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…The Bible records a number of extraordinary births. Abraham and Sarah were
beyond normal childbearing ages and laughed at the prospect of being parents,
yet God gave them Isaac. Samuel was given to Hannah, in answer to her
faithful and persevering prayers, who had been childless until then. John the
Baptist’s mother, Elizabeth, was unable to have children until God graciously
intervened when she was in her late 60’s.
…As amazing as these stories are, none of those special births was as amazing
as the virgin birth of the Lord Jesus. His birth was unique. It was a one
time experience, never to be repeated.
…Anselem
wrote 900 years ago Cur Deus Homo. In this he tells of the ways God
used to make human beings.
…No man and no woman…Adam …A man and no
woman…Eve
…A man and a woman…normal procreation …No man and a
woman…Jesus Christ.
…Matthew’s account of the birth of our Savior is told from Joseph’s
experience. “Mystery is the footprint of the Divine.” This account should
cause all of us to draw near and “adore Him, who is Christ the Lord.”
FIVE OBSERVATIONS OF JOSEPH’S EXPERIENCE CAUSING US TO ADORE
HIM WHO WAS VIRGIN BORN.
I. Jesus’
Virgin Birth (Conception) Is Declared By Matthew. (v.18)
A. Matthew
only needs one verse to announce the fact of Christ’s VIRGIN birth. If it
were a man-made story it would have been expansive, and quite detailed in
manner.
B. He
tells, “before they came together, she was found to be with child through the
Holy Spirit.”
…Mary and Joseph had been
betrothed. This was a miracle. Only God could do this.
C. Matthew
had previously devoted 17 verses to Jesus’ human genealogy, but only 1 to His
divine…
D. Jesus
had only one human parent, so that He could be man and identify with us. Had
He been conceived by natural means, He would not have been God, nor the true
Savior of sinners.
II.
Joseph’s
Response To The Virgin Birth Is Completely Transparent. (v.19)
A. The
initial news of Mary’s condition presented him with a two-fold problem.
1.
He was unwilling to proceed with his original plans to marry her. He knew he
could not go ahead with their marriage. He knew he was not the father. He
assumed another man was. “he was a righteous man”
2.
He had a difficult decision in how to treat Mary. He was a good and loving
man, and was grieved at the thought of shaming her publicly. His concern was
not his shame, but with Mary’s. “so he thought to divorce her privately.”
Less disgrace for her…
B.
Joseph evidences in this a deep godliness and an unselfish love for Mary.
III. Joseph
Is Visited By God’s Angel Who Clarifies The Virgin Birth. (vv 20-21)
A.
The Lord intervened in His wonderful grace and spared Joseph the trauma of
actually carrying out his divorce plans. (v. 20) Revelation is God revealing
to man what he would not otherwise know. Such was the case with Joseph. He
is “son of David”, don’t miss this!!!!!
…Mary’s pregnancy was caused
by the Holy Spirit. It would be “a son.” His name, “Jesus.”
B. Joseph
must have wondered what the significance of this would be. The angel told
him:
“He will save, His people, from their sins.” His CRADLE
pointed to His
CROSS!!!!
IV. Jesus’
Virgin Birth Was Prophesied By The Old Testament Scriptures.(vv22-23)
A.
Matthew uses the
formula, “all this took place to fulfill…” 12 times. He quotes the OT 50X.
B.
Matthew quotes Isaiah
7:14…”the virgin will be with child…,” which was written 700 BC.
…His name will be “Immanuel, which means ‘God with
us.’”
…Matthew tells us that this is what
Isaiah was writing
about. “fulfilled.”
…Isaiah used the Hebrew word “alma” which
always means
virgin. It is used 7x in OT.
…Matthew writes using the Greek word “parthenos” which
means virgin.
V. Jesus’
Actual Birth Is Recorded By Matthew. (vv24-25)
A.
How great Joseph’s
relief must have been when he realized what the Lord had told him…
B.
Now he could take Mary
as his wife with honor. More, he could also rejoice at the privilege of being
allowed to bring up God’s own Son. Their wedding ceremony likely took place
soon after…
…Mary remained a virgin until after Jesus was born. She then had normal
relations with Joseph.
LESSONS FOR
OUR LIVES:
1.
The Virgin birth of Jesus was not an afterthought.
2.
Consider the greatness of God's love for us that He should give us His only
Son.
3.
We should stand amazed at the mystery, wonder and glory of God's ways.
4.
Come today and receive Christ the Lord as your personal Savior from your sin.
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