The Beginning and the End

         When Jesus started his ministry, Matthew goes to his favorite prophet Isaiah to show how Jesus fulfills Holy Scripture. After the gladiator scripture battle between Jesus and Satan, Jesus ministry starts with the dramatic arrest of John the Baptist (Matt.4:12). Jesus leaves Nazareth and goes to Capernaum, in the territory of Zebulun and starts preaching “Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matt.4:13, 17).  Matthew quotes Isaiah 9:1-2 so what was spoken by the prophet might be fulfilled:  

“The land of Zebulun and the land of Nalphati, the way of the sea, beyond the Jordon, Galilee of the Gentiles---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” (Matthew 11:15-16).

Matthew puts this ancient prophecy in its present context of walking or dwelling and living in darkness and the light is not just shining as in Isaiah, but since its the beginning of Jesus ministry, the light is just dawned or showing itself to the world. Matthew like other Newer Testament writers re-contextualizes the ancient message for his own contemporary times. This is something modern readers would do well to pay attention to of not citing dead letters from the past but a living Word to be heard anew in every new generation in the present.

          After Jesus heals many people and then heals Peter’s mother-in-law, Matthew says in Matthew 8:17, “This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah: He took our illnesses and bore our diseases.” Matthew is citing Isaiah 53:4 here which says,

“Surely he borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted.”

Matthew is showing the suffering that was predicted by the prophets that the Messiah would endure. The Jews of Jesus day were only looking at the triumphal passages of the Messiah’s arrival while ignoring the suffering texts concerning the Messiah. Suffering always precedes glory and death precedes new life.

Matthew makes a broad connection to Jesus healing the demonized with a word.  But we should not limit Jesus fulfillment of Isaiah 53 only to physical healings but also include spiritual and emotional wholeness as well (Matthew 9:5-7, 12; 13:15). Once again we see the big idea or the teachings behind the prophet’s message is what central and not quoting a text word for word or even citing the text being quoted (the book of Hebrews does this regularly).

          Matthew views Jesus as God’s chosen servant and connects the works of Jesus bringing light to the Gentiles and healing all people regardless of race or ethnicity. Again Matthew quotes Isaiah:

“Behold, my servant whom I have chosen, my  beloved with whom my soul is well pleased, I will put my Spirit upon him, and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles, he will not quarrel or cry aloud, nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets; a bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not quench, until he brings justice to victory; and in his name the Gentiles will hope” (Matthew 12:18-21).

Isaiah 42:1-4 which Matthew quotes does not use the term “Gentiles” although it is implied in the texts of Isaiah, “the coastlands wait for the law” (v.4). It is very possible that some of the differences in Matthew’s text is Matthew is quoting from an ancient Syriac translation and not just the Septuagint. It’s the words and thoughts of Jesus that ultimately matter for the Gospel writers. It’s not what translation of the ancient text, which manuscript is most correct, all translations have textual variants, and the only perfect interpreter of the written world is not from flesh and blood but comes from God’s Spirit. 

          A very frequent quoted Isaiah text is Is.6:9-10. Jesus tells his hearers that his parables open blind eyes but they also close prideful eyes that think one already posses God’s Word and truth. In the tradition of the prophets Jeremiah and Ezekiel, Jesus is viewed as doing the same thing as those who think they see but do not, they do not hear, nor do they understand (Jer.5:21; Ezek.12:2).

          Now Matthew quotes Isaiah nine against what he perceives are the same stubborn people of Israel who will not accept God’s true words from Jesus. Jesus personalizes Isaiah words as if he the fulfiller of them. It’s not just that God will heal them but Jesus will heal them. Jesus is fulfilling these words as Matthew applies this kind of Jewish Midrash where Matthew’s new circumstances gives a present application of Jesus words to the present audience. The goal of Jesus parables is not to stop people from hearing but there is a Jewish blessing at the end that says, “Blessed are your eyes that see and your ears that hear” (Matt.13:16).

          In the Gospel of John (12:38-40), John also quotes Is.6:10 but he starts with a quote from Isaiah 53:1. John is referring readers back to the very beginning of his gospel that Jesus is the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world (Jn.1:29). This picture of Jesus as the slain Lamb is the predominant depiction of Jesus In the book of Revelation where it is used 29 times. John is more forceful than Matthew in bringing up Isaiah 53 as one of the best examples of Jesus fulfilling Messianic prophecy. Jesus is the slaughtered lamb who brings salvation to the whole cosmos.

          Jesus in the following verses of chapter twelve reveals how he has not come to judge the world but to save the world (John 12:47). Jesus comes with the full authority of God and whoever believes in him believes in his heavenly Father who sent him. Whoever sees him, sees God (John 12:44-45). John accurately portrays Jesus’ message and thoughts in his own words. Sometimes he is quoting from Jesus, paraphrasing him, and at times he is adding his own rabbinic reflections and commentary on Jesus words and actions.

          One of the problems with red letter versions of the Bible is they often do not distinguish between the words of Jesus or the words of John for example. They do not distinguish where John is giving his own depiction of Jesus words and where John is giving his own understanding of what Jesus words meant to him.

This again shows some of the interpretive differences and moves some people make in understanding certain sections of Scriptures so maybe the designated term, “red-letter Christians” does not deliver all it claims to be? The bigger issue is simply for people to be followers of Christ and follow after him rather than putting all their confidence in a modern translation of the Bible or only certain verses marked in red. All of Scripture from beginning to the end is about Jesus.