It’s hard for me to believe but it’s been twenty-two years since my first trip to Israel.  I remember before my first trip, when someone who’d been there learned I was making a trip to the “Holy Land” they would tell me, “You’ll never read the Bible the same way again!” or “You’ll be changed forever!”  These animated statements became so frequent I got tired of hearing them.  I couldn’t believe their passionate declarations could actually be true- until I got there.  The most significant moment on that first trip occurred when my study tour reached the shores of the Sea of Galilee.  As I stood on the shoreline and looked across the water a thought came to me so strong and clear, “Jesus was here!”  It was then that all the enthusiasm made sense, and yes, it also proved to be true!

            The Galilee region is divided into two sections, Upper and Lower Galilee.  The Upper Galilee region is mountainous and windswept.  Although it is not at its center, the Sea of Galilee is definitely the hub of activity in Lower Galilee.  The “Sea” is approximately 20 miles long and 8 miles wide.  The temperate climate and fertile soil of Lower Galilee make it a wonderful place for agriculture.  Galilee was also a melting pot of people.  Economic and political threats from outsiders had been all but stopped by Rome and the road systems which cut through it opened up trade with the outside world.  Galilee was hardly the backwater region of peasants and Pharisees as it is often depicted to be.  The broad scope of Greek, Roman and Jewish culture was probably one of the reasons the orthodox Jews of the south despised the people of Galilee and were convinced that no prophet could come out of it (Jn. 1:46; 7:41,52).

            One might think that the Messiah (as a descendent of David) would launch His ministry from Jerusalem the capitol of David’s kingdom but Jesus chose to begin His ministry in the Galilee region and used the city of Capernaum as His home-base.  Galilee’s hillsides were populated with terrace farms which grew grapes, olives, figs and grains, and its villages were filled with family-run industries in fishing and masonry.   There were also small cities like Capernaum and Nazareth where synagogues were well-established as the heart of daily life.  Jesus walked through them all and drew upon the daily routines associated with them to teach and proclaim the Good News.  As He interacted with His surroundings Jesus taught the people about His human and Divine Nature by celebrating weddings (Jn. 2:1-11), feeding thousands (Mt. 14:13-21; Mk. 6:33-44; 8:1-9), healing the sick (Mt. 4:24; 11:5; 12:5; 14:14; 15:30; 19:2; Mk. 7:37; Lk. 7:22; Jn. 9:39), demonstrating His divinity (Mt. 17:1-8; Mk. 9:1-8; Lk. 9:28-36), raising the dead (Lk. 7:11-17; 8:49-56; Jn. 11:1-45) and performing miracles (Mt. 9: 30; 11:4-6; 12:22; 14:22-34; Mk. 6:45-52; 7:32-25; Lk. 8:22-25; Jn. 9:1-7; 11:47).

            But really, why begin in Galilee?  It could be said that Galilee was chosen solely on the basis of God’s sovereignty.  That is to say that He chose this area because He wanted to.  However, that would ignore two rather obvious factors concerning Galilee itself.  First, Galilee was chosen because of its geographic location.  The Via Maris (or Coastal Highway), an ancient and well-traveled trade route, ran diagonally through it.  The Via Maris acted as an advertising platform for the ministry of Jesus.  Whatever He did in Galilee, the news of it spread with the merchants, traders and pilgrims who traveled this road as they conducted their business and went to Jerusalem for the holy days.  It is commonly known in business today that “word of mouth is the best advertising” and this was no different for Jesus.  He wisely took advantage of people’s natural tendency to talk about the news of the day.  And Jesus was certainly news!  Secondly, the choice of Galilee fulfilled prophecy which Matthew, Mark and Luke all point out in their Gospels when speaking of this region (Is. 9:1-2; Mt. 2:19-23; 4:12-16; Mk. 1:14-15; Lk. 4:14-21).  And according to Matthew, the fulfillment of prophecy was a prominent characteristic in what Jesus came to do (Mt. 5:17-18). 

            While Galilee’s place in fulfilled prophecy is unquestionable, it demonstrates to us an even more important aspect of God’s nature.  He desires to be with us!  From the Garden of Eden (Gen. 3:7) to the Tabernacle (Ex. 25:8) and Temple (1 Ki. 8:10-13), Galilee proves that when God said He would once again dwell with His people (Zech. 2:10), He did it in the most intimate way by taking on flesh and walking upon the Galilean soil (Mt. 4:23; Jn. 1:14-18).  It is no different today than it was when Jesus walked by the Sea.  He wants to walk with you and He also wants you to walk with Him.  Some of His first disciples came from the shores of Galilee.  When He called them, they left what they were doing to follow Him (Mt. 4:18-22; Mk. 1:16-20; 2:14; Lk. 5:1-11, 27-28; Jn. 43-51).  He wants you to do the same.  Will you?

Ann H. LeFevre, M. Div.
https://www.annhlefevre.com/, https://www.linked.com/in/annhlefevre/, https://www.facebook.com/ann.h.lefevre/

             The villages which dotted the hillsides surrounding the Sea of Galilee were buzzing with excitement.  As cottage industries produced their millstones, olive oil, fishing products and pottery, shop owners, farmers and villagers alike discussed the fiery new preacher who had come up from the Judean wilderness and was baptizing the repentant at the mouth of the Jordan River.  The Roman soldiers kept a watchful eye on the itinerant preacher, a man with strange clothing and even stranger eating habits.  He seemed more critical of the religious leaders of the Jews than the emperor, so they deemed him harmless and reported their findings about his antics and popularity to Herod rather than troubling the waters of Rome. 

            John the Baptist bursts into the world of the New Testament with all the passion and fire of a thunder and lightning storm.  Yet his connection to the Old Testament was not missed by the Gospel writers, or those who waited expectantly for the appearance of the Messiah.  The church leaders who organized the canon also saw the connection.  The Old Testament finishes with the eloquent words of Malachi and the promise of the return of Elijah the prophet before the arrival of the Messiah (Mal. 4:5-6).  Interestingly, all four Gospels link the beginning of Jesus' ministry to the preaching and ministry of John the Baptist.  The importance of this is explained in Mal. 3:1; a messenger would appear to prepare the way for the Lord. 

Matthew, Mark, and Luke also draw a connection to Isaiah's prophecy concerning a messenger like Elijah too (Is.40:3; Mk. 1:3; Mt. 3:3; Lk. 3:4).  Luke makes note of one critical and distinct link between John the Baptist and Elijah.  He sees that like Elijah, John received his message from God (Lk. 3:2) and, using similar to the Old Testament, relates the call of John to that of the prophets (Is. 1:1-2; Jer. 1:1-2; 1 Ki. 17:13).  Luke acknowledges that John is a spokesman for God as were his prophetic predecessors.  But it is Matthew who ties the strongest link between the prophetic fulfillment of Malachi with Elijah because it is his intention throughout his Gospel to demonstrate that everything about Jesus’ life was just that-a fulfillment of prophecy- so that there would be no confusion over whether or not Jesus was the Messiah.  As such John the Baptist would fulfill prophecy as well.

            John had several characteristics that the people immediately recognized as being like Elijah.  First, John came from the wilderness in Judea to the Sea of Galilee to preach and baptize (Mt. 3:1; Mk. 1:4-5; Lk. 3:3).  Elijah ministered in this region as well.  It stretched from the lower tip of the Sea of Galilee where it met the Jordan River, down through the Jordan Valley to Jericho and Jerusalem.  John's attire was a carbon copy of his illustrious predecessor.  Elijah was noted as a "hairy man with leather girded around his loins" (2 Ki. 1:8) as was John (Mt. 3:4).  Secondly, Elijah met the apostasy and unbelief of Israel head on (1 Ki. 18:21).  His outspoken condemnation of the duplicitous religious activity of both the common folk and royalty, earned him a spot on Queen Jezebel's hit list.  John was also outspoken on matters of religious purity.  He challenged the crowds who were coming to be baptized by making them analyze why they were seeking him out.  Did they come for a show?  Or did they truly understand that repentance translated into a permanent change of behavior which resulted in actions that were in line with God's commands in Torah (Lk. 3: 8, 10-14)?  He particularly targeted those who came because it was the “in-thing” to do (Mt. 3:7-12).  And lastly, both Elijah and John evoked a response from the people.  When the people saw the failure of Baal's prophets, they fell prostrate and cried, "The Lord, He is God!" (1 Ki. 18:38).  Likewise, the multitudes of John’s day asked for instruction, "Then what shall we do?" (Mt. 3:1-6; Lk. 3:10).

            The people gathered on the banks of the Jordan River and waited to hear the prophet speak.  They were anticipating a passionate message blasting the oppressive rule of Rome or the adulterous lifestyle of Herod.  Instead his words cut open their hearts and made them recognize their need to turn from their own sinful ways back to God's ways.  One by one, they stepped into the Jordan to rededicate their lives by repenting; first walking into the Jordan one way, and then climbing out another- a visible sign of turning away from sin and toward God.  Put yourself on the shoreline.  Listen to the words of the prophet.  How will you answer his message?  Will you see your own need?  Will you respond as they did and ask, "Then, what shall I do?"
 
Ann H. LeFevre, M. Div.
https://www.annhlefevre.com/, https://www.linked.com/in/annhlefevre/, https://www.facebook.com/ann.h.lefevre/

          I grew up in Caldwell, New Jersey.  At the time it was a typical suburban town with tree-lined streets, several schools, a local diner, a beautiful park and plenty of churches.  Caldwell had a somewhat small presidential claim to fame that is still a source of community pride.  In a tiny little house just a block from the center of town, the 22nd (and 24th) president of the United States, Grover Cleveland, was born.  Cleveland only lived in Caldwell for 4 years but to this day Caldwell enjoys its presidential association and the house is still toured by school children each year.
            Nazareth could be the Biblical counterpart to Caldwell although Jesus, its prestigious resident, had nothing to do with presidents.  Jesus was born miles away thanks to a census which compelled His parents to take a temporary leave from their home there.  Matthew records that Joseph and Mary eventually returned to Nazareth (Mt. 2:23; Lk. 2:39, 51-52) and Jesus grew up there (Lk. 4:16) giving Him the name, Jesus of Nazareth (Mt. 21:11; Mk. 10:47; Jn. 18:5,7; Acts 2:22; 3:6; 10:38).  Neal May wrote, “It was only the fact that Jesus spent the early years of His life in Nazareth that gives the town its status of interest.  Aside from this, it is only mentioned once in Scripture and that is in regards to Jesus’ childhood.  When it is recognized, it is addressed with a noticeably sarcastic tone (Jn. 1:45-46).”  It is not really clear from Scripture why Nazareth was viewed with such disdain in Jesus’ day, but by the time of Constantine (A. D. 324-37) it had become a revered site in Christendom so much so that when Joseph of Tiberius appealed to the emperor for funds to build a church there it was granted.
            So why is Nazareth such a big deal and why do the Gospel writers make a point in telling us Jesus’ association with it?  The answer begins with Isaiah who wrote, “A shoot will spring from the stem of Jesse and a branch from his roots will bear fruit” (Is. 11:1).  Nazareth and the shoot of Is. 11:1 share the same Hebrew root word- and that’s what it means, root!  A netzor is a unique botanical term.  Have you ever seen a gardener trim a bush down to the ground in the Fall and thought, “That’s the end of that bush!” only to see it send up shoots in the Spring?  That’s a netzor.  The plant appears to be dead and suddenly life springs back to life from its roots.  Nazareth is “Root Town” as my one professor used to say.  But Who is this Root that Isaiah speaks of and how is He connected to Nazareth?  It would be natural to assume he is Jesse’s most famous son, David.  Like that flattened bush, David’s descendants all but disappeared when the Southern Kingdom of Judah was carried off into exile (2 Ki. 25:8-21).  But David’s “city” is Bethlehem, so where does Nazareth figure in?  While David’s lineage “springs up” again when Mary is told she will bear God’s Son (Lk. 1:26-35), it is Matthew who notes that Jesus grows up in Nazareth (Mt. 2:19-23) thus fulfilling the words of the prophet.
            It appears that when Jesus began His ministry He was not accepted in Nazareth.  Perhaps it was due to the familiarity of watching Him grow up there but Bible historians have noted that Nazarites in general had the expectation that the Messiah would come from their midst.  So, their disbelief resulted in Jesus’ departure (Mt. 13:53-58).  However, by the time that Paul was brought up on charges of insurrection before the Roman governor Felix, Jesus’ followers had become known as “Nazarenes” (Acts 24:1-5).  In spite of His rejection by the people of Nazareth, it is this town Pilate associates with Jesus upon His death (Jn. 19:19-22).  And while its place in Christendom was slow to catch on, today it is visited continuously by Christians from all over the world.  The magnificent Church of the Annunciation celebrates the declaration which Gabriel made to Mary bringing those ancient promises of a netzor coming forth but just a short walk from its glory one can gain access to the remains of a humble synagogue where The Branch made one of His most well-know declarations (Lk. 4:16-24).
            It has become fashionable to trace roots these days.  Some methods, like DNA testing, make it fairly easy to find out “where you come from”.   But while our genetic make-up can be interesting and revealing the Bible is not really concerned about our genealogical roots.  Rather it is concerned about where the roots of our lives take hold.  Paul wrote to the believers in Ephesus (a city many miles from “Root Town”!) that it was his prayer for them to be “rooted and grounded in love” (Eph. 3:17).  The source of that love is Christ’s love which is almost beyond understanding (vv. 18-19).  While there are a number of benefits to knowing your family’s roots, knowing the love of Christ and connecting your roots to Him (like a tree which sends its roots down to a subterranean water source) has eternal benefits (Ps. 1:1-3; Jn. 4:13-14; 7:37-38; 15:5).  Your physical roots may be from Hometown, USA or the country where you live, but where are your spiritual roots?  Be sure they are connected to The Netzor.  His family tree is everlasting.

Ann H. LeFevre, M. Div.
https://www.annhlefevre.com/, https://www.linked.com/in/annhlefevre/, https://www.facebook.com/ann.h.lefevre/

             My first trip to Bethlehem in 2000 seems like a blur.  With a tour group of over 40 people and many other groups about us our stop over at the Church of the Nativity which sits in the heart of Bethlehem was rushed, crowded and slightly overwhelming! We went below the main sanctuary to the caves where Jerome translated the Vulgate and read Luke’s account of the birth of Christ but as there were so many people there it was hard to hear and I really could not get a picture of what it was like when Mary and Joseph arrived in this sleepy little village long ago.  But even so Bethlehem felt like a special place.  Why?  It was thanks to one professor directing me and several other students to a small chapel tucked away in an inconspicuous corner of an outdoor courtyard.  The little chapel was dedicated to Helena, the mother of Constantine, who made it one of her life’s ambitions to uncover places of the Bible in the Holy Land.  Bethlehem was one of those places.  The chapel had a very unique mural depicting Matthew, Mark, Luke and John with decidedly Semitic features.  Dating to the Byzantine era it captures a more accurate presentation of their likenesses than the Renaissance and Gothic pictures we’re used to seeing.
            Bethlehem is not mentioned very often in the Old Testament and only appears in the account of Jesus’ birth in the New Testament.  Why then Bethlehem?  Although it was not the modern city it is today in the time of Scripture, it does have some stories where it takes center stage.  When the tribal allotments took place, Bethlehem was situated in the area assigned to Judah (Jud. 15).  The Book of Ruth places it at the center of David’s lineage (Ru. 1:1).  Samuel is sent there to anoint David (1 Sam. 16:1) as the next king of Israel.  The Bible records that the Philistines controlled it for a short time and some of David’s mighty men went to great lengths to bring him water from its well (2 Sam. 23:13-17).  Rehoboam fortified it after the defection of the Northern tribes (2 Chr. 11:5-12).  However, Bethlehem’s “claim to fame” comes from none of these Scriptural snippets.  It is the prophet Micah who brings Bethlehem into the forefront of history when he prophesizes that the promised Messiah would be born in this humble little town (Mic. 5:2-5).   Both Matthew and Luke confirm that this prophesy indeed came to pass (Mt. 2:1, 6; Lk. 2:1-7).  And it is apparent that others were aware of this as well (Mt. 2:4-6; Jn. 7:42).
            It is not really all that surprising that as a descendant of David the Messiah would be born in “his city” (1 Sam. 20:6; 2 Sam. 5:7, 9; 1 Ki. 2:10; Lk. 2:4).  But when Mary is found to be with child both she and Joseph are residing in Nazareth, 85 miles north of Bethlehem.  Ooops!  And it didn’t look like Mary and Joseph were thinking about relocating either.  Enter Caesar Augustus, the pagan ruler who much like Cyrus (2 Chr. 36:22-23; Ez. 1:1-2) propels God’s plan of salvation forward by an official decree that sends Joseph and Mary to their ancestral home.  The decree did not mandate that they do so, but it was of great importance in the Jewish mind to be connected to one’s ancestral tribe, therefore Joseph and Mary made the journey to Bethlehem and fulfilled the words of Micah as promised.  Traveling from Nazareth to Bethlehem meant covering a difficult terrain.  Most people could cover 15 to 20 miles per day but in Mary’s condition she and Joseph most likely would cover less.  Tradition pictures Mary riding on a donkey with Joseph faithfully walking by her side but the Scripture does not say anything about this.  Whether on a donkey or by foot this was not an easy undertaking!  Author Jeremy Royal Howard said, “How fitting that God should use the mundane transactions of a pagan king to fulfill heaven’s prophecies about the King of Kings.”  Yes, how true!  But I am not surprised when God uses the mundane or insignificant for His will.  He is and always will be the God of the Unexpected!
            Is there a place in your history that is significant to you?  Mine would have to be Caldwell, New Jersey.  I grew up there, married there and my children were born there.  Like the Church of the Nativity, the church I attended for many years stands at the heart of the town and its beautiful spire rises above a bustling community.  Whenever I return, I remember events and people who have been a part of my life and helped to shape who I am.  Most importantly Caldwell played a critical role in my journey of faith.  It is where I recognized Jesus as my Savior and learned the Bible lessons that carried me over the peaks and valleys of life.  It is my Bethlehem; insignificant in the eyes of most, but a part of God’s plan in my life nonetheless.  Where is your Bethlehem and how has God used it to shape you?

Ann H. LeFevre, M. Div.
https://www.annhlefevre.com/, https://www.linked.com/in/annhlefevre/, https://www.facebook.com/ann.h.lefevre/

            Have you ever seen the aftermath of a major storm and been amazed at how many trees that once looked so sturdy and unmovable were toppled and tossed about as if they were a child’s toy?  Many years ago that was what I thought when Hurricane Sandy left her mark on the East Coast.  Countless trees were uprooted and overturned thanks to her high winds.  You could still see tree service trucks cleaning up broken tree limbs from roof tops and front lawns months after the storm subsided.  Branches of a different kind are of interest in the Bible.  Not the branches which sprout from the trees in our landscaping, but the family tree branches from which God promised to fulfill His promise of salvation in Genesis 3:15.  As the thread of this promise is woven through the tapestry of Scripture we learn that it will stem from Judah (Gen. 49:8-10) and eventually be specifically completed in the line of David (2 Sam. 7:8-16).  And it is with this thought in mind that Matthew begins his account of the life, ministry, death and resurrection of Jesus with a genealogy.  For Matthew what is about to follow is deeply rooted in one extremely important promise/agreement to one particular man, David, the son of Jesse.  We call this promise “The Davidic Covenant”.

          The Davidic Covenant carries within it three specific promises from God to David.  First, God promised that David’s physical line of descendants would endure forever (2 Sam. 7:16; 2 Chron. 21:7; Ps. 89: 3-4, 36).  Second, God promised that David’s “kingdom” would never pass away permanently.  This meant that the kingdom might not be functional at all times throughout history, but that God could always restore it.  And thirdly, God promised David that his “throne” or his authority to rule, would also never cease permanently.  This does not mean that there would always be a descendant of David on the throne in Jerusalem, but it did mean that the possibility of one of David’s descendants being able to ascend to the throne would always be a reality (2 Chron. 7:18; Ps. 89:3-4; Jer. 33:17).  All these promises relied solely on God’s ability to make them happen.  They did not rest upon David or his ability to bring them about.

          David acknowledged God’s faithful promises as his life drew to a close and affirmed them in 2 Sam. 23:1-7.  He likens God’s ability to fulfill this covenant to nature’s ability to make a branch grow and calls to mind other passages with the same imagery (Is. 4:2; 11:5; Zech. 3:8; 6:12-13; Jer. 23:5; 33:15-16).  In Ps. 132 David repeats the details of this wonderful promise: that God has sworn it (v. 11), that it is David’s descendants the promise is concerned with (v.12), and that Jerusalem is where the eternal throne will be established (v. 13).  Once again in verse 17, David affirms that it is God who will cause this branch to grow.  If you have ever seen a bush, such as a Forsythia, trimmed to the ground in the Fall send up new shoots in the Spring, this is the picture being drawn here.  Bushes are one thing, but a whole line of human descendants cut off and then rejuvenated?  Crazy, right?!
This aspect of the Davidic Covenant truly appears to be a contradiction then when the nation of Judah is led into exile (2 Ki. 25:1-11; 2 Chron. 36:15-20).  The rule of David is never fully restored after 586 B. C. for even though the King of Persia eventually allows the Jews to return to worship in Jerusalem, the nation will remain a vassal state in one form or another until 1948 A. D.!  Yet the promise to David remains a strong undercurrent in the flow of history.  Today’s Promised Land looks different than it did at the time of Jesus’ birth border-wise, but the fulfillment of the promise to David involved more than a physical throne.  It hinged more specifically on the One who would sit on the throne.  Thus, the genealogies found in Mt. 1 and Lk. 3 highlight Christ’s physical connection to David (through Joseph’s line in Mt. and Mary’s in Lk.).  Matthew is especially concerned with this in light of the role and purpose of the Messiah, whom he is establishing to be Jesus via His lineage and association with David (Mt. 1:1).

          The three aspects of the Davidic Covenant come to fruition in Christ as the rightful heir to the throne.  Christ’s reign will not come to an end (Lk. 1:31-33), Christ will sit on the throne and reign from Jerusalem (Acts 2:30), and His reign will be eternal (Is. 9:7).  The Bible is clear that the Davidic Covenant will be fulfilled (Ps. 89:28-37; Ps. 132:11; Jer. 23:5-6; 33:14-17; 20-21; Lk. 1:31-33).  These passages show there was never any doubt that the Covenant would not be fulfilled.  So, if God is so specifically faithful to His promises to David (Mt. 1:22-23), we know that all He has promised to us will be fulfilled as well (Jn. 14:26; Rom. 8:38-39; Eph. 2:8-10; 1 Thes. 5:24; 1 Jn. 1:9; Rev. 22:20 to name a few!).

Ann H. LeFevre, M. Div.
https://www.annhlefevre.com/, https://www.linked.com/in/annhlefevre/, https://www.facebook.com/ann.h.lefevre/

            Our journey had finally come to an end.  We’d traveled thousands of miles across a vast wilderness and through the rugged Judean hills.  Jerusalem lay before us with its spectacular Temple glistening in the sun, but this was not where we were headed.  Our destination lay on Jerusalem’s southwestern side- the palace of King Herod.  We were ushered in to the main hall with great pomp and circumstance.  The man’s reputation had certainly preceded him, but we had one question that only he or his advisors could answer, so here we were, seeking an audience and hoping we would be leaving with the answer we sought.  After Herod and his sages determined the royal star we’d seen in the heavenlies had announced a king was to be born in Bethlehem, we made the short journey to the sleepy little suburb as quickly as possible.  Amazingly, after we found Him, we were warned by a dream that Herod would soon turn on us, so we left immediately taking the alternate route home.

            This brief synopsis of the Wisemen’s journey may be imaginary but it does summarize the events recorded in Mt. 2:1-23.  The Biblical account, in its succinct and direct way, also accurately portrays what history has revealed of Herod’s leadership and the reputation he held in the ancient world.  Herod took on the role of governor in Galilee in 47 B. C. at the age of 25.  By 37 B. C. after murdering several rivals, a wife and two sons, surviving a bloody civil war and using his ability to ingratiate himself with all the right Roman rulers, Herod was appointed kingship.  He did this by demonstrating unfailing loyalty to the interests of Rome. 

            His position was always precarious; not with Rome but with the people he ruled.  Herod was an Idumean, technically a “half-Jew, half Edomite”.  In the eyes of the Jewish people and according to Scripture, he was unfit to rule in Jerusalem because of this lineage.  As a client king of Rome, he also symbolized foreign domination, especially to those who were descendants of the Hasmoneans, the ruling class he had all but eliminated to gain his position.  In an effort to gain support and favor in the eyes of the Jews he had divorced his Idumean wife and married Miramne, woman of Hasmonean royalty, but the plan failed miserably.

            During the years of 25-14 B. C. a time of unmatched prosperity took place in Judea.  During this time Herod made his mark as one the greatest builders in the ancient world.  Ancient Samaria was rebuilt, a harbor port was constructed at Caesarea Maritima, luxury vacation palaces were constructed at Jericho and Masada, and a massive fortress/burial ground was built just outside of Bethlehem for him.  But Herod’s greatest attempt at placating the Jewish people was also his greatest blunder in winning their favor.  He undertook renovation of Zerubbabel’s Temple which was first dedicated in 515 B. C.  Begun in 19 B. C. the project was not completed until 64 A. D., long after Herod’s death in 4 B. C.  Although the general improvements were probably needed, the Roman insignia Herod placed over the door frame which led into the Holy Place and Holy of Holies was offensive to everyone who worshipped there.

            While Herod may have been a talented builder, he was horrible person.  Overly suspicious, ruthless, and paranoid, no one was safe from his murderous hands.  Days before his death he murdered his third son even though he had been designated as Herod’s successor.  One of his most notorious acts of murder was connected to the visit of the Wisemen.  These astronomer/astrologists had come to him for information concerning a king they determined was the reason for the celestial phenomena they’d been tracking through the desert.  When they did not return to tell him where they’d found the “king”, but knowing they’d gone to Bethlehem, he ordered the execution of any male child under the age of two in that area (Mt. 2:16) to protect his legacy.  However, just like the Wisemen who were warned in a dream not to return to Herod, Joseph had also been warned to leave Bethlehem and to take his family to Egypt (Mt. 2:13-15), which he did.

            Herod’s paranoia drove him to do unthinkable things.  He ordered the murder of those innocent children thinking that he could stop something that was ultimately God’s plan (2 Sam. 7:12-16).  Matthew notes that even though Herod intended to eliminate the child, his command actually brought about the fulfillment of a prophecy about the Messiah (Mt. 2:14; Jer. 31:15; 40:1).  Herod’s kingship was not only illegitimate, it was one marked by death.  Matthew’s exhaustive list of Jesus’ ancestors proved His kingship was indeed legal.  But more importantly, Jesus as David’s descendant gives life to all who put their trust in Him (Mt. 20:25-28; Jn. 5:21; 17:1-3).  The Wisemen knew who to trust.  But the question must also be asked you.  Who do you trust- earthly “kings” like Herod or the King of Kings, Jesus Christ? 

Ann H. LeFevre, M. Div.
https://www.annhlefevre.com/, https://www.linked.com/in/annhlefevre/, https://www.facebook.com/ann.h.lefevre/

            One of the things that always intrigued me about my family tree is the journey my ancestors made from Scotland to the United States.  I gaze at the copy I have of the ship’s manifest that lists their passage and wonder what it must have been like crossing the Atlantic in the 1800’s from the land where your family had been for generations to a new country that boasted opportunities for a better life.  But this week a new thought entered my mind as I read Micah’s prophecy concerning the birthplace of God’s promised Messiah.  I wondered if you had asked William Hamilton, who was born in Hamilton, Scotland in 1783 where his great, great, great, great, great, grandson would be born, would he have been able to name the year (2010), let alone the place (Batavia, NY)!  An incredible 227 years separates William from my grandson Sam, but over 700 years passes before Matthew records the fulfillment of Micah 5:2!

            This thought sent me on a mathematical quest.  Now, I am not one for figures and calculations, so I let the internet do the dirty work for me!  And lo and behold, the probability that Micah would accurately predict the birthplace of the Messiah turns out to be 1 in 2.8 times 10 to the fifth power or roughly 1 in 7,150/2,000,000,000 that Bethlehem would be pinpointed as the birthplace.  If you understand math, you are probably thinking, “Impressive!” right now.  If you’re like me and struggle with numbers, you’re thinking, “WOW!!!!”  The truth is though, that this is only one of hundreds of prophecies concerning the Messiah.  Alfred Edersheim, the well-known scholar counted 456 of them!  Imagine the probability factor with any number combination of points fulfilled and the “chance” of them all occurring is staggering.

            The most ground-breaking documentation of this nature was conducted by Professor Peter Stoner* at Westmount College.  Working with a group of students, Stoner took eight of the most well-known prophecies concerning the Messiah and calculated that the ability of one man to fulfill all eight of them would be 1 in 10 to the 17th power.  Just how big is that number?  Well, 10 to the 17th power contains 157 zeros!  That’s astounding.  But let’s put a picture with it.  If we were to take 10 tickets, put a mark on one, put them in a basket, blindfold a man, and then ask him to pick out the ticket with the mark on it, his chances of doing so is 1 in 10.  But in the realm of Messianic prophecy, the picture looks more like this.  The BIG number with the 157 zeros represents a pile of quarters, with one quarter bearing some sort of mark buried within the pile.  Even without a blindfold, what do you think your chances would be of pulling out the one with the mark the first time?  Probably as close to how accurate William Hamilton would have been in predicting where his 7th generation grandson would be born!

            There are a number of prominent prophecies concerning the Messiah’s birth.  First, he was to be a descendent of David- Ps. 110:1; 2 Sam. 7:12; Mic. 5:2.  The fulfillment of this prophecy is found in Mt. 1:1-17, 22:43-44; Mk. 12:36; Lk. 3:23-38, 20:42-43; and Jn. 7:42.  Secondly, the Messiah would be born to a virgin- Is. 7:14 (and also noted in the Septuagint- Is.8: 8, 10) which is recorded as fulfilled in Mt. 1:20-23 and Lk. 1:34.  As we have already noted, the Messiah was to be born in Bethlehem- Mic. 5:2 and the Gospel writers take note of that in Mt. 2:4-6; Lk. 2:1-5 and Jn. 7:42.  Three other notable prophecies concerning the Messiah’s birth (but often overlooked) include the flight to Egypt (Hos. 1:1; Mt. 2:13-15), the slaughter of innocent children in an effort to deter the Messiah’s mission (Jer. 31:15; Mt. 2:16-18), and the Messiah’s Divine Sonship (Ps. 2:7; Lk. 1:35; Acts 13:32-33; Heb. 1:1-6). Undergirding these prophecies are the great promises of God found in the Adamic Covenant (Gen. 3:15), the Abrahamic Covenant (Gen. 12:3), the Mosaic Covenant (Dt. 18:15 in particular) and the Davidic Covenant (2 Sam. 7:16).  While the prophecies concerning the Messiah are important, perhaps the more important issue behind them is God’s faithfulness to fulfill the things He has promised to His people, both Jew and Gentile alike.  And finally, as Stoner concluded, “Any man who rejects Christ as the Son of God is rejecting a fact, proved perhaps more absolutely than any other fact in the world.”  The “odds” make it clear.  No man could possibly fulfill all of the prophecies as well as Jesus did unless He was God and that is the whole point of Matthew’s Gospel.

Ann H. LeFevre, M. Div.                                                                                                                               
https://www.annhlefevre.com/, https://www.linked.com/in/annhlefevre/, https://www.facebook.com/ann.h.lefevre/

*Stoner’s ground-breaking book, Science Speaks, c. 1957 Moody Press, might be difficult to find in print but there a number of articles on the internet which quote the work extensively.  See www.israelsmessiah.com/prophecy/messiah/probability.htm for starters.

                                                                                                                                             

            The air is filled with anticipation.  Excited conversations fill the arena.  Children squirm impatiently in their seats.  Adults glance at their watches to check the time.  Suddenly the lights begin to dim and the chatter softens and disappears.  The air becomes clothed in darkness until a single spotlight shines on the curtains at the back of the stage.  To the delight of the crowd, a hand reaches through them and the Ringmaster steps through the curtains.  The crowd responds with applause.  “Ladies and Gentlemen and children of all ages,” he calls out as he proceeds to introduce the famous Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus.  After the amenities have been dispensed the eager audience is rewarded with all the thrills and surprises of “the Greatest Show on Earth”.

            We’ve all had to introduce someone to another person we know at some point in our lives.  While our introductions may not be as spectacular as the one in the circus, they are just as important.  Much like the Ringmaster who extols the daring feats of the acts you are about to see in the circus, the Book of Matthew serves as an introduction to the One whom the prophets have been promising would come, the Messiah.  Matthew does this by quoting the Old Testament 50 times and alluding to it 70 more times as he presents Jesus, first through His genealogy (Mt. 1:1-17), and then through the events of His life, death, and resurrection as well as the things He taught and did.  Gordon Fee and Douglas Stuart divide the book in this way:  Prologue (1:1-2:23); Introduction (3:1-4:11); Proclamation (4:12-7:29);  Power and Mission (8:1-10:42); Questioning and Opposition (11:1-13:52); Opposition Continues (13:53-18:35) and Confession (16:13-20); Jerusalem Receives and Rejects Her King (19:1-25:46); and Jesus, the Messianic King, is Tried, Crucified and Raised from the Dead (26:1-28:20).

            Matthew does not present Jesus’ story in a strictly chronological fashion as we are prone to do when we retell events nowadays, rather he groups the important information about Jesus topically.   As you read through Matthew’s account you will find such literary highlights as The Sermon on the Mount which emphasizes that ethics go beyond the Law and into the heart (Mt. 5-7), Jesus’ use of parables in His teachings (Mt. 13:3-8, 18-23, 24-30, 31-32, 33-35, 36-43, 44, 45-46, 47-52; 18:23-35; 20:1-15; 21:28-31, 33-41, 42-45; 22:1-14; 25:1-13, 14-30), frequent references to the Kingdom of Heaven and what it means to be a citizen/disciple in that kingdom (Mt. 7:14 in association with Lev. 19:18; Mt. 16:24-27), the Olivet Discourse where Jesus prepares His disciples for His departure and return (Mt. 24), and the decisive moment where the disciples confess their belief that Jesus is the Messiah (Mt. 16:13-20). 

            One of the most striking features of Matthew’s Gospel is his frequent use of the formula, “this was to fulfill that which was spoken through the prophet…” signifying that every event in Jesus’ life happens according to God’s specific will- even the Cross.  The evidence of Scriptural fulfillment throughout Jesus’ life is quite impressive (Mt. 1:22-23/Is. 7:14; Mt. 2:5-6/Mic. 5:2; Mt. 2:15/Hos. 1:1; Mt. 2:17-18/Jer. 31:15; Mt. 2:23/Is. 11:1; Mt. 3:3/Is. 40:3; Mt. 4:14-16/Is. 9:1-2; Mt. 8:17/Is. 53:4; Mt. 11:10/Mal. 3:1; Mt. 12:17-21/Is. 42:1-4; Mt. 13:14-15/Is. 6:9-10; Mt. 13:35/Ps. 78:2-3; Mt. 15:7-9/Is. 29:13; Mt. 21:4-5/Is. 62:11 and Zech. 11:12-13; Mt. 27:9-10).  This aspect of His life and ministry stands as a testimony to the certainty that Jesus was the promised Messiah.  Jesus also quoted Scripture in reference to Himself (for example: Mt. 4:1-11; 5:21-43; 11:20-24; 15:1-9; 19:1-22; 24:25-30; 26:30-31; 27:45-50) as His own proof concerning this Divine mission and role.  A final literary piece of icing on the cake is Matthew’s inclusio, a literary device which serves as a set of bookends surrounding the bulk of what is written about a person, topic, or event.  In Matthew’s Gospel the inclusio is found in Mt. 1:23 and Mt. 28:20.  Both of these verses contain a statement about God’s presence.  Matthew is saying in an artistic and poetic way, “The Messiah has come.  He is God with us.  And here are all the things that prove it.”

            Many years ago a friend shared his unique story of faith with me and I have never forgotten it.  As a Jewish man he considered the “Christian Bible” (i.e. the New Testament) to be riddled with fairy tales and false information about God.  He was certain it was skewed.  But someone challenged him about his perception of the New Testament saying, “How do you know this?  Read through Matthew and tell me what you think.”  So to prove that person wrong he began to read it.  It turned out to be a powerful introduction to the promised Messiah and his life was never the same after that.  You and I have been sent on a mission to introduce people to the Messiah (Mt. 28:19-20).  Let’s take our inspiration from Matthew and get to it!

Ann H. LeFevre, M. Div.
https://www.annhlefevre.com/, https://www.linked.com/in/annhlefevre/, https://www.facebook.com/ann.h.lefevre/

          In March of 1979 my father, Sherwood Hamilton, was attending a retreat for church leaders when he received an exciting announcement.  He had become a grandfather!  From that day forward he always had a special place in his heart for his first-born grandchild and “Pop Pop” always had a special place in the heart of my son Erick.  In 2010 I called my father with another special announcement.  “Erick and Becky had a little boy Dad,” I told him, “And they named him Samuel Sherwood.”   I will never forget the sound of my father’s voice repeating that name over and over again with such pride and tenderness.  It meant so much to him (and to me)! 

            Advent (the four weeks prior to Christmas) reminds us of several amazing announcements within the Christmas story.  A census is announced for taxation purposes and it propels Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem where prophecy is fulfilled when Christ is born (Mic. 5:2; Lk. 2:1-5). Angels announce to shepherds the birth of a Savior (Lk. 2:8-15) and a star announces to Magi that a king has been born which sends them on an international journey to find him (Mt. 2:1-2).  But the first announcement is perhaps the most amazing of all.  Imagine Gabriel’s thoughts as he approaches a young woman in her early teens living in the small village of Nazareth to proclaim she is to be the mother of God’s Chosen One (Lk. 1:26-38)!  Gabriel had carried messages to Daniel (Dan. 8:16-27, 9:21-27) one of God’s greatest prophets, and now he is sent to a simple and humble peasant girl, one who appears to be at the completely opposite end of the esteemed spectrum of humanity (Lk. 1:26-27).   Yet Mary’s devotion and faith are equal to that of Daniel’s which is evidenced in her response to this heavenly messenger (Lk. 1:38).

          It was no small thing for Mary to accept what God had willed for her.  As a betrothed woman she was legally bound to Joseph and to be found “with child” by someone else carried dire consequences.  The least of these would be public shame; the worst death by stoning.   And yet, once the obvious question has been answered (vs. 34), Mary humbly submits to God’s will.  It all seems so neat and tidy which has made us become so accustomed to hearing this aspect of the Christmas story that we’ve completely forgotten the impact of this announcement.  Or is it that we just do not recognize the significance of the announcement because we have minimized who brought the message?  Have we become so familiar with the promise given to David that we pass over the fact that between David’s time and Mary’s almost 1,000 years has gone by?  Whatever may have caused our disregard, it is time to listen again, to hear the words anew, “Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call His name, Jesus” (Lk. 1:31; Matthew’s version ties Jesus’ name to prophecy and purpose: Mt. 1:18-25.).

            The name of Jesus is significant both in the Christmas story and throughout the Book of Acts.  Most first-born sons would have been named after their father.  Jesus should have been Joseph Jr., but instead His name is a different name based on the same root word.  It is the translation of that name that propels the Gospel message in Acts- Yahweh Saves.  From Acts 1:1 to 28:31, the kerygma (the proclamation) is all about Jesus and the fulfillment of that name.  Each miraculous event, every speech, sermon, appeal or monologue is centered around Him and the finished work of the cross (Acts 2:22-24; 3:13-16; 5:30 etc.).  Every road or mode of travel and the places those roads lead to moves the message forward and throughout the Roman Empire (Acts 1:12; 8:5; 9:19; 13:1,4; 14:8; 16:1, 11, 12; 17:1; 18:1, 23; 19:1; 20:13-15: 21:1-4; 27:1; 28:1, 16).  The people who lift their voices to tell of this Good News (whether they are known or unknown) are willing to risk their lives to get the message out because they believe the meaning of that name has come to pass in Jesus (Acts 15:24-26).  In fact, within the 38 chapters of Acts, Jesus’ appears 70 times just to drive that point home.  When it is mentioned in other forms or phrases, such as “Christ”, “Jesus Christ”, or “Our Savior, Jesus Christ”, the number becomes too numerous to count!  Peter, John, Stephen, Paul and countless others do everything, “in the Name of Jesus” (Acts 2:38; 3:6; 4:10, 18; 5:40; 8:12; 9:5-27 and more of course!), underscoring that not only is the entire Book of Acts focused on it, but all of Scripture for that matter (Is. 9:6; Acts 4:12; Phil. 2:9-11).  My father was truly touched that his first great-grandson was named after him.  As Christ-ians we are named after the Savior whose birth we celebrate now.   But how often do we repeat it or proclaim it as it was in Acts?  It is just as important for the message to go out today as it was back then in a culture that was not much different than ours.  Therefore, like our faithful predecessors of the first century, we too must be about the business of spreading the Good News with every word we speak, with every deed we do and in every place that we find ourselves.  This is not a message to be kept to oneself! (Acts 5:42).  So, speak up!

Ann H. LeFevre, M. Div.
https://www.annhlefevre.com/, https://www.linked.com/in/annhlefevre/, https://www.facebook.com/ann.h.lefevre/

            It’s been a sad observation of mine (and many others) that children do not play outside as much as they used to.  I remember the entire block which I grew up on as a huge playground where the neighborhood kids spent hours riding bikes and playing tag.  One version of tag called “Red Rover” involved lining up on a base line and the “it” person designating who had to run across it to the other base by reciting a simple poem, “Red Rover, Red Rover, I call (at this point they would name a color) to come over!”  Then all those who had that color on, would have to madly dash to the other side and avoid being tagged.  If you did get tagged, then you were out and doomed to stay frozen in place until another player who was still free, could tag you and unfreeze you- thus- “saving” you.  I don’t remember how the game ended but it appears from my memory that this game could (and did) go on for hours!  Red Rover in its child-friendly simplicity gives us a perfect picture of a Savior.   Without someone’s help you could not get “unfrozen”.  You needed someone else to save you.

            Richard’s Complete Bible dictionary defines the Biblical concept of the word “savior” in this way:  One who delivers another from some physical or spiritual plight.  The Old Testament portrays God as Israel’s Savior from foreign enemies in such expressions as “God our Savior” (Ps. 65:5).  In this sense the term “savior” is not so much a name as it is a descriptive term, stressing that God is the One who intervenes with saving acts. In the New Testament, “Savior” is applied to the Father (1 Tim. 1:1; Tit. 1:3), but more often refers to Jesus (Jn. 4:42; Phil. 3:20; Tit. 3:6).  In His death and resurrection, Jesus became the “the Savior of the world” (1 Jn. 4:14).  His saving act rescues all who believe from every consequence of sin.

            Names are very important in Scripture for in their meaning they reveal such things as nature, character, position and accomplishment.  When either God or Jesus is “named” in such a way, the Scriptures are directing us specifically to that aspect of their Being.  This is particularly important in regard to Jesus.  God the Father through the angel Gabriel specifically tells Mary that the Son she will bear is the Savior by designating the name He will receive (Lk. 1:31).  Matthew fills in this picture even further when it is explained to Joseph why this particular name will be the name of this Child (Mt. 1:20).  The name Jesus (Yeshua in the Hebrew) is a variation of the name Y’hoshua (Ye-hoe-shoe-uh), or Joshua as we say it in English.  It finds its roots in the most holy name of God, Yahweh, and can also be used as the masculine form of the word salvation.  Literally translated it means, “Yahweh saves”.  The angel tells Joseph that he is to name the child “Yahweh Saves” in that it designates the nature, character, position and future accomplishment of this most precious child and signifying to us God’s way of salvation, an accomplishment that only He can fulfill.  For Matthew there is also a greater significance to this name as he sees God’s word through the prophet Isaiah being fulfilled in it (Mt. 1:20-23; Is. 7:14).

          The Book of Acts is filled with passages that attest to the fact that Jesus is the Savior and that He came to save people bound by sin (Acts 5:30-32; 13:23).  It also holds accounts of men who thought they could do the same.  Herod Agrippa (also called King Herod in Acts but not to be confused with his grandfather who was instrumental in the Christmas story) was such a man.  The account of his speech to the crowd at Caesarea Maritima is documented by several historians, most notably Josephus, but it is also recorded in the Book of Acts (Acts 12:1-4, 20-24). If you’ve ever been to the amphitheater there you can imagine the scene- the seats crowded with an audience out to pay homage to the emperor Claudius.  Herod Agrippa in a garment woven with silver threads is conducting the opening ceremony. The perfect acoustics allowed his voice to travel above the noise from the crowd and the waves.  The sunlight bouncing off the ocean gave his appearance a heavenly glow.  But his status and wealth most likely impressed the crowd even more.  Why wouldn’t a man like this be akin to a god?  When the crowd called him such he neither affirmed nor denied it but Luke notes this greatly displeased the Lord (v.23).  And like all human saviors it didn’t take much to bring him down.  Luke states he was “eaten by worms”.  Prestige, status, power, all these attributes seem humanly appropriate when it comes to the ability to save people.

          But who would have expected a baby to be the ultimate Savior?  A baby appears to us no more able to save the world than he is able to run across the playing field of a Red Rover game to unfreeze all the captured players.  Yet the Bible tells us that this is what Jesus came to do and did (Rom. 5:6-10)! Because the Law required a perfect sacrifice for the covering of sin, Christ lived a sin-free life in perfect fulfillment of those requirements (Mt. 5:17).  As the sinless One, He was able to save us from the fate of sin- death (Jn. 3:16-17; Rom. 3:21-26, 10:11-13; 2 Cor. 5:21:  Eph. 5:23; Phil. 3:10; 1 Tim. 1:15, 2:3-6; Tit. 3:4-6; Heb. 2:17-18; 1 Jn. 2:1-2, 4:9-10).  And that my friends is why the Baby of Advent is truly the Savior of the World (Lk. 2:10-11)!

Ann H. LeFevre, M. Div.
https://www.annhlefevre.com/, https://www.linked.com/in/annhlefevre/, https://www.facebook.com/ann.h.lefevre/