Look what came in the mail yesterday:

Our Matthew Part 2 books have arrived!

The only thing that could be better would be to see you at Bible study this coming Wednesday evening….

MATTHEW 4:12-16

12 Now when he heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew into Galilee. 13 And leaving Nazareth he went and lived in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, 14 so that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled:
15 “The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali,
the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan,
Galilee of the Gentiles—
16 the people dwelling in darkness
have seen a great light,
and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death,
on them a light has dawned.”

Note: Today concludes Part 1 of our Matthew reading plan, which was all about The Preparation for Jesus the Messiah. Part 2 begins on Monday, September 11 and will be about The Proclamation of Jesus as Israel’s Messiah. Part 2 will run through the end of October. Pick up your Part 2 book this Sunday, and be sure to attend Bible study on Wednesday (9/13), 6:30-8:00 PM.

Get pumped!

The preparations are complete for Jesus’s ministry to begin. John’s arrest by Herod (which Matthew doesn’t tell us about until chapter 14) means that the time is right for Jesus to launch his ministry in Israel, a ministry that will be about proclaiming the Kingdom and his role as Israel’s Messiah. He begins his ministry in Galilee, in the ancient area that was assigned to the Israelite tribes of Zebulon and Naphtali. And Matthew reminds us that the Old Testament prophet Isaiah had foretold a time when a brilliant hope would come upon the people of Israel, starting in the area of Galilee:

1 But there will be no gloom for her who was in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he has made glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.
2 The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light;
those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone.
3 You have multiplied the nation; you have increased its joy;
they rejoice before you
as with joy at the harvest,
as they are glad when they divide the spoil.
4 For the yoke of his burden,
and the staff for his shoulder,
the rod of his oppressor,
you have broken as on the day of Midian.
5 For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult and every garment rolled in blood will be burned as fuel for the fire.
6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon[d] his shoulder, and his name shall be called[e] Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end,
on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it
with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this. —Isaiah 9:1-7

Once again, we see that God’s plan has been working toward Jesus all along.

In the same way, God is working history toward its goal even now.

Be hopeful today! It’s a good ending!