A Look at Matthew Three
The following two lectures were designed to help us interpret Jesus within his native historical setting in first-century Palestine and within his native Scriptural setting in the Old Testament. When Jesus himself sought to explain to others who he was and what he was up to he always turned back to the ancient Hebrew Scriptures and told that story as the way to make sense of his story. Seeking to enlighten two puzzled contemporaries how death and resurrection were expected scenes in the unfolding drama of his career, Jesus "took them through the writings of Moses and all the prophets, explaining from all the Scriptures the things concerning himself" (Luke 24:27).
Following Jesus' example, his four biographers employ the same interpretive grid. They view Jesus through Old Testament eyes and thus use Old Testament personnel, stories, and images as the colors on their palette as they paint their varied, but complementary, portraits of Jesus.
Under the title, "What on Earth is Jesus Doing?" we will take a careful look at just one chapter of Matthew's masterpiece portrayal of the one he knew as Savior. I trust this introduction to the life of Jesus will open our eyes, warm our hearts, and move our feet in the Lord's direction. May it help further a lifetime of discovery and transformation.
These two lectures were first delivered as Power Points at Rolling Hills Christian Church, El Dorado Hills, CA, in the Fall of 2005.
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Part 1 John the Baptizer as Forerunner
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Part 2 Jesus: Baptizer and Baptized
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