Witness the Miracles of Christmas

Witness the Miracles of Christmas

INTRODUCTION:

I. Be strong in the Lord because of who you are.

I. Be strong in the Lord because of who you are.

I.

I. Be strong in the Lord because of who you are.

A.

II. Be strong in the Lord because of who Christ is.

INTRODUCTION: As Christmas approaches this week, we often here about the magic of Christmas. I would like to turn your attention from the magic of Christmas to the majestic miracles of Christmas. The Christmas story in the Gospel of Matthew reveals several miracles of the first Christmas that are extremely important to the doctrines of Christianity. We will observe today in the Word of God the miraculous conception of Jesus, the miraculous commitments of Mary and Joseph, and the miraculous coming of the God of heaven in human flesh. There is no human magic of Christmas in these events, but the majestic miracles of God.

I. Witness the miraculous conception.

A. God chose a virgin couple.

- Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together . . .

Mary and Joseph were engaged which was as binding as marriage once they were betrothed to one another. It is obvious from this verse the morality and virgin character of the two. They had not “come together” or been sexually involved before their marriage.

B. God chose a virgin conception.

- . . . she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.

1. The prophets of God wrote of this occasion.

Henry Morris Study Bible – The miracle of the incarnation of the Lord Jesus was not His virgin birth, for it was a normal human birth in every way, but rather His miraculous conception. This was the woman’s seed of and the “new thing in the earth” in , and the very conception prophesied in .

- And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

- . . . for the LORD hath created a new thing in the earth, A woman shall compass a man.

- Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

2. The power of God performed the miraculous conception.

- . . . she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.

Yes, this is the virgin conception. The son of God is conceived in Mary by the Holy Spirit of God to fulfill the divine plan of God the Father!

- For with God nothing shall be impossible. 38 And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.

II. Witness the miraculous commitment.

A. Witness the divorce consideration of their commitment.

- Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily.

Christmas is a joyous occasion for us as we consider and plan with our families for a very special day. As Mary and Joseph considered their first Christmas, it was not initially a joyous occasion, but a troubling and problematic time!

When Joseph discovered Mary’s condition, he naturally assumed she had been unfaithful to him. Note his prudence: “While he thought on these things” (v. 20). How important it is to be “slow to wrath” and to consider matters thoughtfully! According to , Mary could have been stoned. Indications are that the Jews did not obey this law but rather allowed the innocent party to divorce the unfaithful mate.[1]

B. Witness the Divine counsel to their commitment.

1. The Divine counsel reminded Joseph who he was.

- But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David . . .

The angel reminded Joseph that he belonged to the house of David, and thus, God’s purposes for the line of David were coming to fruition.[2]

2. The Divine counsel removed Joseph’s assumption of infidelity concerning Mary.

- . . . fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.

It took great faith for Joseph to believe God’s message in the dream. His love for God and for Mary made him willing to “bear reproach” for Christ. Imagine how the neighbors must have talked![3]

III. Witness the miraculous coming of God in flesh.

A. Witness the miraculous coming of the Savior.

- And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

JESUS. The Greek equivalent of the Hebrew name Joshua, meaning “the Lord is salvation.”

The phrase after His name in this verse actually defines His name!

was fulfilled in !!!

- And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

B. Witness the miraculous coming of the “God with us.”

- Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, 23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

Though His personal name is Jesus, Christ’s royal title is Emmanuel, “God with us.”[4]

1. God was conceived by the Holy Spirit to be with us in flesh.

Just as the Word of God was given by the Holy Spirit so was the Son of God given by the work of the Holy Spirit of God.

2. God was born of a virgin in Bethlehem to be with us.

Mary yielded herself to the work of the Holy Spirit to give birth to Jesus!

3. God can be with you today if you will be born again.

- For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

C. Witness the miraculous coming of Jesus.

- Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: 25 And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.

We must admire Joseph’s immediate obedience (v. 24). He was careful to keep his relationship with Mary pure. [5]

Final Application: The virgin birth of the Lord Jesus Christ makes the new birth of salvation possible to you today! God’s gift to you as an unbeliever this Christmas is salvation provided through the pure born Son of God who lived a sinless life! He was qualified to be the perfect sinless sacrifice to atone for your sin by dying on the cross for your sin debt! He rose again and ascended back to heaven from whence He came. He is there now to save unbelievers and intercede for believers. He gave you and me His all! Believers, what are you giving the Lord on the day we celebrate His birthday?

[1] Wiersbe, W. W. (1992). Wiersbe’s expository outlines on the New Testament (p. 16). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

[2] Beeke, J. R., Barrett, M. P. V., & Bilkes, G. M. (Eds.). (2014). The Reformation Heritage KJV Study Bible (pp. 1356–1357). Grand Rapids, MI: Reformation Heritage Books.

[3] Wiersbe, W. W. (1992). Wiersbe’s expository outlines on the New Testament (p. 16). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

[4] Beeke, J. R., Barrett, M. P. V., & Bilkes, G. M. (Eds.). (2014). The Reformation Heritage KJV Study Bible (p. 1357). Grand Rapids, MI: Reformation Heritage Books.

[5] Wiersbe, W. W. (1992). Wiersbe’s expository outlines on the New Testament (p. 17). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.