Matthew 1:18-25
"Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily. 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, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for the shall save his people from their sins. Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, 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. Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS," Matthew 1:18-25. There is so much to learn about regarding the birth of Jesus Christ. We have learned a lot from going through the Gospel according to Luke verse by verse, and we have referenced the other Gospels including our text today. Some of what we have learned is contrary to what most of the world believes. This world knows what we are celebrating on December 25th. They hate it and they despise it and they are doing all they can do to change it. They are fighting against God, and they will not win (Revelation 19-22).
1). Miraculous Birth. Verse 18- before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. Jesus wasn't conceived in sin as you and I are. He wasn't born with a sin nature as we are because of the fall of Adam. If He had been then, He would have been a sinner from conception and would not have been sinless (Romans 3:9-12, 23). Jesus Christ wasn't born into total depravity. We are. We are born destitute of holiness. We are born in need of the Saviour. Jesus was born as the Christ, the Saviour. This was a miraculous birth in that no man was involved (Verses 19-20). He already existed. Jesus Christ didn't begin to exist when He was born, He has always been. He is God in the flesh, the eternal Son of God (John 1:1,2, 14).
2). Prophesied Birth- verses 22-25. Turn to Genesis 3:15, Isaiah 7:14, and Micah 5:2. Some in Israel were expecting for the Messiah to come this way. They were expecting their deliverer to come from a virgin. They knew the Old Testament prophesies (Luke 2:22-38). When Christ did come, most were blinded by religion and traditions of men and by their depraved nature (John 1:9-11). This was a miraculous birth, and it was a prophesied birth, but those involved had major obstacles and multiple trials.
3). Trouble Filled Birth- Luke 2:33-35. It is popular today for people to teach that when the Lord saves you that you have no more problems or trials. This isn't biblical and these folk need to go to another country and try and preach that. They'd be run out of town and stoned. That teaching is a lie. Some like to live in a fairy tale world, one day they will be awakened to reality. Mary could have been stoned; there was joy in her life but there was also grief. She watched Jesus grow up, she watched Him never sin and be the perfect child. She saw Him be about His Fathers business. She saw Him separate Himself from her. Overtime He didn't call her mother any more but instead woman; John 2:4 "Woman what have I to do with thee?" There even came a time where some came to Jesus and said your mother and brethren are outside and want to see you; and Jesus said, Who is my mother, or my brethren? Jesus wasn't being disrespectful, He was born the Saviour, and He must separate from her that she will see Him as the Saviour, not her baby boy. Do you think this was tough on her? Yes. Look in John 19:25-27. She sees her son, and her Saviour. In Acts 1:14 we see that Mary is an active disciple. Mary was born a sinner in need of the Saviour, just like the rest of us.
Joseph, Mary, and Jesus's life was not a life of ease, but we see the faithfulness of God the Father in their lives. In Matthew 2:1-3 a madman was against them. In Matthew 2:4-15 we see a miraculous deliverance. They trusted the Word of God. God said get up and go so they got up and went. Obedience brought deliverance. They trusted Gods Word and God delivered them.
How sever was the hatred for Jesus Christ and how soon was this hatred manifested? We see the answer in Matthew 2:16-18; murder because of Christmas day. No matter how you look at this, it was a brutal act. A madman, a paranoid king, willing to kill anyone that would threaten his rule, his little world (Matthew 2:16).
Mary had testing with trials, but she was protected by God. According to the Law she was to be stoned. The religion of her day would have had pleasure in stoning her. While Jesus was in her womb madmen were in control and they would have had pleasure in killing her. But through it all the Lord delivered her for Jesus' sake. She was pierced through with sorrows, but she also had fulness of joy. She knew Christ was resurrected; she knew Christ ascended up to heaven; she knows her hope is in Jesus Christ. She also knew that one day she would be with Jesus Christ, her Saviour, for eternity. She knew she would not suffer the wrath of God because of the finished redemptive work of her Saviour on that cross. From her womb came forth the Bread of Life. "And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst," John 6:35.
4.) The New Birth. "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new," II Corinthians 5:17. Jesus Christ saves our souls, He makes us a new creation, He delivers us from the wrath to come, and He gives us eternal life (Romans 8:28-39). Has Jesus Christ saved your soul? Did Mary know Christ lived inside of her? Yes. Did her life change because of Christ? Yes. Did she have evidences of Christ living inside of her; and could others see also? Yes. How about you? Do you know that Jesus Christ lives inside of you according to the Scriptures? If He does, then like Mary, your life has been changed and others also see the evidence of Jesus living inside of you. Mary had hope. She earnestly expected to be with Jesus for eternity, not as His mother, but as a depraved sinner that Jesus saved. Do you have this hope living inside of you? Look to Christ and trust Him to save you. He is the only One who can (Romans 10:13). "All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out," John 6:37.
Please send questions and comments to richardsonbaptistchurch@gmail.com.
Merry Christmas. Soli Deo Gloria.
