The Coming of Christ, Part 4 - SERMON NOTES

Intro: (1) “fulfilled” (2) Luke 24:27, 44

Our foundation in failure (13-15): (1) wise men go back a different way (2) another angel appearance to Joseph → commands of “rise, take, flee, remain” → legitimate danger from Herod (3) middle-of-night departure → MAP (4) first “fulfillment” from Hosea 11:1 (5) original context of remembering God’s rescue of his people from Egypt in the exodus (6) the story of Jesus is the new and improved version of the story of Israel (7) further reflections → Red Sea/baptism, wilderness for 40 days/40 years, teaching from mountain (8) where Israel failed, Jesus succeeds → where do you feel failure currently? (9) the answer to our failures is Jesus’ faithfulness in our place (cf. Christmas with the Kranks)

Our hope in hurt (16-18): (1) Herod tricked → murderous response (cf. Moses/Pharaoh) (2) based on calculated timing Herod attempts to eliminate Jesus → good luck (3) Bethlehem around 1,000 people (i.e. probably 15-20 little boys) → real sin/danger involved in this rescue mission (4) Jeremiah 31:15 another “fulfillment” → Rachel the wife of Jacob, died during childbirth (5) “Ramah” where she was buried, where Israel would have marched through on way to exile → the tears of Rachel and exiles now reach their climax in tears of Bethlehem mothers (6) however, v.16 begins the reversal leading to v.31-34 (7) Jesus is our hope in the midst of hurt (advent imagery, Malcolm Guite)

Our deliverer in desolation (19-23): (1) Herod’s death brings next angel, subsequent return (2-3 yrs) (2) reminder that Jesus was a sojourner → app to those living in non-native country (3) Joseph obedient but hits a snag (4) Archelaus Herod’s son over region of Judea → violent like his father (5) Joseph’s concern confirmed by another angel, so he goes to Nazareth in Galilee → MAP (6) they return to their “hometown” after being 4-5 years (approx. 1500) (7) another “fulfillment” this time by “prophets” → likely combo of being despised (cf. Isaiah 53, Nathaniel in John 1) and “branch” in Isaiah 11:1,10 (cf. 4:15) (8) Jesus knows deeply of isolation/rejection and pursues us in ours (cf. demoniac in Luke 8)

Conclusion: Revelation 12 → read v.10-11