3 - 4 minutes readJESUS IN MATTHEW 1-3

Introduction

When we open the book of Matthew we are amazed just in few chapters how Matthew repeatedly points us to the fulfillment of prophecy concerning the Messiah. We cannot be mistaken that what is talking about is of great importance to every reader. I pray that the Lord the Holy Spirit will open the eyes of our hearts to see how great our Savior is. The testimonies of scripture are worthy of all acceptance. For there is no one in this world nor will there be anyone in whom such full grace of God is (or will be) revealed for the salvation of mankind apart from Christ our Lord.

In this article we are going to look at how Matthew reveal to us who Jesus is in just three chapters. I have not explained the verses because my goal is just to show you what is said of Jesus in few verses from those three chapters. This is a short article and therefore, it is easy to read.

Who is Jesus Christ according to Matthew Chapter 1-3?

1. He is “Jesus Christ the son of David, the son of Abraham (Matthew 1:1, NIV).”
2. He is the Savior: “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins (Matthew 1:20-21, NIV).”
3. He is God with us: “All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel which means, ‘God with us’ (Matthew 1:22-23, NIV).”
4. He is the King: “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him (Matthew 2:2, NIV).”
5. The Ruler and Shepherd: “But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of my people Israel ( Matthew 2:6, NIV).”
6. He is the Son of God: “ So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: ‘Out of Egypt I called my Son (Matthew 2:14-15, NIV).’”
7.  He is the Nazarene: “So was fulfilled what was said through the prophets: ‘He will be called a Nazarene’ (Matt 2:23, NIV).”
8. He is greater than all prophets: “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. His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire (Matthew 3:11-12, NIV).”
9. He is the beloved Son of God in whom the Father is pleased: “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. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:16-17, NIV).

Such great testimonies should cause us to see how great Jesus is. The prophecies He fulfilled cannot be fulfilled by any man if not Him, God’s Son who is from everlasting to everlasting and of unimaginable glory and power, equal in essence with God the Father and the Holy Spirit, chosen by God the Father and sent to carry a very significant purpose of salvation, which the whole scripture bear witness.