1^st – Mary… vs. 18

• 1^st – Fully God…
  • Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows!
  • We have already looked the EARTHLY origin [γένεσις] of Jesus – the Genealogy of King David…
  • Now we come to the SECOND origin [γένεσις] of Jesus – His HEAVENLY origin…
  • Because Jesus is not just a MAN – He is God almighty!
  • Isaiah 9:6 – “For unto us a child is born – unto us a son is given… his name shall be called Wonderful – Counsellor – the mighty God – the everlasting Father – the Prince of Peace!”
• 2^nd – Who was Mary…
  • Her Age…
    • The PERSON God used to bring Jesus into this world – was a YOUNG woman named MARY…
    • YOUNG – because women got married around the age of 14-15 in NT times!
    • We often look at YOUNG people and think God cannot use them…
    • They have a lot to LEARN and MATURE before they are ready…
    • But God does NOT share the same limitations – He does NOT care about age…
    • God is not limited to using a certain demographic – He can use the YOUNG and the OLD alike!
    • I Timothy 4:12 – “Let no one despise your youth [or old age].”
  • Her Name…
    • The name MARY – from the Hebrew MARIYAM [מִרְיָם] – means REBELLION…
    • Which certainly does NOT seem to fit her character…
    • When Gabriel came to tell Mary she would give birth to the Messiah [Christ] – Luke 1:26
    • She did NOT rebel – instead she SUBMITTED to the plan of God!
    • Luke 1:38 – “Behold the [Servant] of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.”
    • We may have a NAME that we are REBELLIOUS [a history]
    • But when God comes calling we still have a CHOICE – do we SUBMIT…
    • It does not matter what we did YESTERDAY – the question is what will we chose TODAY!
  • Her Family…
    • MARY was from the house of David [through Nathan] – Luke 3:31
    • She also had a SISTER – perhaps Salome – the mother of James and John – John 19:25
    • She was also the relative of Elizabeth – the mother of John the Baptist – Luke 1:36
    • This blessed me – because we see that God uses family…
    • If we have a heavy heart to see our relatives come to Jesus – be used by Jesus…
    • We have a powerful encouragement in that even Jesus – loved to use His family!
      
  • Her Betrothal…
    • After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph!
    • We would say ENGAGED to Joseph [they were not yet married]
    • But the Jewish BETROTHAL is more serious than our ENGAGEMENT today…
    • In order to break a BETROTHAL – it required the couple to get a DIVORCE…
    • And if any relationship with another person – was considered ADULTERY…
    • This will become very important as we see the reaction of Joseph to the pregnancy of Mary!
• 3^rd – The Holy Spirit…
  • Virgin Birth…
    • Before they came together [Mary] was found with child of the Holy Spirit!
    • Mary was PREGNANT – but had never KNOWN a man [virgin]
    • This was prophesied by God all the way back in the book of Genesis!
    • Genesis 3:15 – “Her Seed… shall bruise your head – and you shall bruise His heel.”
    • The term SEED [singular] of the woman – is VERY odd – women do NOT have the SEED…
    • Making this the FIRST reference in the Bible to the VIRGIN birth of Jesus…
    • Who would STRIKE the head of satan [serpent] – when he bruised His heel…
    • Speaking of the cross – where satan bruised Jesus – but at the cross Jesus crushed satan!
  • Impossible…
    • MARY became PREGNANT – because God does the IMPOSSIBLE – Luke 1:35-37
    • The Holy Spirit will come upon [ἐπί] you!
    • The POWER [δύναμις] of the Highest [Father] will overshadow you!
    • Therefore – that Holy One [ἅγιος] who is to be born [Jesus] will be called the Son of God!
    • All THREE persons of the TRINITY are seen in the conception of Jesus…
    • The SPIRIT came upon Mary – the POWER of the Father overshadowed her…
    • So that Jesus might be born from her – even though she was a VIRGIN!
  • The Curses…
    • The reason WHY God chose to use a VIRGIN – was because of TWO curses:
    • FIRST – the CURSE of Jehoiachin – Jeremiah 22:30
    • We are given TWO different genealogies in the Gospels…
    • Matthew follows the kingly line through SOLOMON – that ends with Joseph…
    • Luke follows an alternate line through NATHAN [son of David] – that ends with Mary…
    • If Jesus had been the SON of Joseph He could NOT have been king…
    • But as the ADOPTED son of Joseph – Jesus inherited the rights of the Royal lineage…
    • While as the SON of Mary He was in the direct lineage of David…
    • Thus He avoided the CURSE placed on the kingly line!
    • SECOND – the CRUSE of ADAM – Genesis 3:17
    • When Adam rebelled against the Lord – ate of the Tree of Knowledge…
    • A CURSE fell on mankind – everyone born of MEN would be a SINNER…
    • But because Jesus was NOT born from men – He was not under the CURSE!
    • Romans 5:12-15 – “Therefore – just as through [Adam] sin entered the world – and death through sin… much more the grace of God through Jesus Christ abounded to many.”
    • Because Jesus was NOT under the CURSE – He did not have ANY sin…
    • He was able to offer Himself as the perfect SACRIFICE for our SIN…
    • He died in our place – so that we might take away the CURSE of SIN!

• 2^nd – Joseph… vs. 19-21 / 24-25
  • 1^st – His Reaction… vs. 19
    • A Husband…
      • Then Joseph her husband!
      • Do not miss that Joseph here is already called the HUSBAND of Mary…
      • This does NOT mean that they ELOPED – they are NOT yet married…
      • But it emphasizes how serious the BETROTHAL is!
    • A Just man…
      • Being a just man!
      • Joseph was JUST [δίκαιος] – meaning he followed the LAW of God…
      • And the LAW was very clear as to what he should do to Mary!
      • Deuteronomy 22:23-24 – “If a young woman who is a virgin is betrothed to a husband – and a man finds her in the city and lies with her… you shall stone them to death with stones.”
    • Consequences…
      • [But Joseph did] not want to make her a public example!
      • The reason for STONING someone for their SIN – was as a WARNING to others…
      • It would not be done SECRETLY – it would be done in PUBLIC…
      • People could see the SEVERE consequences for disobeyed the COMMANDS of the LORD!
      • If sin does not have severe consequences – we will be tempted to sin again…
      • But like the child who only has to touch a hot flame once…
      • Severe consequences teach us a lesson that we will never forget!
    • Secretly…
      • [Joseph thought] to put her away secretly!
      • No doubt Joseph was HURT – he logically assumed Mary had an AFFAIR with another man…
      • Yet rather than lash out in ANGER – his plan was to DIVORCE her secretly…
      • Hoping that he might be able to spare her life!
      • It is wise to not to make assumptions – especially if we do not have all the information…
      • Because assumptions are like bombs – they can blow up in our face…
      • It is far better to respond in GRACE – trusting that God uses ALL things for Good! 
  • 2^nd – His Dream… vs. 20-21
    • The Angel… vs. 20
      • While he thought about these things – an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream!
      • The decision on what to do with Mary was heavy on the heart of Joseph…
      • We might assume that he was PATIENTLY asking the LORD what he should do…
      • And God ANSWERED him – by sending an ANGEL to him in a DREAM [ὄναρ]
      • DREAMS are only mentioned SIX times in the NT – FIVE of them are from Joseph…
      • God speak to us through DREAMS – but that does not mean all DREAMS are from God!
      • Ecclesiastes 5:7 – “Much dreaming and many words are meaningless.”
      • Our DREAMS might be from the Lord – or it might just be a DREAM…
      • Before we make any rash decision based on DREAMS – we must test them…
      • The way to test the DREAM is to compare it to the Word – know our Bible…
      • If the DREAM contradicts the Word – then reject the DREAM!
      • Luke 2:33 – “Heaven and earth will pass away – but My words will not pass away.”
    • The Encouragement… vs. 20
      • Joseph – son of David – do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife.
      • That which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit!
      • The Angel encouraged Joseph to NOT be AFRAID [subjunctive]
      • His Fear was no doubt that Mary had CHEATED on him – BAD wife…
      • But he should go ahead and take Mary to be his WIFE – she had NOT been unfaithful…
      • The CHILD that was in her had come from the Holy Spirit!
    • The Name… vs. 21
      • She will bring forth a Son – and you shall call His name JESUS.
      • For He will save His people from their sins!
      • Joseph was given the name of the CHILD – He was to be called JESUS…
      • JESUS [יְשׁוּעָה] – God is our SALVATION…
      • Because the CHILD – would grow up to save His people from their SINS…
      • What I find interesting is that Mary was given the same NAME – Luke 1:31
      • But she was given a different description of Jesus!
      • Luke 1:33 – “He will reign… forever – and of His kingdom there will be no end.”
      • I can imagine the conversation between Joseph and Mary…
      • They both agreed on the name of the CHILD – He was to be called Jesus…
      • But only together did they get the whole picture of who He was…
      • He would come to SAVE – and He would also one day RULE!
      • There is power when Husbands and Wives talk about the Lord…
      • God can confirm things – because He puts something on BOTH of their hearts…
      • But God also will give different details to each of them…
      • So we ONLY get the whole picture – when we make the time to SHARE what God is doing!
  • 3^rd – His Obedience… vs. 24-25
    • Joseph – being aroused from sleep did as the angel of the Lord commanded him.
    • [He] took [Mary] to him [as] his wife. And he called His name JESUS!
    • The moment Joseph woke up – he IMMEDIATELY went and took Mary as his WIFE…
    • He also called the name of the Child – JESUS – just as the Angel had said!
    • Being OBEDIENT to the commands of the Lord – is not a process…
    • Too often we want to obey PART of the command [the part we like]
    • Or we want to obey LATER – because now is not a convenient time…
    • But the example of Joseph – is we do ALL the Lord has said – and we do it NOW!
    • Hebrews 4:7 – “Today – if you will hear His voice – do not harden your hearts.”
  • 4^th – His Children… vs. 25
    • [Joseph] did not know [Mary] till she had brought forth her firstborn Son!
    • Jesus was NOT any only child – He did have other HALF brothers and sisters…
    • This might be a surprise to some – depending on your religious background…
    • But Mary and Joseph had OTHER kids – AFTER the birth of Jesus!
    • Matthew 13:55 – “His mother [is] called Mary. His brothers James – Joseph – Simon – and Jude.”

• 3^rd – Immanuel… vs. 22-23
  • 1^st – Prophecy… vs. 22
    • All this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet!
    • Matthew gives us a NOTE here – letting us know this was all part of the PLAN…
    • Mary being a VIRGIN – the birth of the MESSIAH – had all been foretold by the prophet Isaiah!
    • Because make no MISTAKE – nothing God does is by accident!
    • God knows all things – He sees the end from the beginning – Isaiah 46:10
    • God knew when he created man – they would choose to rebel…
    • And He knew – the only way to save them – was to become one of them – Philippians 2:8
    • He is the Lamb of God slain before the foundations of the World – Revelation 13:8
    • How much does God love us – so much He created us knowing we would turn against Him…
    • Knowing that it meant He would have to humble himself and become a man…
    • Knowing that it meant He would DIE – so that we might LIVE!
    • Romans 5:8 – “God demonstrates His own love toward us – in that while we were still sinners – Christ died for us.”
  • 2^nd – Virgin… vs. 23
    • King Ahaz…
      • Behold – the virgin shall be with child – and bear a Son!
      • We know that VERSE [Christmas] – but we may not KNOW the context!
      • 750 years before Jesus was born – during the period of the DIVIDED kingdom…
      • King Pekah of Israel [19^th king] and King Rezin of Syria attacked the people of Judah…
      • King Ahaz [wicked man] was the king in Judah [730-715 BC]
      • God sent Isaiah to Ahaz with this Word from the Lord – do NOT fear – Isaiah 7:4
      • But Ahaz did NOT believe the Word of the LORD – so God offered to give him a SIGN…
      • Yet Ahaz refused to even OBEY that command [proud] – he would NOT ask for proof!
    • Dual Fulfillment…
      • So the LORD chose to give him this SIGN – a VIRGIN would give BIRTH…
      • VIRGIN [עַלְמָה] the word just means a YOUNG woman…
      • She would give birth to a son – nothing supernatural – just a regular birth…
      • But by the time the child got old enough to eat solid food [2-3 years]
      • Both the Kingdom of Israel and Syria would be defeated…
      • That would be the PROOF that God was with Judah [Immanuel]
      • Often Bible prophecies have DUAL fulfillment [makes them challenging]
      • It was fulfilled in the days of Isaiah – showing God is faithful – even to WICKED kings…
      • He would be with His people – protecting them from their enemy – giving them VICTORY…
      • But the same prophecy also looked forward to Jesus!
  • 3^rd – God with us… vs. 23
    • They shall call His name Immanuel – which is translated – God with us!
    • Jesus is IMMANUEL [עִמָּנוּאֵל] – God who is WITH us!
    • We did not ASK for Him – in our PRIDE we did not think we needed Him…
    • But we have an ENEMY that wants to destroy us…
    • Therefore God gave us a SIGN that He would give us the VICTORY…
    • Mary [who was a virgin] had a Son – and His name is Jesus [God Saves]
    • He came to PROTECT us from our ENEMY – He came to SAVE us from our SIN…
    • And anyone who puts their FAITH in Him – will have ETERNAL life!