“Youarethesaltoftheearth...Youarethelightoftheworld.“Matthew5:13-14“IalsosaytoyouthatyouarePeter,andonthisrockIwillbuildMychurch.“Matthew16:18Theworldtriestodefineusindifferentways.Wetrytodefineourselvesonewayoranother.Butwhoarewereally?HowdoesGoddefineus?TheGospelofMatthewwaswrittentoagroupofChristianswhodidn’tyetknowwhotheywere.TheywerefaithfulJewsinthesynagoguecommunityinGalileewhohadfoundtheMessiah.Jesushadchangedeverything.Buthowshouldtheythinkofthemselvesnow,asJewishorChristian?Whatdiditallmean?MatthewwriteshisGospeltohelphisreadersdefinetheirnewidentityasfollowersofJesustheMessiah.MichaelCardunpackshowMatthew’semphasisonfulfillmentconfirmstheirJewishconnectiontotheTorah,whilehisfocusonthekingdomhelpsthemunderstandtheirnewidentitiesinChrist.Matthewpresentsthisprocessofredefinitionasanexerciseoftheimagination,inwhichJesusreshapeswhoweareinlightofwhoheis.ComealongsideMatthewinthispilgrimage,anddiscoverhowyournewidentityinChristfulfillsallthatyouaremeanttobe.
