TEACHING NOTES ‌ Introduction The Christmas story in the New Testament is deeply rooted in themes and patterns in the Old Testament. Last week we learned that the miraculous birth of Jesus is connected to the miraculous births in the Old Testament. A miraculous birth was a sign that God was creating a people for Himself. Today we’re going look at the connections between Moses and Jesus. ‌ The story of Jesus mirrors the story of Moses in many ways. This helps us to understand what Jesus has come to accomplish. ‌ The Story of Moses: - Born during oppression of foreigners. - Pharaoh orders the killing of Israelite children. - Moses is sent to Egypt and kept safe. - Later Moses has to flee Pharaoh. - Moses tested in the wilderness. - Moses returns after Pharaoh dies. - Moses performs miraculous signs. - Moses frees God’s people from slavery. - Moses passes through water. - Moses brings God’s people back to God. - Moses went up on the mountain (Sinai) to receive and deliver the instructions (Torah) of God. - Moses’ face glows after being with God. ‌ Deuteronomy 18:15 [Moses speaking to Israel] “The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brothers—it is to him you shall listen—” ‌ Deuteronomy 34:10–12 10 And there has not arisen a prophet since in Israel like Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face, 11 none like him for all the signs and the wonders that the LORD sent him to do in the land of Egypt, to Pharaoh and to all his servants and to all his land, 12 and for all the mighty power and all the great deeds of terror that Moses did in the sight of all Israel. ‌ In the rest of the Old Testament the “prophet like Moses” never comes. ‌ Matthew 1:18–19 18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. 19 And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. ‌ Jesus is born into a seemingly insignificant family while Israel is under the oppression of Rome. ‌ Matthew 1:20–21 20 But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” ‌ Jesus = Heb. Yeshua - “Yahweh saves” or “the salvation of Yahweh”. This is the same word used when Moses and Israel are about to cross the Red Sea in Exodus 14:13 “And Moses said to the people, ‘Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the LORD [Heb. Yeshua et Yahweh], which he will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again.’” ‌ Matthew 1:22–25 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” (which means, God with us). 24 When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, 25 but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus. ‌ Spoken by the prophet = Matthew is quoting Isa. 7:14. ‌ Im-manu-el = In Hebrew this is literally translated “with us God”. This phrase also appears in Exodus 3:12 “He [God] said, ‘But I will be with you, and this shall be the sign for you, that I have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain.’” ‌ Matthew 2:1–2 1 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, magi from the east came to Jerusalem, 2 saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” ‌ Magi from the east = This refers to magicians, which are not like modern magicians but are educated men who study the stars and could often perform miracles. In Exodus 7:22; 8:7 we’re told that Pharaoh had magicians who could perform some of the same miracles as Moses. ‌ Matthew 2:3–6 3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; 4 and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. 5 They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet: 6 “ ‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’” ‌ Matthew 2:7–9 7 Then Herod summoned the magi secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.” 9 After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. ‌ Matthew 2:10–12 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. 11 And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. 12 And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way. ‌ Matthew 2:13–15 13 Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.” 14 And he rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed to Egypt 15 and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, “Out of Egypt I called my son.” ‌ “Out of Egypt I called my son” = This is a prophesy from Hosea 11:1 “When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son.” Matthew is not quoting this passage out of context because in Exodus 4:22-23 God calls Israel “my son.” Matthew is simply stating that this is happening again. God is calling His Son out of Egypt again (it’s a new Exodus). ‌ Matthew 2:16–18 16 Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the magi, became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise men. 17 Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah: 18 “A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be comforted, because they are no more.” ‌ Matthew 2:19–21 19 But when Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, 20 saying, “Rise, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the child’s life are dead.” 21 And he rose and took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel. ‌ Matthew 3:16–17 16 And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; 17 and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” ‌ Matthew 4:1–2 1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. ‌ Matthew 5:1–2 1 Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him. 2 And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:” (Sermon on the Mount) ‌ Matthew 17:1–3 1 And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. 2 And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light. 3 And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him [Luke 9:31 adds spoke of his Exodus]. ‌ Matthew 17:4–5 4 And Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.” 5 He was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” ‌ The Story of Moses: - Born during oppression of foreigners. - Pharaoh orders the killing of Israelite children. - Moses is sent to Egypt and kept safe. - Later Moses has to flee Pharaoh. - Moses tested in the wilderness. - Moses returns after Pharaoh dies. - Moses performs miraculous signs. - Moses frees God’s people from slavery. - Moses passes through water. - Moses brings God’s people back to God. - Moses went up Mt. Sinai for instructions, face glows. - No one like Moses, but One is coming. ‌ The Story of Jesus: - Born during oppression of foreigners. - Herod orders the killing of Israelite children. - Jesus is sent to Egypt and kept safe. - Jesus returns after Herod dies. - Jesus passes through water. - Jesus tested in the wilderness. - Jesus performs miraculous signs. - Jesus frees God’s people from slavery. - Jesus brings God’s people back to God. - Jesus went up on the mountain giving instructions. - Jesus’ face glows in the presence of God. - No one like Jesus, but He is coming back. ‌ A New Moses = A New Exodus Jesus is presented as a new Moses to show us that Jesus came to deliver us from slavery to sin/death and bring us back to our Father. How to Respond Prayer: Ask God to reveal what needs to change. Repentance: Agree with God and repent of sin. Worship: Thank God for what He is doing in you. Communion: Take Christ in and renew faithfulness. ‌