christ the end point

8/14/2019 Christ the end point

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CHRIST THE END-POINTLECTURE 5

A NAZARENENUMBERS 6:1-21

This is the law of the Nazarite who hath vowed, and of his offering unto the LORD for his separation (Num.6:21).

And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene (Mat.2:23).

INTRODUCTION

Bethlehem, Egypt, Israel, Nazareth. It would seem that this little family are at the mercy of events.However, a closer inspection will reveal Gods directing and overruling hand. His control andinvolvement in these events is emphasised by the three dreams which guide Joseph from place toplace (Mat.2:13, 19, 22), the four appearances of an angel with Gods message for Joseph (Mat.1:20;2:13, 19, 22), and the frequent references to events being the fulfilment of prophecy (Mat.2:15, 17-18,23). So, these changes of location were not haphazard but divinely ordered. As we have seen and

shall see, the geography lessons were intended to teach deeper spiritual lessons.

Firstly, notice that the wise men come from Mesopotamia or Babylon in the east. Jesus is then takento Egypt in the west. The two extremes of the biblical world are thereby embraced, emphasisising theworldwide nature of the Messiahs ministry. Gods purpose was the blessing of the whole world.

Secondly, by linking Jesus birth with Egypt and Babylon (through the Rachel/Ramah prophecy),Matthew is linking Jesus with the two pivotal events in Israels history, with the Exodus from Egyptand the Exile in Babylon. In doing this, Matthew presents Jesus as the recapitulation, personification,or fulfilment of Israels history.

PRINCIPLE OF INTERPRETATION

We should interpret Jesus life as the recapitulation, personification, completion, andfulfillment of Old Testament Israels history. He is the perfect embodiment of Israel.

Thirdly, there is the spiritual significance of Jesus residence in Nazareth and hence his being calleda Nazarene. While in Egypt, King Herod died and Joseph was directed by God to move his family inthe general direction of Israel. Then, he was specifically directed to Nazareth in order to live in anarea which was ruled by one of Herods more benign and harmless heirs. Matthew concludes thechapter by claiming that the Messiahs residence in Nazareth was in order that it might be fulfilledwhich was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene (2:23).

A problem now arises. Nazareth is not even mentioned in the Old Testament, never mind as thepredicted home of the Messiah. This is one of the reasons why the Jews had huge difficulties inaccepting Christs Messianic credentials. The solution is to understand that while Matthew is primarilyreferring to Nazareth as a geographical location, yet he is seeing in it a secondary spiritualsignificance which was predicted not by one prophet in particular, but by the prophets in general.

PRINCIPLE OF INTERPRETATION

Fulfillment citations need not refer to one prophet or one prophecy in particular but may

instead be referring to a general theme found throughout the prophets.


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stated period. They spent much of their time studying and teaching the law, and also in worshippingGod. These separated ones were living sermons giving a living exhibition the holy surrender to Godwhich was supposed to characterise the covenant people as a whole.

3. He Vowed (v.2)

Nazarites separated and dedicated themselves by taking a solemn vow of consecration. They werepromising to exceed the common level of spirituality. The presence of such committed Israelites was

a sign of Gods blessing upon the nation (Amos 2:11). And, as such, they were respected examplesof piety (Lam. 4:7).

4. He Abstained (v.3-4)

Alcohol was associated with human fellowship and earthly pleasure. It tended to master the drinkerand bring a person under its control. Abstinence from alcohol then was not some legalisticprohibition. It was to promote fellowship with God, spiritual pleasure, and spiritual mastery of theappetites and tastes.

5. He Submitted (v.5)

The Nazarite was not permitted to cut or shave his hair. What did this signify? One suggestion is thatas long hair on a man was a shame (1 Cor.11:14), it was to show his lack of vanity concerningpersonal appearance. Another suggestion is that as long hair is a sign of subjection and submissionin a woman (1 Cor.11:5), it served to show the Nazarites subjection and submission to God. Otherspropose that its extraordinary length reminded him of his vow and stimulated others to think andimitate his example.

6. He Prioritised (v.6-12)

The Nazarites were not allowed to come near any dead body. They were not allowed to attend thefuneral of any relation, not even of their father or mother. This was to show their separation from allthat bore the halmarks of sin and, and also to associate their pious and holy lifestyle with life. Itfurther emphasised that their relation to God was more important to them than even their relations(Mat.8:21,22). God was their number one priority. Any breach of this regulation required a lenghtyand complicated ceremonial cleansing (Num.6:9-12).

7. He Sacrificed (v.13-21)

When the Nazarites period of consecration was over, sacrifices were required; a sin-offering tosignify atonement for sins committed while under the vow; a burnt-offering to symbolise completesurrender to the Lord; a peace-offering in thankfulness to God for help to keep the vow; and afellowship-offering to speak of the fact that the Nazirite and the Lord were in perfect harmony. Afterthis, the Nazarite was to cut his hair and cast it on the altar to show that he held nothing back fromGod.

ACCOMPLISHMENT

As we have already said, Nazareth had no geographical connection with the Nazarite vow. Matthewmakes the connection either because of the association in the sound of the words, or because hesees a connection between the root meaning of Nazarite (to separate) and the forced physicalseparation of Jesus in Nazareth. However, whether rooted in the sound of the word or the root

meaning of the word, let us consider how Jesus was the fulfillment of the Naazarite, the separatedone.

The presence of Nazarites in Israel was a sign of Gods blessing (Lam.4:7; Amos 2:11). The officewas honoured by being associated with three eminent servants of God Samson, Samuel, and John


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on whom the vow was imposed from birth to show that they were destined to an important spiritualwork. The office was filled with increasing success by these three men until the idea of the Nazariterose to its grand and consummate realisation in Jesus Christ, and the ultimate sign of Gods favour tothe nation.

In Christ the outward helps to spiritual separation the physical separation from sinful society, theprohibition on alcohol, the long hair, and the avoidance of the dead were not necessary. He mixedwith sinners and drank wine (Lk.11:19). He touched the dead (Lk.9:23-26). However, He was able to

maintain separation from sin and commitment to God without the supportive scaffolding which sinrendered necessary in all other Nazarites. He was spiritually holy, harmless, undefiled, separatefrom sinners (Heb.7:26) without all the physical separation which we usually need to secure it. Hewas a living sermon of holy and lifelong surrender to God.

The Psalmist gives us a prophetic insight into Christs vow as he entered this world to commence alife of separation from sin and dedication to God: Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me, I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart (Ps.40:7-8).

It was not necessary for him to abstain from wine to remain the master of it. Christ was master of allhis appetites and desires, never being brought under the power of any at any time. Neither was it

necessary for him to have long hair to communicate his lack of vanity, or his subjection to His Father.Neither was it necessary for him to have no contact with the dead to emphasise that his ministry wasall about life, or that his heavenly Father was a far more important relation to Him than earthly ones.And if further proof were needed of his total and lifelong dedication, it was presented on the cross ofcalvary where he held nothing back but gave his life as a substitutionary sacrifice.

APPLICATION

Let us worship this perfect Nazarite. Let us admire his dedication and devotion.

The early followers of Christ were also called Nazarenes (Acts 24:5). Perhaps this was because theyfollowed Jesus of Nazareth. However, it is also an eminently suitable description of the spiritualcharacter of the Christian as a separated one. Are you separate from the world? Are youconsecrated to Christ? Are you committed to him and faithful to your promises? Are you master ofyour desires? Are you free free from vanity and subject to your heavenly father? Is your witness andtestimony associated with purity and life or with sin and death? Are you holding back?

II. A TITLE OF DISGRACE

ANTICIPATION

As we mentioned above, the Matthew fulfilment citation may not only be a reference to a title ofdignity, but also to a title of disgrace. This is because one of the possible Hebrew roots forNazarene is netzer meaning branch or shoot. This should remind us of the numerousprophecies which describe the Messiah in such terms in order to portray his insignificant beginnings(Isa. 4:2; 11:1; Jer. 23:5; 33:15; Zech. 3:8; 6:1213) and also the related prophecies which speak ofhis despised character and his lowly life of rejection (Ps.22; Isa.42:1-4; 53:2-3, 8).

ACCOMPLISHMENT

Nazareth housed the Roman garrison for Northern Galilee. Most Jews would therefore have nothingto do with this city. In fact those who lived there were thought of as compromisers who consorted with

the enemy. This region of Galilee was despised by the Jews (Jn.7:41, 52) and Nazarene was usedby them as a term of contempt. This explains Nathanels reaction to Jesus: And Nathanael said untohim, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? (Jn.1:46).


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Matthew was inspired to look back and see Christ as the fulfillment of prophecies anticipating hisearly insignificant beginnings and later despised status. He is also, under divine direction, answeringthe Jewish objection that the Messiah was to come from Bethlehem not Nazareth. Matthew showshow he was from both Bethlehem and Nazareth, and that both are significant fulfilments of prophecy,the one literally and the other symbolically or spiritually.

The whole birth narrative anticipates the humiliated character of the Messiahs life: the stable inBethlehem, the persecuted fleeing to Egypt, the continued weeping of Rachel, the upbringing in

despised Nazareth.APPLICATION

See the humility of the King of Kings. He bypassed Hebron, Shiloh, Ramah, Bethel which were farmore important places, and by settling in Nazareth for 30 years acquired the title of disgrace, TheNazarene (Matt. 21:11; Mark 14:67; John 18:5, 7). However, Christ viewed the title as a badge ofhonour, as a sermon in itself. Do you see hope in this title for you? Convicted sinner, have stronghope that he bypasses the rich, the mighty, the noble and resides with the humble, the lowly, thedespised, and the contemptible (1 Cor.1:19ff).

The humility of the King is be admired and imitated (Phil. 2:113). Does your willingness to bedisgraced for Christs sake qualify you for the title a Nazarene (Acts 24:5).

christ the end point

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