God is with Us

Introduction: There always seems to be conversation about Christmas and its true meaning. Even outside the friendly confines of the church buildings the culture often discusses what Christmas is all about. I have spoken my fair share of comments about Christmas and its observance in the culture. I have also pointed out some inconsistencies, as I see them, between what God says about Christ and what the culture says about Christmas.

Ironically enough, the Scripture before us today speaks directly to the person of Jesus and who He really is. We have had the opportunity to celebrate yesterday the birth of this Messiah. It seems only fitting, then, that we review what the Bible says about the one to whom we owe all worship, honor, and glory.

1. Jesus Saves (18-21)

Matthew 1:18-21 [NASB1995]

18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ [the Messiah] was as follows: when His mother Mary had been betrothed [The first stage of marriage in Jewish culture, usually lasting for a year before the wedding night, more legal than an engagement] 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 that which [the Child who] has been begotten [conceived] in her is of the Holy Spirit. 21 “She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He Himself will save His people from their sins.”

Matthew’s account of the Messiah’s birth is given more from Joseph’s perspective

Mary was “betrothed” to Joseph; the first stage of marriage in Jewish culture; usually lasting for a year before the wedding night; more legal than an engagement

R. T. France: “In Jewish law betrothal, which lasted about one year, was much more than our engagement. It was a binding contract, terminable only by death (which left the betrothed a ‘widow’) or by a divorce as for a full marriage. The man was already the husband (v. 19), but the woman remained in her father’s house. The marriage was completed when the husband took the betrothed to his home in a public ceremony” [Matthew: An Introduction and Commentary, vol. 1, TNTC, 82].

Leon Morris: “A betrothed woman could be punished as an adulteress (Deut. 22:23–24)” [The Gospel according to Matthew, PNTC, 27].

She “was found” to be with child prior to their marriage

The child was conceived by the Holy Spirit of God; see Luke 1:35 - “The angel answered and said to her, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy Child shall be called the Son of God.’”

R. T. France: “That Jesus was conceived by a virgin mother without the agency of Joseph is clearly stated throughout this section, and is the basis for the introduction of the quotation in vv. 22–23. It is not so much argued or even described, but assumed as a known fact” [Matthew: An Introduction and Commentary, vol. 1, TNTC, 81].

Joseph was already referred to as her “husband”; this demonstrates the seriousness of betrothal

He was a righteous man; he did not want Mary to be “disgraced” even though he had legal grounds

Joseph considered divorcing her “secretly” to prevent a scandal and maintain her dignity

Joseph was visited in a dream by an “Angel of the Lord”

The angel referred to Joseph as a “son of David”; this legality was supplied for Jesus’ genealogy

The angel told Joseph not to be afraid to continue his relationship with Mary

The angel revealed to Joseph that the child was conceived by the Holy Spirit of God

The angel informed Joseph that Mary would have a son and Joseph would give him a specific name

The child would be named Jesus BECAUSE “He Himself will save His people from their sins”

Leon Morris: “On this occasion the name is not to be left to the discretion of the parent, for this child is special and has a destiny that is to be expressed in the meaning of the name. So the angel goes on to say, he (the word is emphatic: “He and no other”) will save his people from their sins (cf. Ps. 130:8)” [The Gospel according to Matthew, PNTC, 29–30].

R. T. France: “In the case of Jesus (the Greek form of Joshua or Jeshua, a common name: see on 27:16) both the sound (cf. Heb. yôšî’a, ‘he will save’) and the probable etymology (‘Yahweh is salvation’, or ‘O save, Yahweh’) contribute to the explanation for he will save his people from their sins” [Matthew: An Introduction and Commentary, vol. 1, TNTC, 83].

2. Jesus is God (22-25)

Matthew 1:22-25 [NASB1995]

22 Now all this has happened [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,” [Isaiah 7:14] which translated means, “GOD WITH US.” 24 And Joseph got up [awoke] from his sleep and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took Mary as his wife, 25 and was not knowing her [but kept her a virgin] until she gave birth to a Son; and he called His name Jesus.

The angel of the Lord explained clearly the reason why all these things were taking place

“All this has happened”; everything about the birth of the Messiah was planned by God

The circumstances surrounding the birth of the Messiah were foretold by prophets sent by God

The message of the prophets was the word of the Lord; they were simply the mouthpiece

Leon Morris: “Notice that he speaks of the words in question not as spoken by the prophet, but as spoken by the Lord through the prophet. Matthew takes inspired prophecy very seriously” [PNTC, 30-31].

Isaiah indicated that the virgin would conceive and bear a son; he would be called “Immanuel”

Isaiah’s prophecy explained that the Messiah would be God in the flesh, dwelling among the people

R. T. France: “Isaiah 7:14 is seen as fulfilled not in the naming of Jesus (v. 21), but in the whole account of his origin and naming in vv. 18ff. (all this, v. 22). The point is not that Jesus ever bore Immanuel as an actual name, but that it indicates his role, bringing God’s presence to man. This meaning is related to that of his actual name, Jesus, in that it is sin which separates man from God’s presence, so that salvation from sin results in ‘God with us’” [TNTC, 84].

Joseph obeyed the word of the Lord as delivered by the angel of the Lord

He took Mary as his wife despite the cultural consequences

He maintained purity and abstinence until AFTER Jesus was born

Joseph refused to cast any doubt on the identity of God’s Messiah

Joseph named the boy Jesus just as he had been instructed

Conclusion: Michael Green writes, “So here, at the annunciation of Jesus’ birth, we are brought face to face with the central theme of the Gospel. God, who has been at work on his people since the times of Abraham, has come among them in person. And he has come for the specific purpose of rescuing them from the mess they have got themselves into. Christianity is not good advice about morals. It is good news about God and what he has done for us...It would be a pity if all these questions which arise in modern minds were to rob us of the main significance of this marvelous chapter. The Father loves us enough to send his Son, the one who shares both God’s nature and ours. He comes to rescue his people from their sins, enemies far more deadly than Rome. If God loves like that, it is good news, gospel, indeed” [Michael P. Green, The Message of Matthew: The Kingdom of Heaven, The Bible Speaks Today, 60, 64].

So before we conclude, we should look very carefully at the words the angel used in verse 21. He WILL save His people from their sins. The angel doesn't say that he might save his people or even that he will give them the opportunity to be saved. He says that Jesus WILL SAVE His people from their sins. Because we live on this side of history, we can look back now to a hill called Mount Calvary and say with full confidence that Jesus DID SAVE His people from their sins. When Jesus cried out from the cross, "IT IS FINISHED," He meant it! The question before us today is not whether Jesus actually accomplished His work. The question before us today is whether or not we are one of HIS PEOPLE. Are you one of His people? Do you belong to Jesus? Have you repented of your sins? Have you trusted in Christ alone for forgiveness and eternal life? Can you say with confidence you will go to heaven when you die? There’s only one way to get there: Repent and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, the one who died in your place on the cross for your sins.