Jesus' ministry begins, concluding the introductory narrative of Matthew's Gospel with a proclamation of repentance and a brief commissioning of others. Matthew demonstrates that the King is on the move with the kingdom itself close behind.

Give us this day our daily bread. Simple enough to pray, but are we ready to believe it? When push comes to shove, will we believe that there are bigger priorities than simply our own self-gratification when tomorrow's needs begin to press upon us? Maybe a bigger question, is Jesus willing to follow God's will while trusting in God's provision? Matthew 3:13-4:11 answers that question in the affirmative.

What do you do when you have a tree that does not produce fruit? You make its roots healthier. If that does not work, you might cut it down. Matthew helps us in our text today see that the same is true of our repentance. He prepares the way for the Lord by calling all to repent for the kingdom is near.

Matthew takes good care to show that God's preservation of his Son Jesus fulfills the narrative pattern of the Exodus, Israel's departure from Egypt under the leadership of Moses.

Things are not always as you expect, and that is certainly true for the birth of the Jewish King. Because who else would be the first to worship him in his humble estate than those whose craft is condemned traveling from the land of ruined hopes.

What is the greatest miracle? It is not the drying of the Red Sea, or the opening of the eyes of the blind. It is not the calling down of fire upon an altar doused with water, or chemical properties of water being turned into wine. It is not the lame man walking and leaping and praising God, or the resurrection of the dead. And it is not even the virginal conception, for that only serves as a sign for the greatest miracle. So what is the greatest miracle? In a word, Jesus.

We love Advent! We love to sing to the faithful, joyful, and triumphant about worshiping the baby Jesus, but is there hope for us if we don't feel joyful, triumphant, or even faithful? In this sermon on Matthew 1:1-17, combined with pre-recorded Scripture reading from Psalm 89, we find that there is because the long-anticipated Son is Jesus. This sermon was first delivered on December 12 for the morning service.