Sunday, 1 March      Seeking the Messiah.      Matthew 4:12–25

It’s impossible to fully understand the New Testament without having a good grasp of the Old Testament. I’m always thankful that from the age of 20, I spent at least 30 years reading the Old Testament thoroughly. Even today, I turn most naturally to an Old Testament book to read for pleasure. Today’s reading is difficult to comprehend if we don’t have some idea of its source in the Old Testament.

The quotation in vv15–16 comes from Isaiah 9:1–2. I had never bothered to think about the phrase, Galilee of the Gentiles before I read the passage for the purpose of writing this reflection. Galilee was in northern Israel. Why call it of the Gentiles? It was deep in Jewish territory. If you read the history of Israel in 2 Kings 17, you will understand why it had this name. 

Briefly, in case you don’t want to read that chapter, the people of Israel, north of Jerusalem, had abandoned the worship of the true God, and devoted themselves to a range of heathen gods. They sacrificed their live children in hot ovens and killed their young men and women as offerings to false idols and gods. They worshipped fertility goddesses and completely turned to violence and rejection of God. God allowed Assyria to invade the land. Most of the inhabitants were carried to captivity in Assyria, and the land was re-settled with other foreign captives and native Assyrians. It was not only the land now known as Samaria that was populated with foreigners (Gentiles), but the whole northern part of the country.

Speaking into this location around that time, the Old Testament prophet Isaiah, gave hope to a devastated people. Just before the passage quoted in our reading, Isaiah writes: Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future, he will honour Galilee of the Gentiles, by the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan.

A few verses further on, Isaiah pens one of the most famous passages of all, predicting the coming of the Messiah: 

For a child has been born for us, a son given to us;
    authority rests upon his shoulders;
And he is named Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God,
    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
His authority shall grow continually, and there shall be endless peace
for the throne of David and his kingdom.
He will establish it and uphold it with justice and with righteousness
    from this time onward and forevermore. (Isaiah 9:6–7 NRSV)

Matthew leaves the alert reader in no doubt that Jesus is the promised Messiah. By quoting these few verses about Jesus going to minister in Galilee, anyone who was the least bit familiar with the Old Testament would recognise that Matthew is declaring Jesus to be the Promised One, the Messiah, the Christ, on the basis of this Isaiah quotation. 

Our section opened with an almost dismissive statement about the impending death of John the Baptist: When Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee. But now Matthew’s intention is made clear. John the Baptist has done his work; now Jesus will commence his. The Kingdom is near!

From this point on, the pace in this chapter picks up to a rapid gallop through the events of the next weeks. Just note some of the descriptive words: Peter and Andrew follow Jesus immediately; James and John leave their father immediately; Jesus travels throughout Galilee; he heals every disease and every sickness; great crowds come from the whole land, from the far south and beyond the river Jordan.

It’s as though a woman has placed in the sun a lump of dough with yeast. It starts out small, but in a very short time, it rises and expands with an energy all of its own. The Kingdom is a rapidly-swelling movement, where, at the start of this very chapter, it had barely begun at all. It is the ordinary people, the men and women and children of the villages who are now seeking him with all their heart.

It won't always be like this, with miracles and healings and marvellous signs and wonders at every turn. But for now, the rightful King has landed on enemy soil (Galilee of the Gentiles!), and the people flock to him. He shows his power and majesty in his gracious and powerful largesse. These crowds undoubtedly contained both Jew and Gentile, because that was the population mix of the area.

In just four chapters, Matthew has taken us from a fairly slow beginning to a sense of a rising revolution. Anything could happen now – and it probably will!

Just imagine what would happen if Jesus were to be allowed to attend your church, as the celebrated and honoured King! Many years ago, I wrote a poem which reflects this burning desire to have the King amongst us. Here is how it ended (and yes, it predated Facebook and Instagram!):

Jesus, we are so frightened of you,

we have locked you into a time warp of shepherds and donkeys.

Break out again!

Roll away the heavy stones of sentiment and tradition.

Speak to us again, 

be our new screen icon.

Show us your 21stcentury self.

Email me your reassurance…

www.Iamwithyou-even@endofworld.kingdom.god

Prayer:  Oh my Lord! I’m starting to feel the excitement of your coming! How marvellous to have been there and seen all that you were doing! I can't wait to see your coming in glory again, and to see what you will do with this tired world, and your careworn people. Perhaps, just for a moment, show us again your glory! Show us your majesty. Give us a peek at your amazing capacity for love-in-action. Amen.