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As we enter the advent season we will also transition from talking about the Holy Spirit Himself to the results and actions of the Spirit in the life of Christ

The setting

It appears that the aim of Matthew was to declare the Gospel so that it would appeal to Jews.

Early tradition and its content suggest it was written in Palestine or Syria.

The use of the OT and Jewish emphasis would indicate a Jew writing for Jews.

He aims to prove the Messiahship of Jesus but also presents the universal application of the Gospel.

It is possible that Matthew intended it to be used as a teaching manual and this is particularly suggested by the ecclesiastical teaching and matters pertaining to Christian growth.

What does the author say about the Spirit?

The Spirit:
• was involved with the birth of Jesus (1:18, 20; cf. Luke 1:35)

• was promised as part of Jesus’ baptism with fire (3:11//Mark 1:8//Luke 3:16
• was associated with Jesus (3:16//Mark 1:10//Luke 3:22; 4:1//Mark 1:12//Luke 4:1)

• inspires speech (10:20//Mark 13:11//Luke 12:12; 12:18; 22:43//Mark 12:36)

• was associated with deliverance from demons (12:28)

• can be the subject of blasphemy (12:31, 32//Mark 3:29//Luke 12:10)

• is a member of the godhead (28:19)

And so today we are going to take a brief look at the actions of the Holy Spirit in Jesus life at the beginning of His life and ministry

Obviously I do not have time to go through every healing and action of Jesus in the Book of Matthew, but I hope to lay out some principles for you so that as you read through the gospels

We will taking a look at the reason for Him coming

The Holy Spirit and Jesus, cooperated while Jesus was here on the earth engaged in this earthly ministry.

And so my desire today is for you to be impressed with Jesus

The Spirit was involved with the birth of Jesus (1:18, 20)

Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child of the Holy Spirit…But as he considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.

Exposition

The first reference to the Spirit in the gospel of Matthew is in the context of new life

Similarly, at key events of the life of Jesus, the Spirit is mentioned, including his baptism (3:16), his first encounter with the devil (4:1) and the commissioning of the disciples (28:19).

The narrative was not intended to offer an explanation for a virgin birth, as to how it happened or why.

Rather, it was to establish the role of the Spirit as a central element of the birth.

Also rather than Joseph be fearful, he is encouraged to recognize the positive implications of the Spirit having conceived the child.

The reference to the Spirit would remind a Jewish reader of a number of relevant characteristics when associated with a person.

The Spirit was responsible for :

- Creation (Gen 1:2),
-
- the giving of life (Gen 6:3)

- and affirming and empowering Messiah (Isa 11:2).

Not only did a reference to the Spirit indicate that the birth was divinely initiated but also, the one born was ushered into life as a result of the Spirit’s activity as was prophesied

The Spirit, not Joseph or Mary, was the one who initiated the procedure that would lead to the birth of Jesus.

The significance to the original readers

The nation into which Jesus was born was desperate for help because of the hopeless despair that pervaded it.

The Jews found themselves pressurized from a number of sources and they were unable to respond with any expectation of success.

The fact that the nation had been subjugated by Rome was a major problem.

Not only did the moral, religious and intellectual influences of the Roman empire upset the religious standards of the Jews, but also the taxation burden, exacerbated by the tax collection system, humiliated them, reminding them of their weakness and inability to change their situation.

Foreign soldiers, based throughout the country to quell potential revolution and to protect the Eastern borders, brought fear and insecurity as well as ceremonially and ethically contaminating the cities where they were based; in Jerusalem, they were housed in the Fortress Antonia, next to the Temple.

The nation, though rooted in the worship of God, was bombarded by other religious voices including the Emperor cult and mystery religions.

There was a crying need for transformation and hope to lighten the crushing load of despair that burdened a people blinded by their own religion.

The message of Matthew offered hope associated with the birth of Jesus, ushered in by the Spirit.

The longed-for new era had begun.

The Spirit was promised as part of Jesus’ baptism with fire (3:11)

I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry; he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.

Exposition

These are the words of John the Baptist concerning Jesus in which he stated that Jesus would provide a different baptism to his.

Whereas he baptized in water, Jesus was to baptize “with the Holy Spirit and with fire”.

Baptism

We understand baptize in with its watery connection of being overwhelmed or inundated with the Spirit.

It is descriptive of a powerful infusion of the Spirit into the life of an individual.

Not only is his baptism superior to that of John’s but also this indicates the superior nature of Jesus.

…with the Holy Spirit

The association of the with power in the OT, the creation of new life and the commencement of the new era of the Messiah would have provided a powerful sense of expectancy for the listeners to John the Baptist.

…with fire

To the contemporary reader, fire may be identified with warmth, a cosy scene or uncontrollable danger.

However, these would not be the most immediate associations that a Jew would have with fire.

Rather, “fire” would be reminiscent of :
- the protection and direction of God (Exod 13:21, 22),
- refining properties associated with the cleansing of sin (Isa 4:4) and judgment (Isa 11:4) in which the fire removes the dross whilst purifying the metal (Zech 13:9),
- the presence of a holy God (Exod 3:2) and judgment (Isa 29:6).

The Spirit is also associated with fire in the OT in the context of judgment (Isa 4:4).

Although fire is associated with a number of features, it appears that its link with judgment is the most likely reason for its association with the Spirit.

Not only does the Spirit affirm the believer at the beginning of their walk with God as children of God but also he judges sin wherever he sees it.

The significance to the original readers

The Jews believed that the Messiah would be endowed with the Spirit (Isa 11:2)

Matthew however presents Jesus in an exalted way, demonstrating to his Jewish audience that he is superior to the long awaited Jewish Messiah.

He was not just an anointed man, albeit with supernatural powers.

He functioned as God, demonstrated by his authority to give the Holy Spirit to others.

The Spirit was associated with Jesus (3:16)

And when Jesus was baptized, he went up immediately from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and alighting on him. (Matt 3:16)

Exposition

The baptism of Jesus occurred in association with three other events, the opening of the heavens, the Spirit of God descending like a dove and the affirming words of the Father.

Why the descent of the Spirit?

There seems no reason to assume that this was the first occasion on which the Spirit was associated with Jesus.

• We must remember that Matthew is not attempting to suggest that before the baptism of Jesus, the Spirit was not present in the life of Jesus.

• It is not that Jesus was just a man who now becomes a super-man.

• He always was supreme but now, the evidence is presented in the presence of the Spirit who accompanies him.

• The baptism of Jesus in general, and the descent of the Spirit in particular, thus may have primarily functioned as an affirmation of Jesus and a confirmation of his Messianic role, any empowering being supplementary though associated.

• The presence of the Spirit acts as a powerful confirmation of Jesus’ heavenly origin and relationship.

• Jesus, at the Jordan, is legitimized by the Spirit. He may be empowered by him but he is certainly endorsed by him.

• Jesus’ experience at the Jordan was a unique moment in history as was his person and mission.

And so the question we are looking at today is why did Jesus in fact come?

The Reason For Jesus : 4:23ff

Let me give you some background before I answer the question of why He came

In the OT times as well as in the time of Jesus most people thought God sent sickness to punish them

Remember when Jesus met the man who was blind – the first question the disciples asked was why is he blind – did he sin ? But he was born blind – therefore his parents must have sinned

Jesus never linked personal sin with sickness

Paul does and James does but Jesus never did – but they believed it – so imagine when Jesus heals someone and they are restored – what happens to the sin that they think has caused that?

Well my sin must be dealt with as well – but how can that be – only God can forgive sin?

It cant be that he is God is it – but he healed me. If God made me sick and Jesus healed me – what does that make Jesus ?

So what can the Jewish person who was sick – if they go to the doctors when God has made them sick then they are going against God.

There is only one thing to do and that is for them to go to God and say sorry in a hope that God will heal them

So lets see how this works out with Jesus

People are ill and come to Jesus – why am I ill Jesus ?

Please tell me what sin I have committed so that I can be sorry for it –

Jesus does not say anything about their personal sin – what can I do Jesus – you don’t have to do anything ?

Just come to me and I will help you – so who is in control?

For the people of the day who were not Jews it was the priests and the doctors

For the Jews God is in control

But Jesus’ message is – I am in control.

Then the next question is – who are you Jesus?

Some said – you are an imposter – the devil has given you power

Some will say I think you are God and I want to follow you

And the message to the readers of the gospel is what will you do with Jesus ?

Will I be impressed with Jesus when I read the stories – will I learn things about Jesus that I did not know before – will I learn things about God that I did not know before ?

Will Jesus point me to God?

Of course the answer is yes

But here is our danger – because we have been Christians for a number of years and we know the answer is yes we lose the possibility of being startled by the remarkable stories that the gospel writers tell.

So I want you keep pretending that you are not yet a follower of Jesus – prepare to be surprised by Jesus all over again

Imagine that you are seeing Jesus for the first time

Jesus delegated his authority to his disciples – his healings are meant to teach us something – not a better healer – but to teach us something about Himself

If Jesus wanted to leave a method he could have – but he healed people in so many different ways.

Right in the beginning of Matthew’s gospel he tells us some things that are very important about Jesus’ agenda

Did Jesus come to heal and cast out demons ?

There are a lot of stories of that

But is that the main reason he came ?

That is what the people thought

Matthew 4 verse 24 it says that His fame spread – why was that?

In the previous verse it tells us that Jesus healed many diseases

And look what happens in verse 24

Did anyone come to have their sins forgiven ?

Did anyone ask if they could be a follower of Jesus ?

Did anyone want to be a disciple ?

No - they wanted their body’s to be healed.

Very early in the ministry of Jesus they had a misunderstanding of the reason He came ?

“The great healer has come” they said

Right at the beginning of His ministry His heart was broken because people see him as a wonder worker

And right at the end of his life they welcomed him into Jerusalem as a miracle worker

In fact on the day he is welcomed into Jerusalem as a miracle worker He walks right next to the temple and everything is going on in the temple as it has always been – the same corruption in the temple – the same old same old

Jesus has been ministering in that city for years – and the religious have not changed their ways at all.

It is no wonder that when Jesus entered into Jerusalem on that occasion he wept

He cried because the city misunderstood him

And before Jesus died on the cross his heart had broken because people had thought that he simply was a healer

And Matthew does not want his readers to make the same mistake

So a few verses earlier he tells me why Jesus came

Look at Matthew 4:16 “the people living in darkness…”

So what does Jesus do in response to that ?

Verse 17 Jesus began to preach and to preach the Good News – preaching was number 1 in Jesus agenda

But it was not just any kind of preaching on anything – notice what the rest of that verse says

“repent for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand”

Number 2 in his agenda was to choose followers who could also preach.

And so in verse 18 Matthew records that Jesus chooses his followers

At this point in time he has not yet healed anyone because the agenda for him is to preach the good news

Now this is obvious to us but I emphasize this because many Christians misunderstand why Jesus is in their lives

Too many Christians think that Jesus has come into their lives to deal with their physical problems and to make their lives comfortable

But Jesus has come into this world to allow us the privilege of leading other people into the light

And to that he chooses disciples who will follow him and they in turn will lead others into the light

So before Jesus heals anyone he preaches and then he chooses followers who follow him immediately and then in verse 23 Matthew says Jesus was teaching and preaching

Then we have a few verses where Jesus healed and then Matthew says let get back to Jesus’ main priority – and in verse 2 chapter 5 Jesus is teaching again

And Matthew has Jesus teaching all the way through chapter 5.

And then he teaches all the way through Chapter 6 and that is another long chapter

And all the way through chapter 7

And I am saying “please Matthew tell me a story” tell me a healing story –

Matthew says “ I will in time”

But this is not why Jesus came

Jesus came to preach and to teach

And changing your lifestyle is much more important than changing your physical body

And it is only when we get to chapter 8 verse 1 when we have the first healing in the gospel of Matthew

The people wanted Jesus to heal them physically

But Matthew says that is not Jesus’ priority

Jesus has come to teach and preach

And I find it very interesting that the first healing Matthew talks about is the healing of a leper

In those days a leper was someone who was unclean

And I need to admit that when I read Matt 5/6/7 I feel a little unclean because I am not meeting the standards of a servant that Jesus is teaching about.

And even this story of healing has more to do with the teaching I have received.

It is as if Matthew is saying “I know what you are thinking now you have had all of this teaching – you are feeling a little unworthy – a little bit like that leper – a little unclean.”

Let me tell you what Jesus can do for you – he can make you whole

But hear the heart of Jesus – the heart of Jesus is to teach you

Let me give you an example of this –

A question of Service : 8:14-15

Matthew 8 – this is a well known story taught in Matthew Mark and Luke. It is the story where Jesus heals Peter’s mother-in-law.

And Matthew tells this story in a very unusual way.

It is unusual because it is different from the way Mark and Luke tell it

Matthew has an agenda on his heart – and he chooses to record this healing in order to further his agenda
If you had the stories of Matthew Mark and Luke next to each other you will see that they are all a little different.

They are written to different audiences – Matthew to a Jewish audience / Mark wrote to people suffering persecution in Rome / and Luke will write to an intellectual gentile audience.

So they will present their messages a little different to each other.

So let me just read this little story – it only takes two verses here in Matthew

This is not just a story about the healing of a lady - this is a story that reflects Jesus

Matthew 8:14-15

14Jesus went to the home of Peter, where he found that Peter’s mother-in-law was sick in bed with fever.
15He took her by the hand, and the fever left her. Then she got up and served Jesus a meal.

Who are the people in this story?

Jesus and Peter’s mother-in-law – they are the only people in the story.

When Mark tells the story the disciples are there also

When Matthew tells the story Jesus is in control – and the way Matthew tells it Jesus is the subject of every sentence

When Jesus enters Peter’s house Jesus saw the mother-in-law – Jesus touched her

You see the message from Matthew – no one needs to tell Jesus about the problem.

Jesus is in charge.

Then when the woman is healed who does she serve?

Jesus

When Mark and Luke tell the story they tell us that Jesus served them

For Mark and Luke the service of the lady demonstrates she has been healed

Luke says the lady had a very high fever

Luke says she is seriously ill. And so when I read she is serving the people she must be healed

For Mark and Luke the lesson is when Jesus restores he does it completely and He does it completely and immediately
Matthew has a different reason for telling his story – it is this

When Jesus heals the appropriate response is to serve him.

When Jesus touches your life – the appropriate response is to serve Jesus

I am sure it is no accident that Matthew says that this lady serves Jesus

And so the message to the readers is – will you do the same?

Will this lady serve Jesus because she has been healed by Jesus ?
Of course the answer is yes

But it is suggesting to us that Jesus is worthy of service.

No just because he has healed – but in healing he has demonstrated his worthiness

And look what Matthew then says in the next verses

Verses 18 to 22 are all about the subject of service

So a religious leader says I will follow you anywhere Jesus – I will be your servant

And so Jesus gives guidance as to what it means to be a proper servant

But before he says that we have already seen this lady demonstrating what it means to be a follower of Jesus

I wonder if Matthew had a little smile on his face when he wrote this story – who does he have serving Jesus ?

Is it one of the disciples – a special religious person – no he chooses one of the marginalized people in Jewish society?

A woman and Jesus puts the spotlight on this marginalized person

And he says to the men in his audience and the people who thought they were religious and the people who thought that God smiled on them because they were Jewish leaders and he says:

“This woman serves me - she is your example – will you be like her ?”

We will want to say yes -

Matthew wants his readers to do the same

With God the Holy Spirit Nothing Is Impossible
In the parallel verses where the announcement of Christ’s birth was announced to Mary in Luke 1 verses 37 and 38 the angel Gabriel gives the pregnancy of barren Elizabeth as evidence for Mary that “with God nothing is impossible.”
So let us conclude where Mary does, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord, let it be to me according to your word” (v. 38).

Can you say that: “Let the Holy Spirit do with me as he pleases”?

Do you trust the Spirit enough to say: “I am your servantl; take me; use your omnipotent power to put me where you want me, when you want me there, doing what you want me to do”?

Let’s live and speak so that men and women in Seattle and Spain and Sri Lanka and China and Africa where ever might know that Jesus Christ is a great Savior, the Son of the Most High, and the King of kings.

That’s the passion of the Holy Spirit. To be full of that is to be full of him