Christmas 2021
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The Virgin birth and Joseph
The Virgin birth and Joseph
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.
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.”
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.”
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.
INTRO:
Jesus is God in the flesh.
He was born of virgin.
There are many people who do not believe in the virgin birth. Even some who claim to be Christians .
Some do not believe because do not understand. You should believe when you don’t understand. That’s called faith.
I believe in Gods word. All of it.
The virgin birth is very important in our belief as Christians.
How can a virgin birth happen? It is scientifically impossible.
It is a miracle.
It is a Christmas Miracle. That should amaze us if you really think about it.
WOW factor.
Agian, we believe because it is in Gods word.
“Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so”
15 And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel.”
God talking to the serpent. Notice, seed of the woman, not the man. This is speaking of the virgin birth.
14 Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.
The virgin birth means God is with us.
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.”
The virgin birth is absolutely essential to the gospel. No virgin birth means no gospel.
If Jesus had not been born of a virgin, He would have had to have had an earthly father. He would have been born a sinner, then He would not have been God.
If Jesus is not God, He cannot be our savior from sin.
If Jesus is not sinless savior, then we don’t have a savior from sin, and there is no gospel.
The virgin birth doe matter.
Mary was the first to be told she would be the Mother of our savior.
29 But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was.
30 Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus.
32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David.
33 And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.”
34 Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?”
35 And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God.
Notice Marys question in VS 34. It’s not a question of doubt. It wasn’t “This can’t be” but “How can this be”
She believed, she just didn’t understand how.
Now will turn to Joseph:
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.
Betrothal was a lot more formal than our engagement period is today. It was a kind of pre-marriage relationship. The rabbi would perform a ceremony for the betrothal.
During this period they did not live together until after the official marriage ceremony, and the betrothal lasted about a year.
They were called husband and wife.
Mary gets a visit from Gabriel, she goes to visit her cousin Elizabeth.
We are not told how Joseph gets the news.
Just imagine how he felt. He had to make a decision.
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.
We don’t know a lot about Joseph. He must likely was older them Mary.
We now He came from the family of David.
He loved Mary, he was looking forward to living a life with her. How he finds out that she is pregnant. Elab on how he may have felt.
“Just man”
conscientious, law-abiding man
He was hurt, but he loved Mary.
He had not want “make a public example” of her.
She could have been stoned to death. Or punished publicly.
He could have turned over to those who enforce the law and publicly humiliated.
He could not marry her if another man was the father of her child.
But he could write a private paper of divorce.
Joseph was in a bad place. Hurt, angry, not understanding.
It is amazing how when we are hurt, in a place on not understanding, God will give us peace.
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.
We talked about this a few weeks ago in Sunday School. About dreams. We know that God did speak to people in dreams.
Joseph is thinking about what to do. (I believe he had no peace) at some point he falls asleep.
READ vs again.
“In a dream”
Dreams in the Bible. Joseph (OT) had 2 dreams.
One binding sheaves of grain. His brothers sheaves bowed down to his.
11 stars that bowed down to him.
Later this would become true, when his brothers would bow down to him in Egypt.
Then while in prison the dreams of the baker and butler.
There where others dreams too.
I think that this dream that Joseph has was very real, he knew it was from God.
“Son of David”
“do not be afraid” “Fear not”
This tells me that the news that Joseph had gotten brought him fear. Fear for what he had to do. Fear for Mary.
By the way, can you imagine the gossip going around town. Even years later.
God always brings peace in time of fear.
The angel gives Joseph the answer and the peace he needed.
“to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit”
He was a just man, s righteous man, a man of faith. He believed.
21 And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”
Did even need a sonogram.
Didn’t have to pick a name.
“for He will save His people from their sins”
The greatest news ever.
He would live a perfect sinless life. He would face temptations. He would be loved by some. But many would hate Him.
He would give His life for everyone who would except His free gift.
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.”
Imagine being told by the Angel that what you were being told was the fulfillment of prophecy.
“So all this was done”.............. This a reference to the fulfilment of scripture.
The long awaited Messiah would be born.
Joseph had be chosen to rise the Son of God.
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.
Joseph is awakened from his sleep. He marries Mary. VS 25 elab
1st: The virgin birth. Yes it is true. It had to happen. Without it, there no gospel, there is no salvation.
2nd:Joseph. His because of his faith, he believed.
He loved Mary. There was talk, there was gossip, but he loved her.
Joseph had that radical, courageous obedience.
Because of Joseph's courageous obedience, Jesus was born into this world, and through His life and death He paid the price for our sins.