by Samuel E. Ward
Matthew 1:18-25
Introduction
The record of Jesus' birth in Matthew begins very simply.
Matthew 1:18a (NIV) 18aThis is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about:
As simple as the narrative begins, it is by no means a simple story. It is full of wonder, complications, miracles, and the need for faith and trust.
What a blessing to have been chosen to be the mother of the Messiah. It was every Jewish girl's dream. I suppose they thought that the birth would come with some fanfare or special announcement so that all Israel would rejoice together. However, it came first as a great secret. Then the announcement was made to a group of people of such low social standing that no one would believe them if them shared it. The secrecy was necessary because there were those then, as there are now, that were not ready to yield any of their power or status to anyone else, Messiah or not. They had their own agendas and no god (real or imagined) was going to get in the way.
But that was only part of it. The Messiah entered the world under somewhat suspicious circumstances. Would God allow His Messiah to be born of questionable parenthood? How appropriate is it for the Messiah to be born among sheep and cattle, and in a feeding trough, at that!
But that is the way God did it. Here is Matthew's record of "how the birth of Jesus came about."
I. The Prenuptial Discovery, Mat 1:18-21
A. Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, Mat 1:18b.
Matthew 1:18b (NIV) 18bHis mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph,.
B. Mary was with child through the Holy Spirit, Mat 1:18c.
Matthew 1:18c (NIV) 18c But before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit.
C. Joseph was motivated by his just and gracious character, not willing to disgrace her publicly, Mat 1:19.
Matthew 1:19 (NIV) 19Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.
D. An angel appeared in a dream to inform Joseph of God's plan for the child, Mat 1:20-21.
1. This was a divine pregnancy.
Matthew 1:20 (NIV) 20But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.
2. This was a planned pregnancy.
Matthew 1:21 (NIV) 21She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins."
How many cures have we aborted simply because the pregnancy and birth was not at "the right time," or under "the right circumstances." Mother Teresa, minister to the poor, sick, orphaned, and dying in Calcutta, India, once said, "It is a poverty that a child must die so that you may live as you wish."
II. The Prophetic Declaration, Mat 1:22-23
Matthew 1:22-23 (NIV) 22All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23"The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel"—which means, "God with us."
The passage the angel made reference to is found in Isaiah 7:14. The context of the passage is one in which God promises to be with King Ahaz of Judah and defeat his enemies (Syria and Israel) if only he will trust in the Lord and not turn to Assyria for aid and protection. To prove that He would do it, he offered to let Ahaz choose whatever he desired as a sign that God's promise to deliver Judah was genuine.
For whatever reason, Ahaz refused to request one, citing that it would be "testing" the Lord. God, however, knew his reason was disingenuous and that he trusted more in Assyria than in God.
Because Ahaz refused to ask for a sign, God gave him one.
Isaiah 7:14-17 (NIV) 14Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. 15He will eat curds and honey when he knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the right. 16But before the boy knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the right, the land of the two kings you dread will be laid waste. 17The LORD will bring on you and on your people and on the house of your father a time unlike any since Ephraim broke away from Judah—he will bring the king of Assyria."
The substance of the sign is this. Before the child is old enough to be held morally accountable for his actions (in Jewish life, about twelve years old), the lands of Aram (Syria) and Israel will be laid waste and no longer to be dreaded. However, the nation to which Ahaz turned for aid, will become Judah's oppressor.
Without being given the specifics of which virgin (Hebrew, almah, unmarried maiden) in Ahaz's day would become pregnant and bear a child, there appears to be a dual fulfillment: one near in Ahaz's time and one in the far future.
In the near future fulfillment, God said that the birth would be a sign of God's presence to fulfill his promise to Ahaz for Judah's sake if only he would trust in Him and not Assyria. Thus the name Immanuel or "God is with us."
In the far future fulfillment, God has literally come, indeed it IS God Who is with us! This time, the word for the maiden is the specific word for virgin in Greek (parthenos, See Luke 1:27, 34.) The ultimate Deliverer of Israel has come to offer His kingdom if only they would trust in Him and not in themselves, Rome, traditions, or whatever. Immanuel has come has offered Himself as Savior of the world, my Savior, your Savior, if only we will choose to trust Him for not only our near future—today and tomorrow, but our eternal future after our life here is done.
The real message of Christmas is this. Immanuel has come. He is God with us. He wants to be God in us, as well. He wants to fill us with Himself and abide with us forever. But the only way this can happen is if we trust in Him rather than in ourselves or someone else. Only He can save us from our sin and give us eternal life.
III. The Promise Believed, Mat 1:24-25
Matthew 1:24-25 (NIV) 24When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. 25But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.
A. Joseph and Mary Gave Jesus a Home—And Jesus wants to make a home in you.
If you are willing to obey His teachings, He and His Father will come to live with you., John 14:23.
John 14:23 (NIV) 23Jesus replied, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.
B. Joseph and Mary Gave Jesus His Name—And Jesus wants you to experience the meaning of His Name, "Jehovah saves!" And once you believe and trust in Him for salvation, He saves you and gives you eternal life, John 3:16.
John 3:16 (NIV) 16"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
C. Joseph and Mary Gave Jesus Their Hearts—And Jesus wants you to serve Him with your heart, Col 3:23-24.
Colossians 3:23-24 (NIV) 23Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, 24since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.
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