Advent 2022, Pt.2 - Born of a Virgin, of Divine Origin

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Hark, the Herald Angels sing, "Glory to the newborn King."

Listen, and maybe even now we can say, "Angels we have heard on high, sweetly singing o'er the plains. Glo - o - o - o - oria! In excelsis deo!"

It's not uncommon to think of angels during the Christmas story. And, when we do, we often think of them unified in angelic chorus declaring the birth of our Lord Jesus. And, we are right in doing so. After all, this is the scene that unfolds. "Shepherds kept their watching, O'er silent flocks by night, behold thro'out the heavens there shone a holy light."

But what of other angelic encounters? What of the appearance to Zacharias? Or Mary? Or today's passage, when an angel appears to Joseph? In the beginning pages of Matthew's gospel, the angel's appearance to Joseph drives home a core message of the light who has come into the world. This child that has been given, that we studied about last week, that was prophesied by Isaiah, is also said to be born of a virgin and named Immanuel, a promise again spoken by Isaiah. Let us turn together this morning to Matthew 1:18-25.

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Unexpected News (v.18-19)

Betrothal in the 1st century was certainly more than the modern engagement process. Typically, parents would arrange for a young woman to marry the parents' son, and after this, official agreements, complete with prenuptial, would be agreed upon before a witness as a binding contract. This contract could only be broken by a formal divorce. After families agreed upon a marriage, dowries were decided, and the betrothal was negotiated, a couple would be publicly pledged to one another. This period would last a year (according to Dr. Black, the groom would spend this year preparing a house for the new family, adding to the father's home. This is why the husband and wife leave and cleave.)

Any doubt concerning the legitimacy of Mary being a virgin stemming from arguing over words is put to rest by Luke's gospel (Lk1:34) when, upon hearing the news of being with child, Mary responds, "How will this be, since I am a virgin?" During the first century, the minimum age for marriage was twelve years old for women, and thirteen years old for men. If a person were to remain unmarried even beyond the early twenties, it would have been considered a "social embarrassment."

hough they were not yet married, and had not physically consummated the marriage, the arrangement was no less legally binding, and the man and woman were referred to as husband and wife. Sexual activity during the betrothed stage was considered immoral, and unfaithfulness would have experienced the full weight of adultery -- death by stoning. Joseph sought to protect his own reputation while still showing compassion to Mary, so he sought to divorce her quietly. Rather than expose Mary's perceived sin publicly, causing her great ridicule and possibly death, Joseph decided to divorce her quietly. Two themes that appear again in the fifth chapter of Matthew are here seen in Joseph's action: compassion and mercy. These traits are indicative of true righteousness. Joseph, as a righteous man, had no choice but to divorce Mary. Adultery produced a state of impurity and therefore the marriage must be dissolved as a matter of legal fact. If Joseph were to marry Mary, it would be viewed as an admission of his guilt of being physically intimate with Mary during the betrothal period. Divorcing Mary quietly would preserve his reputation but also show compassion to Mary. How often does God give the believer more options that he or she realizes?

Unlikely Encounter (v.20)

In Matthew's gospel, he will often signal a new or unusual event, something that the reader should be particularly mindful of, by using idou, translated here as behold. The word angel is a transliteration of the Greek word aggelos. Strictly translated, it refers to a messenger. The use of the term gives insight into one of the primary roles of angels: to relay the messages of God.

As the angel speaks to Joseph, he addresses him as the son of David. This seemingly insignificant address should remind Joseph of the royal line from he descends, and should prepare him to hear the announcement of the Messiah's birth. The angels addresses Joseph as the son of David, a significant title given the fact that Matthew has just named Jesus in the genealogy of King David.

Unparalleled Announcement (v.20-23)

There is something fantastically natural and supernatural about the birth of Jesus. The miraculous virgin conception is presented as an already-accepted reality. Matthew does not theorize on how this happened, only that the Holy Spirit caused it to be. Only this unique God-man can take on man's sin and suffer the punishment mankind deserves. This should cause Jesus' followers to worship with unending gratitude the One called Jesus and Immanuel. While the OT often uses Spirit of God to refer to God's power to accomplish something, it here in Matthew personified. This is the first clear reference too the distinct personhood of the Holy Spirit. Familiarity with the Christmas story may dampen the shocking nature of Mary's pregnancy. It shouldn't. A virgin birth had never and would never again occur. If Joseph were utterly shocked, it would be completely understandable. And, the once-in-history nature of this event makes Joseph's display of faith all the more astonishing.

Jesus was not an uncommon name in the 1st century, often given to sons as a symbol of hope that God would send His Messiah and save the Israelites from their oppression. What is striking about the angel's message to Joseph is that this Jesus will save His people from their sins. Jesus is the Greek form of the name Jeshua or Joshua. It means "YHWH saves." Here, Jesus' name reveals His purpose -- to save sinners from their deserved punishment. While the name Jesus was a common first century name for Jews, and even expressed a hope in the coming Messiah, the typically belief or yearning was for deliverance from Roman oppression. The angels draws on the notion that Israel's deepest need is deliverance from her sin. Even as an average Joe, Jesus was the only One uniquely qualified to save His people from their sins. Further, it's not that Jesus came to help believers save themselves. He alone is the One that saves.

Matthew provides his first OT quote. Among other things, this reminds the reader that there is a seamless story unfolding throughout the OT and into the New. This scarlet thread should bolster the believer's faith as they understand Jesus the Messiah has been foretold of old. The prophetic utterance occured to assure Ahaz, king of Judah, that indeed God was faithful to His promise to preserve the throne of David forever, first promised in 2 Sam.7:11-17. This is one of many times when Matthew will note prophetic fulfillment in or through Jesus. Immanuel implies and/or emphasizes the deity of Christ. Jesus is literally God living among His creation. Prophetically and contextually, when Isaiah mentions Immanuel in Isa.7:14, He is to be understood as the person also described in Isa.9:2-7; 11:1-9. While earlier, the angel instructs Joseph to name Jesus, "Jesus," the title Immanuel specifies who Jesus is: God with us. One refers to what He does, "saves," while the other refers to who He is, "God with us." Broken up, the name literally means that Jesus was "IM" = "with," "ANU" = "us," and "EL" = "God."

I want you to think…what is the most amazing miracle in Scripture? Is it parting the Red Sea? The sun stands still in the sky? A floating axe head? Walking on water? Demonic deliverance? Lazarus raising from the dead? Maybe the cross and resurrection?

A virgin gives birth to a son, and His name is Immanuel...God with us. This could be the most extraordinary miracle in all of Scripture. The One who is completely holy and other takes on the nature of His creation. If this one miracle is true, is there anything in Matthew's gospel beyond this that becomes "too far-fetched?" No, and, this provides the fundamental dividing line between Christianity and other religions that disagree, such as Muslims, Jews, Jehovah's Witnesses, Mormons, etc. Consider the following truths that are opposing and only possible in a person is both man and God:

1.) Jesus was born as a baby AND He sustains the universe.

2.) Jesus was thirty when His ministry began AND He is eternal.

3.) Jesus was both tired AND omnipotent.

4.) Jesus died AND He was victorious over death.

5.) Jesus is seated at the right hand of the Father AND is omnipresent.

The prophecy made by Isaiah was not unknown. However, most believed Isaiah was speaking figuratively and that God would bring a world leader, and God's presence would symbolically be with His people. Matthew is making a far greater claim about Jesus, that He is literally God with us. Matthew's deeply Jewish roots makes this claim all the more shocking. Jews, thoroughly monotheistic with a particularly high view of the otherness of God, would be the last people to espouse God taking on human nature. Further, the Jewish God was completely different from the typical Western (Greek/Roman) god of the time. YHWH was both personal and infinite, imminent and transcendent, not a part of or existing within creation, but the uncaused cause behind the existence of creation as a whole. Again, this may be the most astonishing miracle of all. The One who spoke billions of galaxies into existence now becomes helpless and utterly dependent upon human parents, unable to even speak at all, and incapable of even controlling His limbs, standing on His feet, or even rolling from front to back at first!

Unreserved Response

Joseph chose to obey what the Lord spoke through the angel during his dream. In so doing, Joseph necessarily chose to embrace the shame and ridicule that would have come from keeping Mary as his wife. There are at least four admirable character traits revealed in Joseph's story: righteousness (1:19), discretion and sensitivity (1:19), responsiveness to God (1:24), and self-discipline (1:25). Joseph took his wife, which could be a reference to Joseph breaking the social norm of waiting one year to actually become married.

The fact that Joseph took Mary as his wife and gave Jesus his name indicates a true, adoptive relationship. Legally, even if not physically, Jesus is the son of Joseph, and as such, his adoption ties him to the throne of David because Joseph is the son of David.

Joseph models the only right response to Jesus. Joseph is portrayed as completely obedient to the word of the angel. This type of whole-hearted obedience should characterize Jesus' followers. When Joseph wakes from his dream, his response is to "trust and obey." The theme of faith, as it is fleshed out in all of Scripture, is this: “trust and obey.”

Experience

Jesus was more than a name; it specified what he came to do ("God saves.") Immanuel, mentioned in vs.23, specified who the Jesus was: "God with us." Interestingly, Matthew concludes with the same idea: Jesus being with us always. The God-man Jesus brings us to a point of crisis, a proverbial fork in the road. He is God come in the flesh. And, throughout His life, there were myriads of responses to Christ. Some fled, saying His teachings were too difficult, while others said we have no where else to go, because You hold the words of life. Some scoffed at Him and chose to mock Him, and at the cross they chose to spit at Him and hit Him and cast their verbal jabs. Others, however, poured their very best on Him, staying by His side to the end like the disciple whom Jesus loved, or anointing His feet with their most precious possession before wiping His feet dry with their own hair.

By you can't just go on like always. This Jesus came to save us from our sins as the God who walked among us. He's either absolutely insane or infinitely worthy. The one thing you can't be is indifferent...apathetic...lukewarm.

Nope, that simply isn't an option with Christ the king. Our only right response is unashamed and utter surrender to the God who walked among us that He might redeem us from our sins.