Fulfillment in Christ

The Last Word in the Old Testament

The Hebrew Bible ends with Chronicles, not Malachi, leaving the story unfinished. Tim Mackie from The Bible Project notes it ends like a cliffhanger: “Go on up…” To where? For what? Your Bible might say:

• “Let him go up” (NIV)

• “Move forward!” (MSG)

After this, there are 400 years of silence before Matthew introduces Jesus. Let’s explore that blank page between the Old and New Testaments.

The Genealogy that Matters

Matthew's genealogy might seem dry, but it's rich with meaning. How many names do you know? I scored 31 out of 46.

Matthew structures it into three sections of 14, emphasizing:

• David – Jesus, the “Son of David,” fulfills prophecy.

• Abraham – The father of Judaism.

• Women – Countercultural and significant.

Why 14?

In Hebrew, letters have numeric values. David's name adds up to 14. Matthew shouts, David! David! David! Jesus is the ultimate David. Three sets of 14 create six sevens. The missing seventh seven? Jesus' Kingdom—perfect and complete.

God’s Silent Work

During 400 years of silence, God set the stage:

• Babylon – Exile unified the people around the Torah.

• Persia – They rebuilt Jerusalem and the temple.

• Greece – A common language emerged.

• Rome – Roads allowed the gospel to spread rapidly.

This was the perfect moment in history. Any earlier or later, and the message would not have traveled so far.

Jesus Enters Quietly

God didn’t arrive with fanfare. He entered through a birth canal into a Bethlehem cave. Shepherds—not dignitaries—welcomed Him.

Bethlehem, the House of Bread, became the birthplace of the Bread of Life.

The Baby Who Changed Everything

That tiny baby would:

• Challenge the status quo.

• Raise up women and respect children.

• Spark universities and hospitals.

• End slavery.

• Save the world.

He is:

• The rescuer of the drowning.

• The judge who sets the guilty free.

• The key to every chain.

• The voice calling us home.

• The arms that welcome us: Well done, good and faithful servant.

And that, my friends, is what Christmas is all about.

Blog adapted from December 22, 2024, message by Minister Mark Ashton