Matt 1:18-25 Who is Jesus prt 2.
The Book of Matthew • Sermon • Submitted
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· 52 viewsWho is this Jesus? That is the question Matthew is answering in his first chapter. Today Matthew will answer that question through the odd and dear I say wiered birth story of Jesus.
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Intro
Intro
Welcome everyone -
Last week we went through the Genealogy of Jesus and man was that thing packed full of signs, literary devices, and pointers that all pointed to Jesus being the Messiah Israel had been waiting on.
If you were not able to be here last week I would suggest you go to our website or our our Smart phone app and watch last weeks message.
Let me just say, if you miss any of these messages on Matthew you can always find them on our website or phone app by the proceeding Wednesday.
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OK, so let’s jump right into today's message.
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Set the stage:
As I mentioned last week at the time of Jesus birth the prophecy of Daniel concerning the coming of Messiah was a big topic. The time frame Daniel gave had elapsed and people were looking every where for the coming Messiah.
False messiah claims were popping up every where. These false messiahs would raise up little rebel forces and then eventually would be put down by Rome.
Yet, the Jewish people were desperate to find the Messiah the prophets and Daniel had promised.
Who is this anointed King?
Who is it that will save us from Rome?
Who is it that will re-establish Israel as the Dominant force in the region?
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It is in this setting that Matthew tells us the birth story of Jesus whom Matthew claims is the Messiah.
Now I want you to take off your Christian goggles which has been formed for us over the last 2 grand years.
Let’s read Matthew today as one of those 1st century readers.
Let’s not pass over the scriptures of Jesus birth as though we already heard it and there is nothing new there for us.
Let’s not pile onto the Jesus birth story with all our Christmas card and Hallmark nostalgia.
Let’s read this with fresh eyes and hear the story with new ears.
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18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. 19 And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. 20 But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from 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 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:
23 “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
and they shall call his name Immanuel”
(which means, God with us). 24 When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, 25 but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.
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Jewish Engagement
Jewish Engagement
The Jewish engagement lasted 1 year.
During this one year period the woman was still under the protection of her father, in her father’s house.
The man would use this time to prepare a space in his parents home or a place near his parents home for himself and his bride.
But the engagement was a legal status and carried with it some protections for the woman.
The engagement could not be broken off without a legally written letter of divorce.
The couple was considered husband and wife but the marriage had not yet been consummated and sealed in a covenant.
Sexual intercourse during this time was strictly forbidden as a means of protecting the woman from being pregnant and the man walking away from the marriage.
So you can see why Joseph would have been in shock to find out that Mary was pregnant.
So you can see why Joseph would have been in shock to find out that Mary was pregnant.
Matthew describes Joseph as a JUST man.
Matthew describes Joseph as a JUST man.
He is a man who loves the law of God and follows it to the best of his ability.
He is also a man of a compassionate heart and deals with others in kindness.
In other words Joseph knew that he did not father this child because, he had not yet been with Mary.
Because Joseph was a just man and he loved Mary
Because Joseph was a just man and he loved Mary
He chose to divorce her quietly.
He had two options.
He had two options.
Take her to the city gate and announce his divorce for reasons adultery or rape and thus shame her.
Or, to give her a written divorce quietly in front of 2 witnesses.
After considering the circumstances he chose to divorce her quietly.
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And it is here the Angel of the Lord steps in.
And it is here the Angel of the Lord steps in.
19 And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. 20 But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from 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.”
Notice that the Angle of the Lord calls Joseph - Son of David.
Notice that the Angle of the Lord calls Joseph - Son of David.
He is reminding Joseph who he is and who this child would be if he remained with Mary and if he named the child.
The engagement could not be broken off without a legally written letter of divorce.
By the father naming the child, he is making a claim over the child and thus all that is of the Father belongs to the son.
The Angel is saying “ Joseph you are the son of David, and if you stay this child will too be a son of David through you.
Immediately Joseph would have known the Angel was referring to the Messianic promise that the Messiah would be a Son of David.
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You shall call His name Yeshua or Jesus.
You shall call His name Yeshua or Jesus.
What is in a name?
Jewish tradition speaks of the naming of a child to reflect the future character and or purpose of the child.
This tradition goes all the way back to the naming of Jacob which means usurper.
This tradition is seen in -
25 Let not my lord regard this worthless fellow, Nabal, for as his name is, so is he. Nabal is his name, and folly is with him. But I your servant did not see the young men of my lord, whom you sent.
Nabal - Stupid, foolish, wicked, impious, ungodly.
So, when Joseph is given the name Yeshua or Jesus to name this child, he is also being told who and what this child is all about.
So, when Joseph is given the name Yeshua or Jesus to name this child, he is also being told who and what this child is all about.
Yeshua is made up of 2 words.
The first word is the Proper name of God
YHVH
The second word in Hebrew is salvation.
Yeshua or Jesus means God our salvation.
Joseph is told by the Angel of the Lord that this child is God our Salvation.
The angel then tells Joseph what in fact God was going to save them from - Sins.
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Who named this child?
Who named this child?
Now we start seeing what Matthew has been doing all along.
Matthew wants his readers to understand that this Yeshua is the Son of God.
While Joseph gave the child His name
It was the Angel or messenger of the Lord who told Joseph what to name the child.
Matthew is pointing out that God the Father YHVH, is the true name sake of this child.
This child is a product of a Supernatural miracle and He is the Son of God.
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Who is this Jesus?
Who is this Jesus?
He is the Genesis of a new creation.
1. He is the Messiah –The Son of David.
2. He is the Son of Abraham the true Israelite and all of God’s promises to Israel are found in Him.
3. He is the redeemer of all humanity, female, male, Jew, Gentile, all humanity.
4. He is the fulfillment of the Law, the Prophets and the Psalms.
5. He is the fulfillment of the Sabbath.
6. He is the beginning of a New epoch called Jubilee.
7. He is God with us.
He is the Son of God.
He is the Son of God.
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This question and this answer leads us to spend next week talking about the doctrine of the Virgin Conception.
This question and this answer leads us to spend next week talking about the doctrine of the Virgin Conception.
Do we really need to believe it?
Was it a made up story based on ancient myth stories?
Why is it important to us today as 21st century followers of Jesus.