We would like to turn to the New Testament to consider some of the marvels of the grace of God as revealed in this part of His sacred Word. It all centers in the wonderful coming into this world of our Lord Jesus Christ.
In the Old Testament there are many types and prophecies which point to His coming into this world as a man, but in the New Testament we have the record of His actually being here, of what He taught and of what He accomplished. We also have prophecies concerning His second coming, but that coming will be for an entirely different purpose, as we shall see in what is unfolded to us as His people.
Varied Accounts
The four gospels give us various accounts of the life of the Lord Jesus. Each has a different focus on His Person, His presentation to the people, and His work. We can only give a brief outline of these things. It is beyond the capacity of man to fully portray the wondrous grace and the life of the lowly Man Jesus, who was God manifest in the flesh. He was the only man upon whom the heavens opened and a voice was heard proclaiming, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Matt. 3:1717And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. (Matthew 3:17)). It is said of all others, “There is no difference: for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:22-2322Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: 23For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; (Romans 3:22‑23)).
At the close of John’s Gospel we read: “And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written.” And we can confidently say that all the books which have been written or could be written could not fully set forth that which is given to us by the four evangelists: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.
The Special Character of Matthew
The Gospel of Matthew sets before us the Lord Jesus presented to the nation of the Jews as their long promised Messiah and King. He is shown, in this presentation, as the One who fulfilled the prophecies of the Old Testament. These prophecies are not simply what He Himself did and said, but also what others said about Him and to Him.
In chapter 1, His genealogy is traced back through David to Abraham. The Scriptures foretold the fact that He must be a son of David, and of the family of Abraham. This genealogy is divided into three periods. Each of these periods ends in the dismal failure of God’s earthly people. But as each period comes to an end, God’s marvelous grace provides a way by which He can go on with them. God’s answer to the last period of failure was to send His beloved Son into this world. His Son fully glorified the Father in every step of His wilderness pathway.
Further Meditation
1. How does Matthew present the Lord Jesus?
2. What are some of the ways God acts when we fail?
3. For an excellent presentation of the Lord Jesus in the different gospels you might consider reading The Evangelists by J. G. Bellett.