Savage Street Church of Christ

10112017TheBirthOfJesusChristMatt1.18-25DonRuhl

The Birth of Jesus Christ 

If God came to live in the world with us, would He not have an unusual entrance?

Matthew 1.18–25

Don Ruhl • Savage Street, Grants Pass, Oregon • October 11, In the year of our Lord, 2017

Persuasion: 

1. Matthew 1.18 | The Lord’s Unusual Entrance into the World
   
   18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit.
   
   1. The unique marriage custom of first century Israel:
      1. As you can see in verses 18–25,
      2. when Mary was betrothed to Joseph,
         1. they were considered married, for
         2. it would take a putting away or divorce
            1. to end the arrangement, yet,
            2. they had not come together.
      3. What did Matthew mean by, “before they came together”?
         1. What is the significance of Mary’s betrothal to Joseph?
         2. She was married, yet she was still a virgin!
   2. She had a child growing within her.
      1. How did that happen?
      2. The Holy Spirit caused the conception.
2. Matthew 1.19–21 | Joseph Did Not Know What to Do
   
   19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly. 20 But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. 21 And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins.”
   
   1. What did Jospeh think happened?
      1. He thought that Mary had been with another man.
      2. What else was he to think?
   2. However, he did not want to shame her publicly.
      1. What does that tell you about him?
         1. That he was a just man who loved her.
      2. He also contemplated what to do.
         1. He did not act rashly.
   3. What do you think of the angelic visit in a dream?
      1. How did the angel address Joseph?
         1. The angel made a connection with David.
         2. This was important for what was about to follow.
      2. Immediately the angel addressed Joseph’s concerns.
      3. I think that Joseph knew the kind of woman that Mary was.
         1. Therefore, this made sense to him.
         2. He knew that he was not the father, but
            1. the explanation of the Holy Spirit
            2. no doubt relieved his soul greatly.
   4. Then the announcement of verse 21 may have been overwhelming.
      1. How many other expectant couples,
         1. before our current generation,
         2. knew the gender of their child?
         3. In the Scriptures, we have a few times when it was revealed.
      2. Then the angel announced that this boy would save Israel from their sins.
         1. He was even given a special name.
         2. What does the name Jesus mean?
3. Matthew 1.22–23 | Fulfillment of Prophecy
   
   22 So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: 23 “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.”
   
   1. Mary and Joseph could read Isaiah 7.14 now and know
      1. of whom it spoke and
      2. of whom it could only speak.
   2. You need to know that many liberal theologians believe this is not possible.
      1. Why would they come to such a conclusion?
      2. Their issue is not merely with Isaiah 7.14 and a virgin birth, but
         1. their issue is doubt in God.
         2. If you question them carefully you will discover that their belief in God’s existence is either weak or not at all.
   3. What was the other name for Jesus?
      1. Immanuel.
      2. What does it mean?
         1. This shows fulfillment of The Family Promise of God.
         2. Remember this passage:
            
            11 “I will set My tabernacle among you, and My soul shall not abhor you. 12 I will walk among you and be your God, and you shall be My people” (Lev 26.11–12).
            
4. Matthew 1.24–25 | Joseph Did as Told
   
   24 Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife, 25 and did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son. And he called His name JESUS (Matt 1.18–25).
   
   1. What aroused him from sleep?
   2. Now taking Mary was not simply a matter of his choice, but it was a commandment.
      1. Why was it commanded?
      2. Mary had to maintain her married status.
   3. Joseph:
      1. He exercised self-control.
      2. He named the boy Jesus.