Hymns: 76, 108, 107, 105
Matthew 2:13-23 — “That it Might Be Fulfilled”
Grace, mercy, and peace to you all from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
The Gospel reading appointed for the Second Sunday after Christmas is Matthew 2:13-23:
And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.
When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt: And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son.
Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently inquired of the wise men. Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying,In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.
But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, 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.
And he arose, and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel. 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: 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.
In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Introduction
A few weeks ago we entered into a renewal of the Church year. Yesterday we entered into a new calendar year, leaving behind the accounting of 2010 and entering into a new accounting for 2011. We have celebrated the Festival of the Nativity of our Lord, Christmas. Today is the Second Sunday after Christmas, the last Sunday of the Christmas season. Thursday is the festival of the Epiphany of our Lord. We are in transition. We are continually moving forward, recalling that which has been and moving into that which is to be. The history of the world and of mankind is being brought to be. The Scriptures foretell what is of most importance. As these things that have been foretold are brought to be we hear declared: “that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet.” In today’s text we hear three of these revelations of the fulfilment of the recorded utterances of the Lord.
I. That it Might Be Fulfilled . . . Out of Egypt Have I Called My Son
And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.
When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt: And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son.
This prophecy is recorded in Hosea 11:1, where the prophet declares the Lord’s response to the ongoing apostasy of the people He loves, saying: “When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt. ” This is the direct quotation, but there are others that are related. Going back to the preparations for the Exodus that the Lord accomplished through Moses, the Lord says to Moses,
And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh, Thus saith the Lord, Israel is my son, even my firstborn: And I say unto thee, Let my son go, that he may serve me: and if thou refuse to let him go, behold, I will slay thy son, even thy firstborn.(Exodus 4:22-23)
From the preceding verse we learn that the Lord makes a distinction between the people of Israel, also called the sons of Israel, and the one whom He calls His son.
And the Lord said unto Moses, When thou goest to return into Egypt, see that thou do all those wonders before Pharaoh, which I have put in thine hand: but I will harden his heart, that he shall not let the people go. (Exodus 4:21)
Israel, the Lord’s firstborn Son, was in Egypt at the time of Moses. He was present in the body of the those whom the Lord counted as His people, His called and set apart people. In today’s account from Matthew, we learn that with the baby Jesus the prophecy is fulfilled. The first event was the type of what was to be fulfilled hundreds of years later with the birth of Jesus. The first event was a foreshadowing event. This first type was actually reversed from the antitype. In the first event, God called His Son out from Egypt through calling the body of the people of Israel to come forth out of Egypt. In the second event, God called forth His people from Egypt through the body of His Son.
Jesus is Israel. Jesus is the one who prevails as God. Jacob was given this name as one who would benefit from the birth of Israel, Jesus, into the world. Jacob was named after the one who was to come, the one who would truly struggle with God and men and prevail as God. This is the one in whom Jacob hoped and believed. This is the one who was promised long before to Abraham and even before that to Adam and Eve.
This promise had to be fulfilled, otherwise none of God’s promises would be true. All of God’s promises, all of the prophecies of the Old Testament were completed and filled up in the body of Jesus. Thus the Holy Spirit moved Matthew to write: “that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son.”
II. Then Was Fulfilled That Which Was Spoken by Jeremy the Prophet
Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently inquired of the wise men. Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying,In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.
This is the second statement of the fulfilment of Old Testament prophecies that Matthew calls to our recollection. This one, however, he introduces slightly differently. This one he introduces, saying: “Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet.”
This time Matthew does not attach the sense of urgency or of necessity to the fulfillment. Even though what was prophesied must take place in accord with the Word of the Lord, Matthew does not refer to it in this way. He simply declares that what was prophesied came to be. He does not use the subjunctive mood which would indicate that which must be. Why not? Because this part is not part of the promise connected to the Seed of the Woman and of Abraham and of David. This part is not from God for our salvation. It is merely that which was foretold concerning the reaction of sinful man and the devil concerning the Gospel. This was what our military and political leaders call collateral damage. Herod sought to destroy the baby who was born King of the Jews. He murdered many little babies who were innocent from the standpoint of his concerns. They were not truly innocent regarding sin, but regarding Herod’s concern about another taking his place, they were entirely uninvolved. Nevertheless, as is the way with tyrannical persecution, many innocents were included in the hateful attack.
Jeremiah prophesied concerning this. Herod was like the many kings of the past who had ruled over the people of God and misused their positions leading to much destruction of those who should have been led into the protection of the Lord. In this way Herod also stands as a type of all who would misuse their positions of authority both in the secular government and in what people consider to be the Church. All such rulers care more about maintaining their positions of authority than they do about the good of the people, and so the people suffer under their dreadful false stewardship.
The prophecy refers to Ramah, from whence the people were taken into captivity and much lamentation and weeping and great mourning was heard. Rachel is mentioned, too. For she was Jacob’s second wife, the one whom he loved. He was tricked by Laban so that he married Leah instead of Rachel and had to work another period of time before marrying Rachel. Rachel however was barren for a long time and had no children, while Leah bore children. Rachel lamented and wept and mourned until Joseph was born. Rachel died in giving birth to her second son, Benjamin, so that she did not see Joseph sold into slavery in Egypt by Leah’s sons. Nevertheless, Jacob lamented and wept and mourned for many years and refused to be comforted. Joseph was persecuted by his brothers and sold into slavery, slavery which later all of their descendants endured. Such has been the history of the sons of the Church. Sin has led to much suffering when God would bring peace and hope and joy and blessing.
But even through all of this, God’s will is carried forward. Sin brings suffering and grief, but the Lord keeps His promises. And so, even though Joseph and Mary and the baby had to flee from the wickedness of Herod, the Lord called His Son back from out of Egypt, which brings us to the third prophecy.
III. That it Might Be Fulfilled . . . He Shall Be Called a Nazarene
But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, 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.
And he arose, and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel. 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: 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.
With this Matthew returns to the subjunctive mood, implying the necessity or urgency of this fulfillment, for this is again direct prophecy concerning Jesus, the Savior. This reference is given slightly differently, though. Here Matthew says “spoken by the prophets” rather than “by the prophet.” This is not an actual quote from a prophet. Rather, this is a generalization of what is said by all of the prophets concerning how Jesus would be counted as one to be rejected. Even Nathaniel responded accordingly when Philip first reported to him that they had found the Christ.
And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see. (John 1:46)
Nazareth was one of the northern towns of the northern kingdom that spilt off from the worship that God had commanded to be connected with Jerusalem and the Temple. After the time of the captivity, Nazareth became a mixed town, mixed regarding ethnicity as well as religion. To those who worshiped in accord with the ordained ways that the Lord had given to Moses, Nazareth was a place of false worship and idolatry and compromise and ungodliness.
Thus the Holy Spirit moved Matthew to refer to Joseph’s choice to take Mary and Jesus to Nazareth to live as necessary fulfillment of the prophetic utterances of the prophets. Jesus had to be counted as a Nazarene, that is, as one to be rejected by the established leadership of the Temple and the people. Thus the Jews repeatedly mistakenly and spitefully referred to Jesus as a Samaritan. They also blasphemously said that Jesus had a demon and performed signs and wonders by the power of the devil. Yet the only reason that Jesus grew up in Nazareth was because of the sinful choices of the people of Israel, choices that caused them to be taken into captivity by the Assyrians, the Syrians, and the Babylonians, and then to live under the rule of the Romans, which included the false appointment of Herod and his sons as kings over the land of Judea and Israel. After all, both Joseph and Mary were of the house and lineage of David so that Jesus was born in Bethlehem.
If the people had been paying attention at the time of the birth of Jesus, they would have been looking for Him when He was born. They would have been like the Magi, who sought for His star and then followed it from afar to find the King born of the Jews. The Magi knew that Jesus was not a Nazarene. They did not call Him a Nazarene. When the Magi came to Jerusalem seeking the newborn King of the Jews, the chief priests and the scribes knew that the Christ was to be born in Bethlehem. Yet even with the Magi traveling so far to find this newborn Christ, the chief priests and the scribes showed no interest at all in joining them in their search. The Magi went on, following the star when it reappeared, but those pretending to be the Church had no interest in finding the King of kings and Lord of lords. Not even one of them accompanied the Magi. And so, to them, Jesus was the Nazarene rather than the Christ of Bethlehem.
This is how things had to be. The prophets foretold it, plainly foretelling that the apostasy of the people of Israel would cause them not to know the time of their visitation. Instead, when the time came to embrace their Savior, they would cry “Hosanna in the Highest” while the emotions ran high, as people do today as well, only to cry, “Crucify! Crucify!” when He overturned their system that they had accepted. When He denounced their leaders and those who had been permitted into the house of prayer to make things easier by taking the sacrifice out of the sacrifices, turning the sacraments into mere rituals rather than means of grace and salvation, turning the worship into a sanctimonious act of self-righteousness, they no longer counted Him as coming in the name of the Lord. Now they followed their church leaders and joined in the cries to get rid of this Nazarene.
But this was according to God’s plan. While their actions were against His will, their actions nevertheless brought about the sacrifice that had been made already with the foundation of the earth. God in the flesh was rejected and sacrificed in the stead of all of mankind. Jesus Christ was falsely condemned and crucified, dead and buried. Those who praised Him later cried out that His blood should be on them and their children. Thanks be to God that after the resurrection and with the coming of Pentecost, some of these people were pierced to the heart by the terrifying sermon of Peter and then repented and received the blood of Jesus for themselves and their children. Some of those who rejected Jesus as the Nazarene did indeed repent and receive His blood both in Baptism and then forevermore in the holy Supper of His communion.
Yes, it was necessary that what was foretold by the prophets would be fulfilled, that Jesus would falsely be rejected as a Nazarene and crucified as the Sinner of sinners.
Conclusion
Today is the second and last Sunday in the season of the Christ Mass. Well, as far as the pericopal Church calendar designates the season. But the Christ Mass is never-ending. The Holy Communion of God has been reestablished among us as the Holy Spirit calls, gathers, enlightens and sanctifies the whole Christian Church on earth and keeps us united with Jesus Christ in the one true faith. As those whom the Holy Spirit continually calls and gathers, we are blessed to partake of the Christ Mass every time that we are gathered together, for this is the very reason that the Holy Spirit gathers us. This is how He keeps us united with Jesus Christ. This, too, is foretold by the prophets and retold by the apostles. In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
The peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus forever. Amen.
The Second Sunday after Christmas
Hymns: 76, 108, 107, 105
The Introit (Ps.93:1,2,5)
P: Thy testimonies are very sure:C: holiness becometh Thine house, O Lord, forever.
P: Thy throne is established of old:
C: Thou art from everlasting.
P: The Lord reigneth, He is clothed with majesty:
C: The Lord is clothed with strength, wherewith He hath girded Himself. Hallelujah!
The Collect
Almighty and everlasting God, direct our actions according to Your good pleasure, that in the name of Your beloved Son we may be made to abound in good works; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end.The First Lesson Isaiah 42:1-9
Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles. He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street. A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth. He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait for his law. Thus saith God the Lord, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein: I the Lord have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles; To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house. I am the Lord: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images. Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them.
The Gradual (Ps.106:47; Is.63:16; Ps.145:21)
P: Save us, O Lord, our God, and gather us from among the heathen:C: to give thanks unto Thy holy name and to triumph in Thy praise.
P: Thou, O Lord, art our Father, our Redeemer:
C: Thy name is from everlasting. Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
P: My mouth shall speak the praise of the Lord:
C: and let all flesh bless His holy name forever. Hallelujah!
The Epistle 1 Peter 4:12-19
Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified. But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men’s matters. Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf. For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.
The SENTENCE for the Season (Psalm 96:11; 98:2)
P: Hallelujah! Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad before the Lord:C: for He hath made known His salvation. Hallelujah!
The Holy Gospel St. Matthew 2:13-23
And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt: And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son.
Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently inquired of the wise men. Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying,
In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.
But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, 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.
And he arose, and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel. 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: 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.
Matthew 2:13-23 — “That it Might Be Fulfilled”
Introduction
I. That it Might Be Fulfilled . . . Out of Egypt Have I Called My Son
II. Then Was Fulfilled That Which Was Spoken by Jeremy the Prophet
III. That it Might Be Fulfilled . . . He Shall Be Called a Nazarene
Conclusion
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