The King’s Arrival: A Study of Matthew 1–7
Study One
Our God is full of surprises! He delights in adding a touch of the unexpected to whatever He does. For instance, when He devised His redemption plan, He kept it a mystery, hidden in Himself, until thetime of its unveiling. According to 1 Peter 1:12, even the angels didn’t know what to expect!
At just the right moment, the King of all creation presented Himself to the world as Savior. A surprise to us all, He did so in the form of a helpless baby born in a stable, not a palace; to peasants, not royals.
Yet, that arrival wasn’t the only wonder. He launched His ministry with a ragtag assortment of fishermen, zealots, and outsiders—not the elite or educated. He presented Himself to His own people as their King and Messiah, but they rejected Him and had Him crucified. Then the most unexpected of all happened . . . Jesus resurrected!
Surprise after surprise—and they all were part of His plan.
In our study of Matthew, we’ll become very acquainted with this God of surprises. We’ll hear His astonishing teaching, watch how He dwells among the poor, praise how He invites the outcast to feast at His table, weep over His unjust death, and rejoice at His shocking resurrection.
