The Crucified Messiah

The theme of fulfillment is prominent in Matthew’s gospel. In Jesus of Nazareth, the promises of God find their fulfillment and correct understanding. He is the Son of God sent to redeem Israel. Peter, for example, confirmed that he is the “ Messiah ,” but he failed to understand that he came to fulfill that role as the suffering “ Servant of Yahweh ” who dies for the sins of his people.

The disciples witnessed Jesus heal the sick, exorcise demons, forgive sins, and even calm a violent storm - and all done with great authority. Yet rather than faith in the Son of God, his miracles produced confusion and fear among many, and in his disciples, the question – “ WHO IS THIS MAN? ”

Jesus began to proclaim the Kingdom of God after the arrest of John the Baptist, and that incident foreshadowed the opposition that would characterize his own ministry. At the time, Palestine consisted of three territories -  Judea, Samaria , and  Galilee , and the latter included a mixed population of Jews and Gentiles.

After his baptism, the Spirit “ drove Jesus into the wilderness ” for “ forty days and nights .” Like Moses on Sinai, the Messiah found himself alone in the Judean desert where the Devil confronted him. His only guide was the Word of God. Like Israel, he was “ tested. ” But unlike that nation, he overcame every test and emerged victorious from the experience - “ FULL OF THE HOLY SPIRIT .”

In  Mark , Jesus first appears when he is baptized by John the Baptist. The passage identifies him with his hometown, Nazareth, a small village of no consequence, though its very insignificance plays a part in the larger narrative.

All four gospels apply the same passage from the book of Isaiah to John the Baptist. He was sent to summon Israel to repent “ for the remission of sins ” in preparation for the arrival of the Messiah and the Kingdom of God. All this was in fulfillment of key messianic promises in the Hebrew Bible.

The gospel of  Mark  opens with a declaration based on the Hebrew Bible that provides scriptural links to the ministry of John the Baptist. And it sets the stage for the messianic mission of Jesus. In this way, Mark begins on a note of fulfillment. The Nazarene is the promised Messiah of Israel and the Savior of the world.

The gospel of  Matthew  calls Jesus the “ son of David ,” and in his life story, demonstrates what it means to be the king of Israel and the “ Son of God .” Traditionally, this last designation is linked with the royal line; but in Matthew’s account, the old understanding of what it means to be the Messiah is radically altered.

The introduction to Matthew’s gospel declares Jesus is the “ son of Abraham .” But this is much more than another name on a genealogical list. He is the heir of the covenant promises made by God to the Patriarch. And his descent from Abraham forms the basis of the theme of fulfillment that dominates  Matthew .

The Incommunicable Name of God, its meaning and significance, according to Joseph Bryant Rotherham .  The following article is from the Introduction to the 1902 edition of the  Emphasized Bible  by Joseph Bryant Rotherham ( Public Domain ). It explains the background and meaning of the Hebrew name of God, Yahweh, and the key reasons why it has been lost to a great many Christians over the centuries.

An angel appeared to Joseph informing him that Mary was with child “ begotten of the Holy Spirit ,” and he instructed him to name the child ‘Jesus.’ As the angel declared, “ he will save his people from their sins .” His name links him to the saving act accomplished by God for His people as promised in the Hebrew Bible.