The Promise Fulfilled
Scripture Readings:
Matthew 1:21-23
21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:
23 “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
and they shall call his name Immanuel”
Isaiah 53:10
Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him;
he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt,
he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days;
the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.
2 Corinthians 1:20
20 For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory.
Commentary:
The Promise Fulfilled (Sarah Bill)
In Matthew’s gospel, Joseph is given clear instructions in his dream. He is told that Mary will fulfill prophecy by conceiving a son by the Holy Spirit. This miraculous conception was to be a sign. Further, he is to name the baby Jesus. The name Jesus means “The Lord Saves”! What a name! It would later be said by Peter concerning this Name, “no other name under heaven by which men must be saved” (Acts 4:12). With this Name, it is clear what He has come to do: to save us from our sins. He saves us from wrath and the curse, and eternal misery apart from God.
Matthew writes the description of the work Jesus is being sent to do: first to meet us in our sin, but then to save us from our sin. Since the days of Adam and Eve in the garden and when sin first crept into the world, God had a plan. That plan was for God the Son to leave heaven and to come to earth to fulfill the promise. He offered Himself as a living sacrifice, crushed with pain, to bring forth abundant and eternal life! What a joy it is to be saved from the penalty of sin, the power of sin, and then one day even the presence of sin in our life!
A fulfillment of His promise of a savior sent to the world. They are to call him Immanuel which means “God with us.” He is here! In the flesh! He came to us, and if He is with us then we can come to Him! What was prophesied long ago was accomplished in Christ.
See, God’s plans always come to fulfillment, even when I use all my efforts to get a certain result from a situation. That is a challenge for me because I tend to be impatient. I want to get things done. I wake up every day with thoughts of “what can I accomplish today?” I feel fulfilled when I can check off a to-do list. We may try to accomplish all the plans we set out to do, but ultimately the word of God says that His plans and His purposes prevail over all (Proverbs 19:21). You see, God’s plans are fulfilled even if He has to move the world to accomplish them! I find great security in that truth!
What plans do you have that need to be surrendered to God’s purpose? I am thankful that ALL of God’s promises are YES in Christ!
Prayer & Reflection:
Thank you Lord for your promises in Your Word. Thank You for the assurance that if You’ve given me Your Word on a particular situation it’s as good as done because You always keep Your Word. Your plans never fall apart. Help me bring glory to You by trusting You as I patiently wait for You to fulfill Your promise to me. AMEN.