah were still present, but who would have thought of an unmarried girl from the Galilee District being the mother. Could this really be the coming of the promised Messiah?
Is the waiting over?
Luke 1: 5 – 25, 57 – 80. After more than 500 years of waiting – the first special angel-announced birth – is this the Messiah? In fact the angel announces that this baby will “make ready a people prepared for the Lord”.
A Shepherding Messiah?
Ezekiel 34; Jeremiah 23: 1-8, Luke 15:3-7. It was proving to be a long wait for the promised Messiah? Were they going to be a Conquering King or a Shepherd when they finally came?
A Victorious Messiah?
Ps 72; Ps 110; Isaiah 11. From Judah onwards the expectation is for a coming victorious King.