God’s Mission in Matthew John Baptizes Jesus (Matthew 1:13-17) The OT background to this familiar NT story: the Servant Songs in Isaiah 42, 49, 50, and Isaiah prophesied in the 8 th century BC, over 700 years before Jesus was born. He warned Israel and Judah of God’s impending judgment if they continued in idolatry.

The Suffering Servant of Isaiah is an individual who fulfills Israel’s calling as God’s agent of salvation. The Servant restores Israel. The Servant is a light of restoration to the nations. The Servant is the new and ideal Israel.

The Fourth Servant Song (Isaiah 53 (NIV)) 4 Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. 5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. 6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

The First Servant Song (Isaiah 42) 1 Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him and he will bring justice to the nations. 2 He will not shout or cry out, or raise his voice in the streets. 3 A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out. In faithfulness he will bring forth justice; 4 he will not falter or be discouraged till he establishes justice on earth. In his law the islands will put their hope...

6 I, the LORD, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles, 7 to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness.

Matthew 3 13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. 14 But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” 15 Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented. John the Baptist’s words in Matthew 3:11: “I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.”

Matthew 3 16 As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” Isaiah 42:1 Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him and he will bring justice to the nations.

Matthew uses Jesus’ baptism by John to highlight Jesus as the Servant foretold by Isaiah. Jesus is thus the New Israel, walking and completing Israel’s story the way God had intended from the beginning. Isaiah 49 3 He said to me, “You are my servant, Israel, in whom I will display my splendor”... 6 he says: "It is too small a thing for you to be my servant to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back those of Israel I have kept. I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring my salvation to the ends of the earth."

Other ways Matthew highlights Jesus as the new Israel: Jesus is the “son” God called out of Egypt. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: “Out of Egypt I called my son.” (Matthew 2:15) Jesus goes through the waters of baptism as Israel had gone through the Red Sea and the Jordan River. Jesus is tested for 40 days in the wilderness, just as Israel was tested for 40 years. However, Jesus passes the test. Jesus calls 12 disciples; gives the “law” on the mount; escapes slaughter as an infant; etc.

How is Matthew’s portrayal of Jesus important for us today? Living the life of faith in Jesus means looking to and trusting fully in Jesus’ Story rather than our own.

For Jews in the 1 st century AD: Jesus, not the Jewish nation, was now the one in whom God was accomplishing his mission to restore all things. GOD Israel GOD IsraelJesus

For Christian believers today: Jesus, not the believer or the Church, is the one in whom God is now accomplishing his mission to restore all things. GOD Church GOD IsraelJesusChurch

Colossians 2:10-12; 3:1-4 You have been given fullness in Christ... In him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of the sinful nature, not with a circumcision done by the hands of men but with the circumcision done by Christ, having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead... Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God... For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

Jesus’ story is our story: His baptism is ours His approval by the Father is ours His victory over temptation is ours His resurrection is ours His obedience is ours His abiding relationship with the Father is ours His prayer life is ours His peace is ours His worship is ours And so on!

Practical implications: Thinking about sin and New Year’s resolutions Besetting sins: lust; anger; lying; gossip; greed; lack of contentment; fear; anxiety; laziness; etc. How can we overcome our besetting sin(s)? Not by resolving, but rather by resting in Jesus’ story.