Monday, March 19, 2012
Matthew 1:21-23 "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." 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."
REDEEMER KING: FORETOLD (1)
Jesus knew what was coming. At the age of twelve He was already learning in the synagogues what the role of the Messiah was to be, and His understanding impressed even His teachers. When He began His ministry He announced Himself as the One whom the prophet Isaiah had foretold (Luke 4:16-21). And surely He knew also Isaiah's 53rd chapter--and was well aware that the words applied to Him: a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering.
As Jesus neared the cross, the weight of certain prophecies pressed upon His soul. It was told beforehand that He would suffer and He was, after all, fully human. He knew the sufferings would not be easy. He knew the mental and physical anguish would push Him to the breaking point. He knew that the temptation would be there for Him to turn away and fail to complete the task He had been sent to carry out.
Yet it had also been foretold that He would save His people from their sins. His doing and dying would remove the load of guilt from those He so dearly loved. This gospel strengthened Him and urged Him forward in spite of the difficulty.
Jesus knew what was coming. It had been foretold. There would be suffering and then victory.
And we know what is coming. It has been foretold. After grief for a little while, then victory.
This flow'r whose fragrance tender with sweetness fills the air,
Dispels with glorious splendor the darkness ev'rywhere.
True man, yet very God; from sin and death He saves us
And lightens ev'ry load.
O Savior, child of Mary, who felt our human woe;
O Savior, King of glory, who dost our weakness know,
Bring us at length, we pray, to the bright courts of heaven
And to the endless day.
(The Lutheran Hymnal, 645:4-5)
