December 21, 2008

Christmas_08
12/21/08
Sunday

Christmas_08
I. Matthew's gospel (good news - so this is in effect Matthew's good news report) opens with a genealogy of Jesus Christ, and in verse-16 we read
Matthew 1:16 (NKJV)
16 And Jacob begot Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus who is called Christ.
A. It does not say that Joseph was the father of or that he begot Jesus, but simply that he was the husband of Mary who gave birth to Jesus who is called Christ
1. This is an unusual statement for a Jewish Genealogy and requires further explanation which will be given to us beginning in verse-18
II. The birth of Jesus Christ.
Matthew 1:18-21 (NKJV)
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.”
A. Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: - What an interesting phrase
1. And it serves two purposes:
a. First it ties what follows back to verse-16 which needs further explanation
b. Secondly it introduces the explanation which follows, and what an interesting introduction it is in light of what follows.
2. Once upon a time often precedes a fairy tale, but these words; imply "fantastic as it may seem here are the facts".
a. In light of the facts it is almost like our exclamations - Too good to be true, I can't believe it, wow someone pinch me I must be dreaming,
B. The existence of God in the mind of man demands a choice of faith, because God is ethereal, supernatural, and altogether different than men.
1. Because we can't see God, or measure God by some kind of gauge or instrument, we are forced to look at the facts we are given and to determine whether we believe them or not, but the facts will always stretch or exceed our natural comprehension or understanding, because that is the very nature of God, God is more and we are less.
a. He is infinite we are finite, He is creator, we His creation.
2. So the birth of Jesus, who is called Christ (Messiah, the annointed one of God, Savior) was as follows:
a. After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit.
(1) Betrothal for a year or so, where they were considered husband and wife but the marriage was not consummated till after this time was allowed to demonstrate faithfulness and purity.
(2) So during this year of betrothal, Mary discovers that she is pregnant and so does Joseph, and this presents some difficulty for each of them.
(a) Imagine Mary...
(b) Imagine Joseph...
3. But they like we are told, this is not a natural pregnancy, but a supernatural pregnancy, and this is to be no ordinary man child.
a. And this leads them and you and I to a crisis of belief or faith; do we or don't we believe?
C. Now we find some facts that are here to help us make a decision, look at verses 22-25
Matthew 1:22-25 (NKJV)
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.
1. First we are told that this happened this way and it fulfills what the prophet Isaiah proclaimed would happen, 700 years before its fulfillment here.
a. What are the chances of such a crazy thing happening, if it were not true.
(1) What a difficult ruse to pull off.
b. Now Joseph evidently believed or he is in conspiracy with Mary, but there in no gain, only difficulty in this venture...so the only reasonable conclusion is that Joseph was convinced that this child was indeed the child of God.
(1) And look at the sacrifice he was willing to make; Joseph had no physical relation with Mary until after the birth of her firstborn Son, Jesus.
2. And if all this is true think about the implications and the wonder of God stepping physically into our world, Immanuel, "God with us" in order to help us.
III. But we also have the facts of the wise men from the East and Herod.
A. Wise men that were watching, waiting, and believed.
Matthew 2:1-2 (NKJV)
1 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem,
2 saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.”
1. A report had been given to them, a prophecy and they took it to heart and were looking, and when the star appeared, at great inconvenience to their lives they went to worship this child who was born.
Numbers 24:17 (NKJV)
17 “I see Him, but not now; I behold Him, but not near; A Star shall come out of Jacob; A Scepter shall rise out of Israel, And batter the brow of Moab, And destroy all the sons of tumult.
B. Herod
Matthew 2:3-8 (NKJV)
3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.
4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.
5 So they said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet:
6 ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, Are not the least among the rulers of Judah; For out of you shall come a Ruler Who will shepherd My people Israel.’ ”
7 Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared.
8 And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also.”

1. Herod took this seriously, he believed the prophecies at least to the point that they spoke of a great king that would be born
a. He believed that the scriptures of the Jews had the information as to where this child was to be born, and that the information would be accurate.
2. He was so convinced of that this babe was a great king and therefore posed a threat to his throne that he had hundreds if not thousands of babies killed to protect his throne from this child.
Matthew 2:16-18 (NKJV)
16 Then Herod, when he saw that he was deceived by the wise men, was exceedingly angry; and he sent forth and put to death all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its districts, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the wise men.
17 Then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying:
18 “A voice was heard in Ramah, Lamentation, weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, Refusing to be comforted, Because they are no more.”
a. The deception of the wisemen was because they did report back to him after they found the child.
3. The wise men
Matthew 2:9-12 (NKJV)
9 When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was.
10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy.
11 And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
12 Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way.
a. They were led to the babe supernaturally, and they worshipped Him.
b. They were warned by not to return to Herod, and they believed it to be a divine message and acted on it.
c. The gifts they brought were fit for a king, but were even more unique to this king
(1) Gold speaking of his royalty
(2) Frankincense a perfume speaking of the fragrance of his life, i.e. His deity.
(3) Myrrh was used in embalming, thus foreshadowing his sacrificial death (which is the purpose for which He was birthed into this world).
C. Decisions.
1. Mary had to make a choice - believe and trust and it reuired faith on her part that God was good.
2. Joseph had to believe and trust and it took faith on his part pride and reputation, as well as overcoming doubts that for most would be insurmountable.
3. The wise men, and Herod demonstrated belief and trust in the prophecies as well as the scriptures.
a. They demonstrate for us that the scriptures are true and trustworthy.
4. May you and I be convinced of the supernatural truth, the divine truth presented here, and place out trust in the one who was born Christ, who came intop this world to save us...
a. And may we join the heavenly host of heaven who proclaimed to shepherds in a field on that first Christmas night.
Luke 2:8-14 (NKJV)
8 Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night.
9 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid.
10 Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.
11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
12 And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”
13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:
14 “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”
D. Have a blessed Christmas, the greatest gift you could ever get has been given to you already, make sure you are unwrapping him...