IMMAUEL

 

 

18 This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. 19 Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.

 

1.      Matthew gives us the background of how Jesus the Messiah cam about.  Jesus is the English version of Joshua which means God is salvation.  This speaks of his redemptive work.  So right from the beginning we know what his mission, destiny and life work is going to be. 

2.      He is known as the Messiah.  The anointed one, the expected king of the Davidic line who would deliver Israel from foreign bondage and restore the glories of its golden age. 

3.      Mary who was the chosen vessel to bring about this miracle.  She was pledged to be married to Joseph.  Before they were to consummate their union Mary was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit overshadowed every part of Jesus life from conception to death and He will dot he same for us when we become born again.  He regenerates us and we then become his temple and vessel of honor he uses to touch our world.  Jesus was the perfect vessel in which the Holy Spirit operated.

4.      Joseph was faithful to the law.  A godly, righteous, and sanctified man.  He was compassionate, considerate, and kind because he did not want to expose her to public disgrace.  He was wise, discerning, and insightful.  His intention was to divorce her quietly. 

 

20 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

 

1.      As Joseph was considering what to do. He took his time, thought it through before he acted.  He identified the decision, and he knew he needed to decide.  He was gathering relevant information. Joseph was looking at the alternatives.  He was weighing the evidence.  He was choosing among alternatives.

2.      Joseph had chosen to divorce her quietly that is when God intervened.  An angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream

3.      The angel identifies that Joseph was descended from David.  Mary was as well.  The genealogies in Matthew and Luke are different because both Mary and Joseph were from the house of David but had different blood lines. 

4.      The angel tells Joseph five things.  First, do not be afraid to taker Mary as your wife.  Secondly that this child inside her has been conceived by the Holy Spirit.  God himself is the author and giver of this life. 

5.      Thirdly, she would give birth to a son. 

6.      They knew what His name was going to be.  God had his plan and all they had to do was help implement it.  Joseph knew who and was Jesus was and His destiny for life. 

7.      Jesus would save His people that being the Jews from their sin.  Jesus would be the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.  Right from the beginning we know who, what where, when, and why Jesus came, and we even know how. 

 

22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23 “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”)

 

1.      Joseph and we learn that this is a fulfillment of what Isaiah wrote in Is 7:14 some 700 years before the event.  Isaiah saw through the lens of prophecy how the Messiah would-be born and how.  God is exact in what He says and how he says. 

2.      Joseph then knows His name is Immanuel.  This means God with us.  Jesus is God in the flesh.  God with a face.  The perfect union of God and man.  The God man.  Jesus was God walking, talking among men.  That is why Jesus could say, “If you see the Father, you see me and if you see me, you see the Father.”  God is with us. 

3.      Matthew is revealing the character, nature, essence and identity of Jesus Christ. 

 

24 When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. 25 But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.

 

1.      Then Joseph woke up and he obeyed.  He knew what the angel said was a commandment.  Obedience is what God wants not vacillation. 

2.      Joseph married Mary as his wife.  He gave her his name, love, support, and protection.  He did not consummate their marriage until after Jesus was born.  He was a man of self control, virtue, righteousness, and integrity.  Joseph made the right decision knew full well the consequences. 

3.      When Jesus was born and dedicated, they named Him Jesus.  God is our salvation.