Here’s my sermon notes and audio for “God with Us” (Matt 1:18-25) preached at Cross of Christ Fellowship in Naperville on 12.1.24.
“God with Us: The Incomparable Significance of Jesus” (Matt 1:18-25)
Intro: 8th grade world history teacher; 100 most significant people in history
-The incomparable significance of Jesus: He is incomparably more significant than all others in all of history
-Our text: We see the incomparable significance of Jesus at his birth, in his mission, and in his identity.
CONTEXT: Matthew’s gospel.
-Good news of Jesus!
-Long awaited Messiah who would bring about the promised blessings of God to the world.
-The son of David: forever king, who would rule over God’s people
-The son of Abraham: one through whom all the nations would be blessed.
–TODAY: The birth of Jesus.
-See with me the INCOMPARABLE SIGNIFICANCE OF JESUS.
-Recognize it at his birth, mission, and identity.
MATT 1:18-25
SETTING 1:18a: 18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way.
1 Matthew’s account is historical and truthful
-Matthew was an apostle and authorized to write this account
-This is not a fairytale, or myth, but a true historical event.
2 Jesus was a real human and was born on a real date in history.
-He fully and truly human (and as we will see at the end of this passage also truly God)
-The following is a historical account of what happened at his birth.
A SURPRISE! 1:18b
When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit.
-Betrothed= Legally pledged to marry another
-More serious than our modern ‘engagement’=to break it off was divorce
-A couple had time to prepare for marriage, but did not have sex.
-Mary’s pregnancy: “found to be with child from the Holy Spirit.”
-Mary was pregnant and this pregnancy was not due to human cause, but was “from the Holy Spirit”
-We learn more about this in Luke 1:26-38
-Angel came and disclosed this to Mary,
-Miraculous pregnancy!
-Virgin Women do not get pregnant!
Consider: The Incomparably Significant Birth of Jesus
-The birth (conception) of Jesus is unique in all of human history
-Here we see a supernatural act of God, which functioned as a sign.
–SIGN= Pay attention, this is the promised Messiah, God the Son!
–Silver Chair ‘4 signs’ to remember in their search for the lost prince.
-We are to see this in a similar way: God foretold this would happen in Isaiah 7:14 (Matt 1:23)
-This was God getting our attention and confirming a fact: Jesus is the promised Messiah.
OBJECTION: I don’t believe in virgin births. We know from science that is not how women get pregnant!
ANSWER: The first century audience ALSO knew that virgin women do not get pregnant
-This is a MIRACLE. A supernatural intervention of God in human history.
WHY DOES THIS MATTER?
–Theologians: God has taken action to bring about our salvation in history
-Marvel at God!
–Evidence: Here is something to confirm your faith in Jesus and see his incomparable significance.
-How do I know Jesus really is who he said he was? Answer: His virgin birth!
RISING TENSION 1:19-23
-What would Joseph do? (19a)
-Joseph’s just and merciful character: 19a.
-What would God do? (20b)
-Send His angel to communicate to Joseph in a dream.
-Angel’s Message to Joseph (20b-21)
-Clarifies the pregnancy of Mary (20b)
-Mary is not pregnant due to sex outside of marriage, but “that which is conceived in her is from the H.S.”
–INSTRUCTION: “do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife”
–NOTE: “son of David”
-Joseph was in the family line of King David!
-Jesus would be the promised king descended from David
-Jesus’ Mission Stated (21): She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”
-Name “Jesus” means “LORD saves”
-Notice “he will save his people from their sins”
Consider: The Incomparably Significant Mission of Jesus
Q: Why did Jesus come to earth?
A: Here’s the answer: “save his people from their sins”
-Confronts us with the biblical worldview: God is holy; we are sinful in danger of judgment and wrath.
-GOSPEL Promise: Jesus saves his people from their sins.
-Matt 20:28
OBJECTION: Jesus doesn’t matter much to my everyday life. He doesn’t seem that significant to me.
ANSWER: It is because you don’t see your great problem: sin.
-When we recognition the holiness of God and reality of sin, we see the preciousness of Christ!
Matthew’s Explanation of Jesus as a Fulfillment of Prophecy (22-23)
-Quotation from Isaiah 7:14
-Isaiah prophesied a virgin would conceive: this was Messianic prophecy.
-See: the extraordinary identity: “they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us).”!
Consider: The Incomparably Significant Identity of Jesus
Who is Jesus? Jesus is God, God with us!
-God the Son came to Earth, and this is Jesus!
-Surely, there is no person more significant that Jesus.
-There is no more deserving of our attention
-There is no more deserving of our worship and adoration.
Illustration: You and I want to build a personal computer, but none of us really know what we’re doing. Then to our surprise Bill Gates comes in and join our group. Would Bill Gates be significant or relevant?
-No one is more significant than Jesus, who is God in the flesh.
[OBJECTION: Jesus never claimed to be God, these are just Matthew’s thoughts and interpretation.
ANSWER: Matthew was Jesus’ authorized apostle, writing an authoritative, historical account of Jesus.
-Jesus was worshipped (14:33), referred to as God (John 20:28), performed miracles, forgave sins, died and rose again.
-Also, what would Matthew have had to gain by making this up?
-Matthew died a martyrs death, along with 11 of 12 apostles. ]
CLIMAX AND RESOLUTION 1:24-25
What will Joseph do? (24-25)
-Responded with faith and obedience: “did as the angel of the Lord commanded him”
-‘took his wife, but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.”
CLOSE: WHAT WILL YOU DO WITH JESUS?
