4.2 Beginnings

Matthew 1:1 confirms the genealogy of Jesus:

1 Matthew 1:1

1 The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham...

Significantly, Jesus was referred to as Abraham's and David's son. It is fascinating that Jesus' descent from Abraham and David was through Joseph, his adoptive father. The Bible does not provide Mary's lineage.

When Gabriel appeared to Mary, she was very afraid. Luke 1:30-33 shares Gabriel's response:

4 Luke 1:30-33

30 The angel said to her, "Don't be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.

31 Behold, you will conceive in your womb and give birth to a son, and shall name him 'Jesus.'

32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David,

33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever. There will be no end to his Kingdom."

When God tells someone not to be afraid, He also strengthens them with courage and peace. The peace of the Lord played an important role during the inauguration of the New Covenant. As another example, when the angels appeared to the shepherds to announce the birth of Jesus, again the angels used the phrase, "Fear not," and they declared peace to those in whom God is well-pleased according to Luke 2:8-14:

7 Luke 2:8-14

8 There were shepherds in the same country staying in the field, and keeping watch by night over their flock.

9 Behold, an angel of the Lord stood by them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.

10 The angel said to them, "Don't be afraid, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be to all the people.

11 For there is born to you today, in David's city, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

12 This is the sign to you: you will find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth, lying in a feeding trough."

13 Suddenly, there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly army praising God, and saying,

14 "Glory to God in the highest, on earth peace, good will toward men."

Hebrews 1:5-6 well captures the heart of God the Father regarding His Son:

2 Hebrews 1:5-6

5 For to which of the angels did he say at any time, "You are my Son. Today I have become your father? and again, "I will be to him a Father, and he will be to me a Son?"

6 When he again brings in the firstborn into the world he says, "Let all the angels of God worship him."

Let us pause for a moment and realize that the mission and mystery of bringing the Son of God into the world was no small matter. This demonstrated God bearing fruit. The invisible God was given a face for man to see in the personhood of Jesus, His Son. John's introduction to Jesus in John 1:1-3,18 clarifies this:

4 John 1:1-3,18

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

2 The same was in the beginning with God.

3 All things were made through him. Without him, nothing was made that has been made.

18 No one has seen God at any time. The one and only Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, has declared him.

As God and human, Jesus made the invisible God approachable. These verses teach about the imagery and symbolism of Jesus' co-residency with the Father as God.

Back in Hebrews, chapter 1 continues with verses 7-13 to fully capture the essence of Jesus Christ. These are words that we might have expected to be spoken of the Father, but they are said about Jesus. We cannot wrap the concept of Jesus deposing the Father in our minds, but we can attribute this to the oneness of God in Father and in Son, like when Jesus says that he who has seen Him has seen the Father.

7 Hebrews 1:7-13

7 Of the angels he says, "He makes his angels winds, and his servants a flame of fire."

8 But of the Son he says, "Your throne, O God, is forever and ever. The scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your Kingdom.

9 You have loved righteousness and hated iniquity; therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness above your fellows."

10 And, "You, Lord, in the beginning, laid the foundation of the earth. The heavens are the works of your hands.

11 They will perish, but you continue. They all will grow old like a garment does.

12 You will roll them up like a mantle, and they will be changed; but you are the same. Your years won't fail."

13 But which of the angels has he told at any time," Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies the footstool of your feet?"

Luke carefully detailed the interaction of the Holy Spirit in the miraculous births of John and Jesus. It is no surprise that Paul later wrote in Ephesians 1:13-14:

2 Ephesians 1:13-14

13 In him you also, having heard the word of the truth, the Good News of your salvation - in whom, having also believed, you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,

14 who is a pledge of our inheritance, to the redemption of God's own possession, to the praise of his glory.

Pay close attention to the significance of the phrase "the promised Holy Spirit" because the purpose of the inter-covenantal period was to announce the baptism of the Holy Spirit and then to see it through to fulfillment. Who or what is the Holy Spirit? The Holy Spirit levels the mountains and fills the low places of the human condition.

In Matthew 11:7-15, Jesus described the prophetic calling of John the Baptist, corroborating what Malachi said about him as the messenger of the covenant:

9 Matthew 11:7-15

7 As these went their way, Jesus began to say to the multitudes concerning John, "What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind?

8 But what did you go out to see? A man in soft clothing? Behold, those who wear soft clothing are in kings' houses.

9 But why did you go out? To see a prophet? Yes, I tell you, and much more than a prophet.

10 For this is he, of whom it is written, 'Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you.'

11 Most certainly I tell you, among those who are born of women there has not arisen anyone greater than John the Baptizer; yet he who is least in the Kingdom of Heaven is greater than he.

12 From the days of John the Baptizer until now, the Kingdom of Heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force.

13 For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John.

14 If you are willing to receive it, this is Elijah, who is to come.

15 He who has ears to hear, let him hear.

The "Inter-Covenantal Period" commenced with the announcement of the birth of John the Baptist, as is described in Luke 1:11-19:

9 Luke 1:11-19

11 An angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense.

12 Zacharias was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him.

13 But the angel said to him, "Don't be afraid, Zacharias, because your request has been heard. Your wife, Elizabeth, will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.

14 You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth.

15 For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and he will drink no wine nor strong drink. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb.

16 He will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God.

17 He will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, 'to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,' and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to prepare a people prepared for the Lord."

18 Zacharias said to the angel, "How can I be sure of this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years."

19 The angel answered him, "I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God. I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news."

One of the key points about John is that he would be filled with the Holy Spirit, even while still in Elizabeth's womb. The filling of John with the Holy Spirit was a sovereign component of the inauguration of the New Covenant. It occurred while the Old Covenant was still in effect. The end of the Inter-Covenantal period occurred on the Day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit was first poured out on the disciples because it was then that the words of the major prophets came to pass, again as echoed in Hebrews 8:10:

1 Hebrews 8:10

10 I will put my laws into their mind, I will also write them on their heart. I will be their God, and they will be my people.

Malachi 3:2-4 refers to the Messenger of the Covenant as a refiner's fire:

3 Malachi 3:2-4

2 "But who can endure the day of his coming? And who will stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner's fire, and like launderers' soap;

3 and he will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi, and refine them as gold and silver; and they shall offer to Yahweh offerings in righteousness.

4 Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasant to Yahweh, as in the days of old, and as in ancient years.

It is no wonder that John emphasized, as recorded in Luke 3:16-17, that:

2 Luke 3:16-17

16 John answered them all, "I indeed baptize you with water, but he comes who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to loosen. He will baptize you in the Holy Spirit and fire,

17 whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly cleanse his threshing floor, and will gather the wheat into his barn; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire."

With all humility, John also admitted that he must decrease while Jesus increases. The herald is always less than the king whom he announces. Even so, John began to doubt his situation after being arrested and wondered if Jesus was going to deliver him as described in Matthew 11:2-5:

4 Matthew 11:2-5

2 Now when John heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples

3 and said to him, "Are you he who comes, or should we look for another?"

4 Jesus answered them, "Go and tell John the things which you hear and see:

5 the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them. Blessed is he who finds no occasion for stumbling in me."

John may have been expecting the Messiah to deliver him from prison. Taking up our cross to follow Christ is a serious matter. We learn from Jesus' submission to the Father in Luke 22:42:

1 Luke 22:42

42 Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.

Getting back to the beginning of the Inter-Covenant period as described by Luke, note that the angel Gabriel announced the news of the births of John and Jesus. This was the same angel who spoke to Daniel about the "70 years" that Daniel was trying to understand in Daniel 9:1-2:

2 Daniel 9:1-2

1 In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, of the offspring of the Medes, who was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans,

2 in the first year of his reign I, Daniel, understood by the books the number of the years about which Yahweh's word came to Jeremiah the prophet, for the accomplishing of the desolations of Jerusalem, even seventy years.

Daniel was moved in his spirit because he understood exile as God's judgment on Israel for their disobedience. It drove him to a prayer of confession and intercession, even the humility of identifying with Israel in their sin. As a result, God sent the angel Gabriel to answer as recorded in Daniel 9:20-24:

5 Daniel 9:20-24

20 While I was speaking, praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before Yahweh my God for the holy mountain of my God;

21 yes, while I was speaking in prayer, the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening offering.

22 He instructed me and talked with me, and said, "Daniel, I have now come to give you wisdom and understanding.

23 At the beginning of your petitions the commandment went out, and I have come to tell you; for you are greatly beloved. Therefore consider the matter, and understand the vision.

24 "Seventy weeks are decreed on your people and on your holy city, to finish disobedience, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most holy.

Let us examine the 70 weeks from the perspective that each week represented 70 years for a total of 490 years. The exile lasted 70 years, which would have been the first of the seven weeks. The remaining 420 years would have corresponded to the Intertestament period, which was the time period between the end of Malachi and the annunciation of the birth of John the Baptist in the gospels. Jesus would bring in everlasting righteousness. It would be the inauguration of the New Covenant.

The angel Gabriel announced the seventy weeks after which he was appointed by God to announce the births of John and Jesus, signifying the transition from the Old to the New Covenant, as we see in Luke 1:19.

1 Luke 1:19

19 The angel answered him, "I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God. I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news.

Six months later, Gabriel was again on assignment from God to speak to Mary per Luke 1:28-33:

6 Luke 1:28-33

28 Having come in, the angel said to her, "Rejoice, you highly favored one! The Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women!"

29 But when she saw him, she was greatly troubled at the saying, and considered what kind of salutation this might be.

30 The angel said to her, "Don't be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.

31 Behold, you will conceive in your womb and give birth to a son, and shall name him 'Jesus.'

32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David,

33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever. There will be no end to his Kingdom."

Jesus was predestined to be the king of the New and Everlasting Covenant, beginning with reigning over Jacob and, subsequently, the Gentiles. In Luke 1:34-35, Mary asked how this would happen, and Gabriel pointed to the work of the Holy Spirit:

2 Luke 1:34-35

34 Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, seeing I am a virgin?"

35 The angel answered her, "The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore also the holy one who is born from you will be called the Son of God.

We first read about Elizabeth being filled with the Holy Spirit in Luke 1:39-45 while Mary visited her cousin Elizabeth.

7 Luke 1:39-45

39 Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Judah,

40 and entered into the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth.

41 When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.

42 She called out with a loud voice and said, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!

43 Why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

44 For behold, when the voice of your greeting came into my ears, the baby leaped in my womb for joy!

45 Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of the things which have been spoken to her from the Lord!"

We must assume that John leaped within Elizabeth's womb because the Holy Spirit in John recognized the Savior's presence in Mary's womb. As a result of the physical connection between mother and child, Elizabeth also felt the Holy Spirit move. In addition, the Spirit of prophecy came upon her. She recognized that Mary would be the mother of the Lord. Elizabeth gave Mary a word of knowledge that she would be blessed for believing what God said would happen.

This prophetic experience, birthed by the Holy Spirit, released Mary to unabashedly give glory to God. When it was time for John to be born, Zechariah the priest and father of John, was also filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied about John's ministry in Luke 1:76-79:

4 Luke 1:76-79

76 And you, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways,

77 to give knowledge of salvation to his people by the remission of their sins,

78 because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the dawn from on high will visit us,

79 to shine on those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death; to guide our feet into the way of peace."

John's ministry would prepare the way for the Lord by telling them of the need for salvation through the forgiveness of sins and deliverance from darkness into the way of peace - the way of the Covenant of Peace. When John came of age, we read in Luke 3:15-16 how people thought that he was the Christ:

2 Luke 3:15-16

15 As the people were in expectation, and all men reasoned in their hearts concerning John, whether perhaps he was the Christ,

John contrasted the baptism of repentance with the baptism of the Holy Spirit. The baptism of the Holy Spirit would be so much more powerful than the baptism of repentance, just like the New Covenant overshadowed the glory of the Old.

There are many parallels between the Old Testament Covenants and the New Covenant. The Abrahamic and Mosaic Covenants were a shadow of things to come. God's promises to Abraham for his descendants to enter the land that God promised them required crossing the Jordan River. It is no coincidence that John the Baptist began his ministry at the Jordan River.

In the Mosaic Covenant, the Jordan River signified crossing over and entering the promised land to take possession of it. In the New Covenant, the Jordan represented the baptism of repentance and the hope of receiving the promised Holy Spirit. The new conquest would invole taking the gospel to all the nations resulting in freedom from sin and entry into the kingdom of heaven on earth. It would be a kingdom of peace. Israel's warfare was accomplished because Jesus won the victory.

Luke 3:21-22 expresses the love of the Father for Jesus upon being baptized:

2 Luke 3:21-22

21 Now when all the people were baptized, Jesus also had been baptized, and was praying. The sky was opened,

22 and the Holy Spirit descended in a bodily form like a dove on him; and a voice came out of the sky, saying "You are my beloved Son. In you I am well pleased."

We can only guess how meaningful these words were to Jesus. As a man, he knew that God was his father, so hearing his father talk to Him meant everything. At the same time, Jesus was God. Subsequently, the affirmation of the Father's love for the Son revealed God's intentions for loving all who receive His Holy Spirit as sons and daughters.