Do you believe in miracles?

In the first 16 verses of Matthew we see the genealogy of Jesus all the way from Abraham.

I thought about opening this Christmas message by reading this genealogy, but chose not to because 1. you know me and know that I would butcher most of these names, and 2. I don’t feel like setting a record for putting you to sleep.

But after these genealogies, which contain familiar names like Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, David, and less familiar names like Eliakim....and the names of five women, Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, Bathsheba, and Mary. After these Matthew throws in a curveball.

Matthew 1:17 NASB95

17 So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; from David to the deportation to Babylon, fourteen generations; and from the deportation to Babylon to the Messiah, fourteen generations.

So? What is the significance of three sets of fourteen?

*** Shoulder Shrug***

Scholars and bible commentators offer only that the number 14 was significant in contemporary Judaism, but the only point mentioned was that there were 14 high priests from Aaron to the establishment of Solomon’s Temple and 14 high priests from Solomon’s Temple to the last high priest mentioned in the Scripture.

Or that the letters of David’s name in Hebrew add up to 14.......

but all the commentaries conclude. “We don’t know”

As we begin this sermon looking at the presentation of Jesus, the Messiah, the Christ, our Lord and Savior, can we boast for a second that there is still mystery in the story.

That we don’t know as much as we think we know.

That we are only human, and that God is God. And that that the gap between us and Him is as deep as it is wide and the distance between us and Him is infinite and can only be bridged by the one that is both finite and infinite, both fully man and fully God. A gap that can only be bridged by the person and finished work of Jesus Christ.

Can we stop and acknowledge that it is exciting not knowing everything. The magicians act is not nearly as fun if you now how he does all his tricks. And when you don’t know, you are free to sit back and marvel at their work.

Paul said in Ephesians that This mystery is great.

There is something freeing about saying “I don’t know.” In a time and culture where you are always supposed to know everything, and “why?” is no longer a question but a challenge, there is freedom found shedding the pressure to have all the answers.

Because you don’t......You don’t know what tomorrow will bring. You don’t know what our lives will look like next year. You don’t know what our country is going to look like in four years. You don’t know how long you will live or how your time on this earth will end. But the peace comes not is knowing these things, but in knowing the ONE that knows these things and promises to hold you in his hand as they unfold.

This morning we are going to look at, with hope and wonder, at how this ONE, the Christ, came into this world.

Pray!

Matthew 1:18–2:15 NASB95

18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: when His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit. 19 And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man and not wanting to disgrace her, planned to send her away secretly. 20 But when he had considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. 21 “She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” 22 Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet: 23 “Behold, the virgin shall be with child and shall bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which translated means, “God with us.” 24 And Joseph awoke from his sleep and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took Mary as his wife, 25 but kept her a virgin until she gave birth to a Son; and he called His name Jesus. 1 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, 2 “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him.” 3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 Gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. 5 They said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for this is what has been written by the prophet: 6 ‘And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah, Are by no means least among the leaders of Judah; For out of you shall come forth a Ruler Who will shepherd My people Israel.’ ” 7 Then Herod secretly called the magi and determined from them the exact time the star appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the Child; and when you have found Him, report to me, so that I too may come and worship Him.” 9 After hearing the king, they went their way; and the star, which they had seen in the east, went on before them until it came and stood over the place where the Child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. 11 After coming into the house they saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell to the ground and worshiped Him. Then, opening their treasures, they presented to Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 12 And having been warned by God in a dream not to return to Herod, the magi left for their own country by another way. 13 Now when they had gone, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Get up! Take the Child and His mother and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is going to search for the Child to destroy Him.” 14 So Joseph got up and took the Child and His mother while it was still night, and left for Egypt. 15 He remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet: “Out of Egypt I called My Son.”

Three OT Scriptures fulfilled.

1 How He was born.

2. Where he was born.

3. To whom he was born.

How he was born:

Isaiah 7:14 NASB95

14 “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel.

This was a message from the Lord to his people at a time when all seem lost. It was a message of hope that their God had not forsaken them and that the was still with him.

We tend to focus on the virgin part, which is understandable, because it is a miracle. But what we should be focused on is the Immanuel part. God with us.

Jesus is the embodiment of our God’s promise to never leave us or forsake us.

Where he was born:

Micah 5:2 NASB95

2 “But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Too little to be among the clans of Judah, From you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His goings forth are from long ago, From the days of eternity.”

Micah 5:4–5 NASB95

4 And He will arise and shepherd His flock In the strength of the Lord, In the majesty of the name of the Lord His God. And they will remain, Because at that time He will be great To the ends of the earth. 5 This One will be our peace. When the Assyrian invades our land, When he tramples on our citadels, Then we will raise against him Seven shepherds and eight leaders of men.

The prophesy of Christ being born in Bethlehem is also a promise that He is our peace.

Out of Egypt I called My Son

Hosea 11:1 NASB95

1 When Israel was a youth I loved him, And out of Egypt I called My son.

In the birth of Christ we are reminded that God is faithful to deliver His people from bondage.

Numbers 24:8–9 NASB95

8 “God brings him out of Egypt, He is for him like the horns of the wild ox. He will devour the nations who are his adversaries, And will crush their bones in pieces, And shatter them with his arrows. 9 “He couches, he lies down as a lion, And as a lion, who dares rouse him? Blessed is everyone who blesses you, And cursed is everyone who curses you.”

This is a promise that Jesus will come again. We have seen the Lamb. On His return, we will see the Lion.

1: Nothing is impossible with God

Jesus fulfilled over 300 prophesies!

Of all the miracles in the bible. The two most significant are the Birth, and the resurrection of Jesus.

2. You can’t outsmart God

Harod was smart. He consulted experts. He devised a plan. He recruited spies, without the spies even knowing they were spies.

Harod knew that new King was going be born in Bethlehem from God’s Word, but then though he could outsmart God even though he had to have known deep down that Gods’ Word was going to be fulfilled.

Don’t we do that. We try to outsmart God to fulfill our own lusts.

Everybody sins.....

God will forgive me.....

There will be time to accept Christ later.....

This is the philosophy of fools.....

3. The only appropriate response is to worship God.

Matthew 2:11 NASB95

11 After coming into the house they saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell to the ground and worshiped Him. Then, opening their treasures, they presented to Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

When you come in the presence of God, the only response is to bow down and worship Him.

Isaiah 6:3 NASB95

3 And one called out to another and said, “Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord of hosts, The whole earth is full of His glory.”

Revelation 4:8 NASB95

8 And the four living creatures, each one of them having six wings, are full of eyes around and within; and day and night they do not cease to say, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty, who was and who is and who is to come.”

Isaiah 9:6 NASB95

6 For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.