Advent 2017 The Christmas Story in Matthew 1 & 2
When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost - They were espoused, that is, betrothed or engaged, but they were not together. They weren’t living together and they had not been intimate, yet BAM! Mary is pregnant! Women get pregnant all the time and thus far she is no different than any other woman in the history of the world. But here is where her case is different than any other woman ever – she was found to have conceived from the Holy Spirit (YLT). Mary knew what was going on, but no one else did. “Mary, are you with child?” Yes. “Who??” “Momma, you don’t understand ... the angel Gabriel ... the Holy Spirit ... Messiah ...” Yeah, you can imagine the responses.
Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily. - Joseph. What a pickle. He’s a righteous man. He didn’t do anything and his betrothed is with child. His plan is to put her away, that is, divorce her because a betrothal could only be ended by divorce.
He was just, or righteous. So often in our view a righteous man is only concerned with doing the right thing and looking good no matter who gets hurt, but in Scripture a righteous man is also a merciful man. So he plans to put her away secretly to reduce as much as possible the shame. Why put her away at all? He is a righteous man, he wants a righteous wife, and it sure looks like Mary has fallen short.
How did Joseph find out? We are not told. It’s possible that one day, while they were taking a walk together one evening, she told him, “Joseph, I’m with child by the power of the Holy Spirit” and he just flat out refused to believe her. While it could have happened that way, that would be rather hurtful. I tend to think they had minimal contact during this time and he was ‘informed’ of her pregnancy.
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 he shall save his people from their sins. - Well, well, Joseph has an angelic visitor too! The angel tells Joseph four (4) things:
fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife
Behold how the Lord pleads our case! What a spot Mary is in! While she is no doubt elated to be the mother of Messiah, she didn’t ask for it, and she is already paying a heavy price for this blessing from God. As she trusted God for the conception, she trusted Him with the consequences, and He takes up her cause. Amen! He sends an angel to Joseph to inform him, Joseph, the righteous thing is for you to marry the girl.
for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost
What a miracle is here described in few words. “Then began our deliverance. The mystery of the humanity of Christ, that he sunk himself into our flesh, is beyond all human understanding.” (Martin Luther)
she shall bring forth a son
thou shalt call his name JESUS
The Greek is Ιησους, pronounced Yay-SOOS. In English it was originally Jesu, pronounced YAY-soo. What? Neither Hebrew, Greek, nor Latin had a ‘j’; neither did English until 1630. In fact, the 1611 King James Version has this verse, “and thou shalt call his Name Iesus.” But with the creation of the ‘j’ it is now Jesus.
The angel then explains why he was to be called Jesus – for he shall save his people from their sins. His name in Hebrew is Yeshua which means “salvation.” It is a shortened form of Yehoshua (Joshua) which means, “Yahweh saves.” Call his name salvation because that is what he will do – save his people.” He is the Savior!
see: he 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. - The prophet is Isaiah. He was prophesying to Ahab when he said, Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; behold, a virgin shall conceive in the womb, and shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Emmanuel. (LXX) Conceived by a virgin. A pretty good sign for the birth of Messiah!
a virgin shall be with child – This is important. Important? Absolutely vital! Matthew sets forth the truth but doesn’t explain it. It is enough for him that this is a sign of the Messiah.
they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us – Well, maybe Matthew does explain. Actually, Isaiah does, Matthew simply quotes him. Just who is this child?? He is Emmanuel, which means ‘God with us.’
This is the Son of God assuming flesh and entering the virgin’s womb! This is big, brothers and sisters, really big!
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. - What faith is required! This demonstrates two aspects of faith: Mary has faith to receive a powerful work of God - there was nothing for her to do and everything for her to receive; Joseph had faith to obey. The faith of Mary and Joseph is amazing.
Joseph...did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him - He believed and obeyed (took unto him his wife) and restrained himself (And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son). When you believe you obey - obedience springs from faith. Faith and obedience are like Siamese twins – you never see one without the other.
Trust and obey
for there’s no other way
to be happy in Jesus
but to trust and obey
“And we should joy and delight in these blessed things, more than in all the treasure on earth, disputing not how it came to pass, that he, who fills heaven and earth, and whom neither heaven nor earth is able to comprehend, was enclosed in the pure body of his mother. Such disputations impede our joys, and give us occasion to doubt.” (Martin Luther)
Et homo factus est; et verbum caro factum est
(He became man; And the Word was made flesh)
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Martin Luther - Catholic monk who ignited the Protestant Reformation (1483-1546)
LXX – Septuagint; Greek translation of the Old Testament
YLT – Young’s Literal Translation
Introduction The Christmas Story in Matthew 1 & 2
First Week of Advent: The book of the generation of Jesus Christ
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