The people in Galilee were in great darkness at the arrival of the Messiah. Even as the world was, and in most places is today. Then, as now, the only hope in the darkness was the light of the gospel of Christ. Then, as now, it was only received by the grace of God. Then, as now, it was only received by those who understood their brokenness and who chose to embrace light rather than to love the darkness. Then, as now, it was the humble who were ready to hear and believe.

In Matthew 4:1-11, Jesus is led up into the wilderness by the Holy Spirit to be tempted by Satan after fasting for forty days. By facing temptation, Christ can ultimately identify with us in our temptations and trials. As Christians we can both draw encouragement from this event in the life of Christ, as well as learn from Christ’s example concerning how we should respond to temptation in our own lives.

John baptized with water for repentance of sin and preparation for the Kingdom of Heaven. Jesus baptized with the Holy Spirit and with fire, unto salvation or unto judgement. Jesus received John’s baptism to identify with His people that they might find their identity in Him. Christians are now baptized to profess their identifying with Christ in His death, burial and resurrection.

When you weigh the cost of living for Christ, consider the cost of Him dying for you. When you consider the cost of living for Him, consider well the cost of being ashamed of Him. It was costly for Jesus to identify with His people, and it will be costly for His people to find their identity in Him. The alternative is friendship with the world and eternal judgement from God. See, believe, and follow Christ.

John the Baptist gave a clear warning in Matthew 3:11-12. John called the people to repentance and warned them that the unrighteous who denied Jesus should fear the coming of God's wrath, but those that trusted Christ for his righteousness would be sealed for eternity through the promise of the Holy Spirit.

John the Baptist’s message to Israel carried a great urgency. The Day of Judgment was not something far in the future. It was in fact very near, it was tied to the arrival of the Messiah. The people needed to repent and serve God as He desired, or they would face judgment. The coming of the kingdom of heaven demanded either repentance, or judgment. There was no other option, there was no delaying.

What was the message of the greatest prophet (other than Jesus) to be sent to the earth?  Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.  It was John the Baptizer who was sent to prepare the way for the arrival of the Messiah.  It was his message of repentance that prepared the fertile soil, in the remnant of Israel, to be ready to receive their Messiah.

Beneath the theme of God’s providential care for His Son in the early days of His human life on this earth, we see the contrast between the faithfulness and self-sacrifice of Joseph with the murderous self-interest of Herod. In a nation that has embraced the spirit of Herod, follow the example of Joseph.

In this sermon, Clay Kraby takes a deeper look at Matthew 2:1-12. In this passage there are three separate responses to the birth of Christ. King Herod the Great's response was one of anger and jealousy. The chief priests and scribes responded to the news of the Messiah's birth with apathy. The Magi from the East, on the other hand, responded with worship as they traveled because of the star signaling the arrival of a new king.

The incarnation of our Lord is too great a thing to celebrate just once a year.  The woman was favored, the husband was obedient, and God took on flesh.

We often think of God being silent during the four centuries between the Old and New Testaments.  In fact, God was active bringing about everything He had shown Daniel.  He was changing the face of the earth to set the global stage for the arrival of the Messiah.