Fulfilled in Jesus
The first question in the New Testament is about Jesus
Matthew 2:1-18
The whole of the Old Testament is fulfilled in Jesus.
The Magi (often referred to as ‘the wise men’) sensed the significance of Jesus’ birth. They asked, ‘Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews?’ (v.2) They sought and found him. When ‘they saw the child… they bowed down and worshipped him’ (v.11). They recognised that Jesus was the fulfilment of all the hopes and dreams of the people up to his birth.
Jesus is the one who fulfills all God’s promises. Today we see three more examples:
Place of his birth: Matthew saw that even the place of Jesus’ birth was prophesied (Micah 5:2). It was out of Bethlehem that the ‘ruler’ and ‘shepherd’ would arise, ‘for this is what the prophet has written’ (Matthew 2:5–6).
Exile in Egypt: When Herod tried to kill Jesus, the family escaped to Egypt (v.13). Matthew writes, ‘So was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: “Out of Egypt I called my son.”’ (v.15; see also Hosea 11:1).
Slaughter of the children: When Herod ordered the murder of all boys under the age of two (Matthew 2:16), this fulfilled the prophecy of Jeremiah (31:15)
