Introducing Jesus - I

Matthew 1

There is a technique in the musical world called 'counterpoint.' It is the interweaving of two melodies, at times quite conflicting, to produce a complex harmony of sounds. When executed properly, the product is absolutely beautiful! There is nothing quite like it. In fact, it still exists today; musical artists call it a 'mash-up' - but the technique is as old as Bach. There's nothing new under the sun ...

What I have found interesting in the opening chapters of Matthew - the first in particular, is that Matthew quite creatively crafts a 'counterpoint' of texts; a 'mash-up' if you will. He narrates events in such a way as to produce a beautiful harmony; one that attempts to do justice to the identity and person of Christ our Lord. He tells story after story; one on top of another. Each of them building upon the other. Sometimes these stories are quite difficult to reconcile as they stand next to each other - but in the end their differences complement each other and produce a beautiful harmony for all who will listen. The harmony and symphony of God made flesh. Immanuel.

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I. Jesus. He's One Of Us! (Matthew 1:1-17)

The opening words of Matthew are quite literally: "the book of the genesis of Jesus." Perhaps subtly indicating what will follow in the rest of the book; an account of the new creation brought about by Jesus; new beginnings.

At any rate, the list of family members rolls monotonously on. Abraham begat ... David begat ... Solomon begat ... etc. etc. We get the picture. People are begetting! But we miss the significance of Matthew's introduction if we don't pause to hear what He is saying in all this. You see, so many people hearing about Jesus for the first time would quite frankly be asking: "who the hell is this guy?!" Everyone is talking about Him, people are making fantastic claims about Him but ... who is He?! Matthew says, plain and simple: "He's one of us!" He comes out of our history. He dwells among us and takes up historical residence among our people. He is in the line of the kings, Son of David - but He is a man in the history of men. Jesus. He's one of us! Interesting. But remember - 'counterpoint.' We've only yet heard one phrase of the melody. There is more to complement it ...

II. Jesus. He's God With Us (Matthew 1:18-25)

The story continues with the narration of the Virgin Conception.

There's a very interesting contrast here between the previous text (the genealogy) and the text here. Whereas the previous text is an account of human begetting - stuck in the mundane cycle of human possibilities - this text is a bright light breaking through. The impossible becomes possible! What is impossible to man is possible to God! The text is clear to emphasize that Jesus is no simple product of human history; He isn't any man. No. The point is that He is what man could not produce! That is, or should be, the point of the Virgin Conception. What man could not produce, what man could not be, God in His Holy Spirit produces and becomes. This new One, this Jesus will save us. He will lead us out from our sins. He will be our just and faithful King.

But wait. One last thing. This King. This new creation. This Jesus. He is not just one of us. He is in fact God with us. Immanuel! He is the very presence of the Almighty among us in human history. He is true God; our hope and our Rock!When we are before Him, we are before God. When we worship Him, we are in fact worshiping God. In the very beginnings of Matthew, we have something quite similar to John's prologue - the Word eternal became flesh and dwelt among us. We have here the mystery and symphony of the incarnation and of the Gospel. Despite our sin and our unfaithfulness, God with us. Beautiful.

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So, when these two texts are read alongside each other, when the counterpoint is heard, we are introduced to Jesus the God-man; true God and true humanity. But we would do wrong to leave it in the past. We do not serve a dead Lord but a risen One; a living God. We serve Jesus who was, who is and who is to come! So we are introduced here in these opening chapters to the God who in Jesus Christ is willing to be for us today! Here. Now. The God who is willing to enter into the sin and injustice present in our current world and redeem it; make it new. We are dealing with a God who knows the suffering and pain of our humanity - and who offers a new alternative to humanity for those who listen. A humanity with God and a humanity of service.

For more on what that humanity will look like ... wait till Matthew 5. Until then.

//Ex Profundis//