1 00:00:05,040 --> 00:00:07,720 Well, good morning. It's good to see everybody. 2 00:00:07,720 --> 00:00:13,280 I want to say a big thank you to all the ladies who came up this 3 00:00:13,280 --> 00:00:15,560 week and decorated. If y'all didn't give them a 4 00:00:15,560 --> 00:00:17,440 round of applause earlier, let's do that now. 5 00:00:17,440 --> 00:00:24,920 A lot of work. Christmas tree needles are like 6 00:00:24,920 --> 00:00:28,360 sand from the beach. You'll just see them forever, 7 00:00:28,360 --> 00:00:30,280 right? They'll they'll be here forever. 8 00:00:30,280 --> 00:00:34,160 So if you see them on the ground, praise God, it's 9 00:00:34,160 --> 00:00:37,520 Christmas time. So big thanks to them. 10 00:00:37,520 --> 00:00:39,440 We are starting Advent this week. 11 00:00:39,440 --> 00:00:42,520 So I mentioned to you last week that Matthew might look a little 12 00:00:42,520 --> 00:00:44,640 different than some of the books we've studied because he's got 13 00:00:44,640 --> 00:00:47,720 different movements, if you will, throughout the book. 14 00:00:47,720 --> 00:00:49,960 And so with each of those, we'll kind of enter into what we might 15 00:00:49,960 --> 00:00:53,440 call a miniseries within the larger series just to help us 16 00:00:53,440 --> 00:00:56,360 see those movements, help us kind of break up the book a 17 00:00:56,360 --> 00:01:00,240 little bit. So we're entering into Advent 18 00:01:00,240 --> 00:01:04,920 here, and we've just titled this portion of the Matthew series 19 00:01:04,920 --> 00:01:09,000 Advent, the King Has Come. This first message is titled the 20 00:01:09,000 --> 00:01:13,120 birth of the King, God with us, the birth of the King, God with 21 00:01:13,120 --> 00:01:14,440 us. And so if you're taking notes, 22 00:01:14,440 --> 00:01:16,680 there will be opportunities for you to write some things down 23 00:01:17,320 --> 00:01:19,880 this morning. I do encourage that even from 24 00:01:19,880 --> 00:01:21,800 you kids, you know, you've got to worship God. 25 00:01:21,800 --> 00:01:28,800 Grab that, fill it out as we go. But Advent might be familiar to 26 00:01:28,800 --> 00:01:30,800 you if you've been around for a while, You know we do an Advent 27 00:01:30,800 --> 00:01:33,360 series every year. If you haven't been around for a 28 00:01:33,360 --> 00:01:35,600 while, you may not be familiar with what Advent is. 29 00:01:35,600 --> 00:01:40,240 Advent is simply a season that's shaped by waiting, right? 30 00:01:40,240 --> 00:01:43,120 It's a season shaped by waiting. But when we say waiting, we 31 00:01:43,120 --> 00:01:47,000 don't mean like a passive waiting in the line at a store, 32 00:01:47,400 --> 00:01:48,880 right? We're just kind of waiting with 33 00:01:48,880 --> 00:01:50,760 toe tapping waiting on your turn. 34 00:01:51,400 --> 00:01:53,880 When we talk about Advent and we talk about waiting, we're 35 00:01:53,880 --> 00:01:57,080 talking about a hopeful waiting like it's, it's a waiting that's 36 00:01:57,080 --> 00:02:00,840 anchored in God doing all that he's promised. 37 00:02:00,840 --> 00:02:04,640 So you might be, you might imagine, like leaning forward 38 00:02:04,640 --> 00:02:08,000 and waiting, right? There's this eager expectation 39 00:02:08,000 --> 00:02:10,720 that God is going to do what he said he's going to do. 40 00:02:10,720 --> 00:02:13,720 Now when we go through an Advent Series, A lot of times what 41 00:02:13,720 --> 00:02:16,200 we're doing is we're looking back at a time of waiting that 42 00:02:16,200 --> 00:02:20,960 God's people had in which they were anticipating the arrival of 43 00:02:20,960 --> 00:02:23,280 the King, right? And that's what we're going to 44 00:02:23,280 --> 00:02:25,000 look at this morning. We're going to see, we're going 45 00:02:25,000 --> 00:02:28,400 to see the arrival of Christ as an infant's, the incarnation, 46 00:02:29,240 --> 00:02:32,720 and as his people. Now we await a second Advent, 47 00:02:32,720 --> 00:02:34,720 right? The arrival of the King of 48 00:02:34,720 --> 00:02:37,360 kings, the Lord of Lords, the one who will descend from the 49 00:02:37,360 --> 00:02:41,160 heaven, gather his people into his Kingdom for an everlasting 50 00:02:42,200 --> 00:02:45,360 time with him, right, and which will be in the new heaven and 51 00:02:45,360 --> 00:02:49,600 new earth. And so, but ever since Adam and 52 00:02:49,600 --> 00:02:52,440 Eve, as we kind of look back to this first advent, ever since 53 00:02:52,440 --> 00:02:57,360 Adam and Eve were driven out of Eden, the people of God have 54 00:02:57,800 --> 00:03:03,640 lived with this longing in their hearts, wondering when will God 55 00:03:03,640 --> 00:03:06,240 come to rescue us? Right? 56 00:03:06,480 --> 00:03:09,600 When will he send the one who will crush the serpent's head, 57 00:03:09,920 --> 00:03:14,280 as he promised in Genesis 315? So last week Matthew began his 58 00:03:14,280 --> 00:03:17,200 gospel by showing us the genealogy of Jesus. 59 00:03:17,200 --> 00:03:19,520 All right, he just showed us there's a list of names. 60 00:03:19,760 --> 00:03:22,640 But we saw there the family line that demonstrates not only 61 00:03:23,440 --> 00:03:26,440 Christ's rightful claim to David's throne, but also 62 00:03:26,440 --> 00:03:30,760 demonstrates for us the grace of God woven through every 63 00:03:30,760 --> 00:03:34,200 generation. All right, the, the, the line, 64 00:03:34,200 --> 00:03:38,200 the family that Jesus came from anticipates the kind of people 65 00:03:38,200 --> 00:03:41,440 he came for, right? Broken sinners in need of a 66 00:03:41,440 --> 00:03:44,560 Savior. And so last week we began by 67 00:03:44,560 --> 00:03:48,000 looking at that genealogy. But now Matthew moves from the 68 00:03:48,000 --> 00:03:54,160 King's lineage, from his genealogy to his arrival. 69 00:03:55,040 --> 00:03:56,560 Matthew wants to show us how he came. 70 00:03:56,560 --> 00:04:00,160 And what he wants us to see is that the birth of Jesus is not 71 00:04:00,160 --> 00:04:04,560 simply a sweet Christmas story, right? 72 00:04:04,960 --> 00:04:08,160 It's not, it's not simply that. It is that, but it's not simply 73 00:04:08,160 --> 00:04:10,880 that. Rather, the birth of Jesus is 74 00:04:10,880 --> 00:04:15,040 the sovereign intervention of God to bring hopes to sinners 75 00:04:15,280 --> 00:04:19,240 through the birth of the Savior. It's the sovereign intervention 76 00:04:19,240 --> 00:04:24,520 of God in the history of humanity to bring hope to 77 00:04:24,520 --> 00:04:26,520 sinners through the birth of the Savior. 78 00:04:27,320 --> 00:04:30,280 So as we think along those lines, let's stand now and hear 79 00:04:30,280 --> 00:04:31,960 the word of the Lord. If you're able to stand, please 80 00:04:31,960 --> 00:04:33,480 stand as we hear the word of the Lord. 81 00:04:34,000 --> 00:04:37,000 Matthew 118. I'm going to read through verse 82 00:04:37,000 --> 00:04:44,600 25 this morning. Now the birth of Jesus Christ 83 00:04:44,600 --> 00:04:48,480 took place in this way when his mother Mary had been betrothed 84 00:04:48,480 --> 00:04:51,080 to Joseph. Before they came together, she 85 00:04:51,080 --> 00:04:55,680 was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit and her husband 86 00:04:55,680 --> 00:04:59,240 Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, 87 00:04:59,520 --> 00:05:03,560 resolved to divorce her quietly. But as he considered these 88 00:05:03,560 --> 00:05:06,560 things, behold, an Angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, 89 00:05:06,560 --> 00:05:11,960 saying, Joseph, son of David. Do not fear to take Mary as your 90 00:05:11,960 --> 00:05:15,280 wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the 91 00:05:15,280 --> 00:05:17,880 Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you 92 00:05:17,880 --> 00:05:21,480 shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from 93 00:05:21,480 --> 00:05:24,280 their sins. And all this took place to 94 00:05:24,280 --> 00:05:27,000 fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet. 95 00:05:27,480 --> 00:05:31,080 Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and 96 00:05:31,080 --> 00:05:34,800 they shall call his name Emmanuel, which means God with 97 00:05:34,800 --> 00:05:37,320 us. When Joseph woke from sleep, he 98 00:05:37,320 --> 00:05:39,360 did as the Angel of the Lord commanded him. 99 00:05:39,640 --> 00:05:43,560 He took his wife, but knew her not until she had given birth to 100 00:05:43,560 --> 00:05:46,440 a son and he called his name Jesus. 101 00:05:46,800 --> 00:05:49,640 This is the word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. 102 00:05:49,760 --> 00:05:52,640 Let's pray. Heavenly Father, we thank you 103 00:05:52,640 --> 00:05:55,920 for your word. We thank you that by it we see 104 00:05:56,280 --> 00:06:00,800 Christ your Son, that we see him clearly in the Scriptures, and 105 00:06:00,800 --> 00:06:03,760 having seen him, we see the Father. 106 00:06:04,800 --> 00:06:08,080 And so Father, we ask now that you would open our hearts and 107 00:06:08,080 --> 00:06:11,720 minds by your spirits, that you would illuminate this text for 108 00:06:11,720 --> 00:06:14,480 us, that we might rightly discern it, that we might 109 00:06:14,480 --> 00:06:18,280 rightly understand it. But more than understanding, 110 00:06:18,280 --> 00:06:21,160 Lord, let it deepen our affections for Jesus. 111 00:06:21,160 --> 00:06:27,120 This week, my Lord, let it be a help to us in seasons of of hope 112 00:06:27,680 --> 00:06:30,120 and seasons where we need a stronger hope, we need our hope 113 00:06:30,120 --> 00:06:32,840 strengthened. God, we ask that you would 114 00:06:34,040 --> 00:06:36,680 minister this text to our hearts, that you would help us 115 00:06:36,680 --> 00:06:41,080 to see Christ, the Savior of sinners born for us, that you, 116 00:06:41,760 --> 00:06:46,640 God, have come down to us and we praise you for this truth of 117 00:06:46,640 --> 00:06:48,760 God. We ask that you be with us now 118 00:06:48,760 --> 00:06:51,320 as we walk through this text. It's in the name of Christ, I 119 00:06:51,320 --> 00:06:52,640 pray. Amen. 120 00:06:53,200 --> 00:06:54,280 Command. You may be seated. 121 00:07:01,820 --> 00:07:05,740 So when we come to a passage like Matthew 118 through 25, 122 00:07:07,120 --> 00:07:11,000 it's really easy to let familiarity dull our sense of 123 00:07:11,000 --> 00:07:12,800 wonder. All right? 124 00:07:12,800 --> 00:07:17,280 It's a story that many of you have heard dozens, hundreds, 125 00:07:17,280 --> 00:07:21,400 thousands of times, all right? Many of us have heard it since 126 00:07:21,400 --> 00:07:24,520 childhood even. We know the Angel. 127 00:07:25,360 --> 00:07:29,080 We know the the dilemma that Joseph is in. 128 00:07:29,720 --> 00:07:32,560 We know the name Jesus, We know the title Emmanuel. 129 00:07:32,560 --> 00:07:36,600 These things are familiar to us, but if we're honest, sometimes 130 00:07:36,600 --> 00:07:42,320 the truths that should take us and shake us to the core really 131 00:07:42,320 --> 00:07:46,800 just become background noise during the busyness of December. 132 00:07:46,800 --> 00:07:50,000 All right. Yet Matthew doesn't write this 133 00:07:50,000 --> 00:07:55,960 account for sentimental reasons. He doesn't write it just so that 134 00:07:55,960 --> 00:07:58,800 we'll get goosies and warm fuzzies. 135 00:07:59,920 --> 00:08:04,240 He writes it to wake us up. He writes it to shake us. 136 00:08:04,240 --> 00:08:07,880 He wants us to see that the most important moment in human 137 00:08:07,880 --> 00:08:14,720 history has just arrived. God himself has stepped into the 138 00:08:14,720 --> 00:08:17,600 world. The Creator has entered 139 00:08:17,840 --> 00:08:21,880 creation. The the the hands that formed 140 00:08:21,880 --> 00:08:23,960 the woman have entered the woman's womb. 141 00:08:23,960 --> 00:08:30,440 All right, What God has done is nothing short of amazing. 142 00:08:31,640 --> 00:08:34,080 It's a right use of the word awesome here. 143 00:08:35,080 --> 00:08:38,440 It's all inspiring to see it right. 144 00:08:39,120 --> 00:08:41,559 The Holy One has taken on humanity. 145 00:08:42,440 --> 00:08:45,000 He's in the form of a child in the womb of his mother. 146 00:08:45,760 --> 00:08:53,960 And he's done it to give hope to to sinners, to give hope to 147 00:08:53,960 --> 00:08:59,600 hopeless sinners, You might say. Now, some of you this morning 148 00:09:00,240 --> 00:09:04,240 need that hope. All right, Maybe all of us do. 149 00:09:05,440 --> 00:09:09,200 Some of you might carry regrets that you don't know what to do 150 00:09:09,200 --> 00:09:12,320 with. All right, you carry those as 151 00:09:12,320 --> 00:09:15,440 burdens on your back. Even as Christians, you just 152 00:09:15,440 --> 00:09:20,120 still have these regrets that pop into your mind, that plague 153 00:09:20,120 --> 00:09:23,520 gear. Some of you might be walking 154 00:09:23,520 --> 00:09:28,960 into the season with a heart full of grief, wondering what 155 00:09:28,960 --> 00:09:30,560 could have been, what should have been. 156 00:09:32,680 --> 00:09:37,000 Some of you may be battling uncertainty during this season. 157 00:09:38,280 --> 00:09:39,880 Some of you are just plain exhausted. 158 00:09:40,160 --> 00:09:43,600 All right, Christmas, it didn't hear yet and you're wishing it 159 00:09:43,600 --> 00:09:47,000 away, all right. And some of you simply need to 160 00:09:47,000 --> 00:09:51,320 be reminded that the God who made the universe is not distant 161 00:09:51,320 --> 00:09:55,240 from you. He's not set himself high in 162 00:09:55,240 --> 00:09:58,360 heaven, where he's as far as far away from you as he can be. 163 00:09:58,560 --> 00:10:01,320 No, the God of heaven has come down to you. 164 00:10:03,040 --> 00:10:04,840 He's he's entered into your world. 165 00:10:04,840 --> 00:10:07,200 He's drawn near to you in his son. 166 00:10:07,200 --> 00:10:12,080 All right, Matthew wants us to feel the weight of this. 167 00:10:14,480 --> 00:10:16,960 That's why he moves from genealogy to the birth of a 168 00:10:16,960 --> 00:10:18,640 savior. Right. 169 00:10:19,040 --> 00:10:22,920 He, he wants to show us that the promises of God have finally 170 00:10:23,080 --> 00:10:27,920 arrived in flesh and blood. What I wasn't able to do last 171 00:10:27,920 --> 00:10:32,360 week with the genealogy was walk through every single story 172 00:10:32,360 --> 00:10:35,680 that's represented there. But what you have represented 173 00:10:35,680 --> 00:10:39,600 there is a history of sins, tyranny on man. 174 00:10:41,760 --> 00:10:45,720 You, you have a history of people who did not follow God. 175 00:10:45,720 --> 00:10:47,840 Well, you have a history of people who did follow God. 176 00:10:47,840 --> 00:10:51,920 Well, you have a history of, of, of sin ravaging humanity. 177 00:10:52,120 --> 00:10:57,280 But you have a history of hope. Hope and a savior coming, the 178 00:10:57,280 --> 00:11:00,520 preservation of a seed from the woman in the garden. 179 00:11:01,640 --> 00:11:05,920 And here we see the seed taking on life. 180 00:11:08,000 --> 00:11:11,640 And so he tells the story in a way that leaves no doubt. 181 00:11:13,960 --> 00:11:19,320 Jesus is not merely born. He is sent by God. 182 00:11:21,640 --> 00:11:25,440 He's sent by God. He is God's faithful 183 00:11:25,720 --> 00:11:31,200 intervention into human history. He's the fulfillment of every 184 00:11:31,360 --> 00:11:35,480 promise of the Old Testament. He's the embodiment of hope. 185 00:11:36,240 --> 00:11:39,120 Do you understand that for Christ to be the Savior, for 186 00:11:39,120 --> 00:11:44,320 Christ to be the Messiah, that some 300 plus prophecies have to 187 00:11:44,320 --> 00:11:47,600 be fulfilled? And they are. 188 00:11:48,480 --> 00:11:52,600 And part of Matthew's intent in writing this gospel is to show 189 00:11:52,600 --> 00:11:56,760 us prophecy being fulfilled. He's going to say over and over 190 00:11:56,760 --> 00:12:02,360 again as it is written or as the prophet said, right? 191 00:12:03,560 --> 00:12:07,240 So Jesus Christ is the embodiment of hope. 192 00:12:08,240 --> 00:12:12,080 And here's the main point that anchors this entire passage, the 193 00:12:12,080 --> 00:12:16,040 entire sermon this morning. It's this The virgin birth 194 00:12:16,040 --> 00:12:21,680 reveals God's faithful intervention to bring hope and 195 00:12:21,680 --> 00:12:26,320 salvation to sinners through Jesus, Emmanuel. 196 00:12:28,120 --> 00:12:30,840 The virgin birth reveals God's faithful intervention to bring 197 00:12:30,840 --> 00:12:36,160 hope and salvation to sinners through Jesus Emmanuel. 198 00:12:38,760 --> 00:12:41,840 And so hopefully to help us see that, we're going to walk 199 00:12:41,840 --> 00:12:44,520 through this text under 3 headings. 200 00:12:45,280 --> 00:12:48,680 The first will be that the birth of Jesus reveals God's faithful 201 00:12:48,680 --> 00:12:52,680 plan in verses 18 and 19. We'll see there that God is 202 00:12:52,680 --> 00:12:55,360 working even when his people don't understand it. 203 00:12:57,120 --> 00:13:00,320 Secondly, we'll see the birth of Jesus reveals God's saving 204 00:13:00,520 --> 00:13:04,920 purpose in verses 20 through 23. We'll see there that God is 205 00:13:04,920 --> 00:13:09,040 sending a Savior who will deal with our deepest problem, our 206 00:13:09,040 --> 00:13:13,600 sin. And then finally, we'll see that 207 00:13:13,600 --> 00:13:16,200 the birth of Jesus calls for trusting obedience. 208 00:13:16,200 --> 00:13:21,840 In verses 24 and 25, Joseph shows us the proper response to 209 00:13:21,840 --> 00:13:26,320 God's revelation. So these three movements lead us 210 00:13:26,320 --> 00:13:32,440 to the same conclusion. Our hope is is not found in what 211 00:13:32,440 --> 00:13:38,240 we do, brothers and sisters. Our hope is found in what God 212 00:13:38,240 --> 00:13:43,560 has done in Christ. So let's begin where Matthew 213 00:13:43,560 --> 00:13:48,480 begins, with Joseph, a confused and righteous man standing at a 214 00:13:48,480 --> 00:13:53,040 crossroads and with a surprising faithful plan of God breaking 215 00:13:53,040 --> 00:13:55,640 into his life. Look again at verses 18 and 19. 216 00:13:56,000 --> 00:13:58,600 Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. 217 00:13:59,240 --> 00:14:02,320 When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph before they 218 00:14:02,320 --> 00:14:06,040 came together, she was found to be with child from the Holy 219 00:14:06,040 --> 00:14:09,880 Spirit and her husband Joseph being a just man and unwilling 220 00:14:09,880 --> 00:14:13,680 to put her to shame, resolve to divorce her quietly. 221 00:14:14,240 --> 00:14:16,840 So here we see the birth of Jesus reveals God's faithful 222 00:14:16,840 --> 00:14:19,840 plan. Matthew begins the story of 223 00:14:19,840 --> 00:14:23,160 Jesus's birth with this stunning interruption. 224 00:14:25,800 --> 00:14:30,040 Verse 18 states Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this 225 00:14:30,280 --> 00:14:35,720 way. The word birth, just Genesis 226 00:14:35,880 --> 00:14:42,040 intentionally echoes the opening of Matthew, but he's echoing 227 00:14:42,040 --> 00:14:45,640 everything he's just laid out for us in the genealogy that 228 00:14:45,640 --> 00:14:48,280 Jesus Christ is the son of David, the son of Abraham. 229 00:14:48,520 --> 00:14:54,320 And what we see here is there is a new beginning, that we see the 230 00:14:54,320 --> 00:14:58,000 moment that every generation in the genealogy had been 231 00:14:58,000 --> 00:15:01,440 anticipated. The birth of Jesus Christ took 232 00:15:01,440 --> 00:15:07,280 place in this way. The way this moment unfolds is 233 00:15:07,280 --> 00:15:11,800 jarring to us. Before Mary and Joseph come 234 00:15:11,800 --> 00:15:16,440 together as husband and wife, Mary is found to be with child. 235 00:15:19,840 --> 00:15:22,600 Now Joseph knows that the child is not his. 236 00:15:23,960 --> 00:15:27,480 And so from any human perspective, this looks like 237 00:15:27,480 --> 00:15:30,480 betrayal. All right? 238 00:15:30,480 --> 00:15:34,520 This looks like a problem. This looks like unfaithfulness 239 00:15:34,520 --> 00:15:38,880 on Mary's part. And yet Matthew immediately adds 240 00:15:38,880 --> 00:15:43,400 this divine explanation that she was with child from the Holy 241 00:15:43,400 --> 00:15:46,600 Spirit. So Matthew's letting us know 242 00:15:46,600 --> 00:15:48,720 right out of the gate that God is acting. 243 00:15:49,400 --> 00:15:52,160 God is intervening in the brokenness of our world. 244 00:15:52,160 --> 00:15:55,320 He's accomplishing what no human could ever achieve. 245 00:15:56,760 --> 00:15:59,040 And this is not an ordinary conception. 246 00:16:00,000 --> 00:16:04,000 This is divine creation within the womb of a virgin, the Son of 247 00:16:04,000 --> 00:16:08,760 God, entering into human history by the power of God's Spirit. 248 00:16:12,680 --> 00:16:16,400 And I want you to notice Joseph's character here. 249 00:16:18,400 --> 00:16:22,200 Joseph is just and compassionate. 250 00:16:23,960 --> 00:16:25,760 Matthew draws our attention to Joseph. 251 00:16:25,760 --> 00:16:30,160 He describes him as a just man. When he describes him as a just 252 00:16:30,160 --> 00:16:32,240 man, he's saying that he's a righteous man. 253 00:16:32,920 --> 00:16:35,360 He's the kind of man who's committed to God's law. 254 00:16:35,880 --> 00:16:38,320 He's the kind of man that's concerned for holiness. 255 00:16:38,480 --> 00:16:43,000 He's the kind of man that's desires of obedience, and yet 256 00:16:43,000 --> 00:16:45,680 his righteousness is not cold or harsh. 257 00:16:47,200 --> 00:16:53,280 It says that he is unwilling to expose Mary to shame, though the 258 00:16:53,280 --> 00:16:58,960 law permitted it. Matthew Henry says this. 259 00:16:59,680 --> 00:17:03,080 He said Joseph was tender though he was just. 260 00:17:03,840 --> 00:17:06,640 True justice is always attended with mercy. 261 00:17:09,599 --> 00:17:13,000 Henry notes that Joseph seeks to obey God without destroying 262 00:17:13,000 --> 00:17:17,160 another's reputation. It shows that righteousness and 263 00:17:17,160 --> 00:17:21,040 compassion are not enemies. Rather they are companions. 264 00:17:22,680 --> 00:17:24,319 Right. Joseph demonstrates the kind of 265 00:17:24,319 --> 00:17:26,280 obedience that reflects God's hearts. 266 00:17:27,119 --> 00:17:30,360 It's not only right and principle, but it's kind in its 267 00:17:30,360 --> 00:17:36,680 practice. We should all strive to be just 268 00:17:37,400 --> 00:17:41,920 in this way. I want you to see also the 269 00:17:41,920 --> 00:17:47,800 dilemma that Joseph has right. There's human limitation meeting 270 00:17:47,960 --> 00:17:54,320 divine Providence. Joseph's struggle is real. 271 00:17:56,280 --> 00:17:59,480 He he's trying to make a wise and godly decision based on what 272 00:17:59,480 --> 00:18:03,280 he sees, right? And what he sees seems to 273 00:18:03,280 --> 00:18:07,240 contradict everything that he knows of Mary's character. 274 00:18:09,560 --> 00:18:13,120 So he is doing the best he can with limited knowledge. 275 00:18:14,200 --> 00:18:18,600 There's human limitation here, but I want you to understand 276 00:18:18,600 --> 00:18:25,280 that Joseph's confusion is not a sign of God's absence in the 277 00:18:25,280 --> 00:18:29,400 same way that often our confusion is not a sign of God's 278 00:18:29,400 --> 00:18:34,600 absence, right? It's actually the setting for 279 00:18:34,600 --> 00:18:38,560 God's greatest work. Matthew Henry, again, he says 280 00:18:38,560 --> 00:18:40,760 this. Providence sometimes seems to 281 00:18:40,760 --> 00:18:44,880 run counter to promise, but it is only seeming. 282 00:18:47,600 --> 00:18:52,560 Providence sometimes seems to run counter to promise, but it 283 00:18:52,560 --> 00:18:56,880 is only seeming. You see, Joseph sees a scandal, 284 00:19:00,160 --> 00:19:05,000 the woman that I'm engaged to has been unfaithful and what God 285 00:19:05,000 --> 00:19:08,400 sees is fulfilment. Right. 286 00:19:08,880 --> 00:19:15,200 Joseph sees broken expectations. This was supposed to be a 287 00:19:15,200 --> 00:19:20,360 matrimony of bliss. Her character is strong. 288 00:19:20,880 --> 00:19:22,600 God has brought her into my life. 289 00:19:23,760 --> 00:19:25,600 She's going to be a crown on my head. 290 00:19:25,600 --> 00:19:34,550 I have found a treasure, right? But God sees perfect timing. 291 00:19:36,710 --> 00:19:41,390 Joseph sees a crisis. What am I going to do? 292 00:19:42,630 --> 00:19:44,750 But God sees the coming of the Messiah. 293 00:19:47,630 --> 00:19:50,550 Here we also see the necessity of the virgin birth. 294 00:19:52,750 --> 00:19:56,430 This is kind of the theological weight of this passage. 295 00:19:57,840 --> 00:19:59,760 It's it's something we must understand. 296 00:19:59,760 --> 00:20:02,800 It's good and right for us to understand the necessity of the 297 00:20:02,800 --> 00:20:05,920 virgin birth. You see, the virgin birth is not 298 00:20:05,920 --> 00:20:08,440 a spiritual garnish on the Christmas story. 299 00:20:09,960 --> 00:20:13,400 It's not a nice little thing laid on the plates of the birth 300 00:20:13,400 --> 00:20:16,640 of our Savior just to add some beauty to it. 301 00:20:17,920 --> 00:20:21,960 No, the the virgin birth is essential to the gospel. 302 00:20:24,000 --> 00:20:26,640 The the virgin birth is. Essential. 303 00:20:27,000 --> 00:20:30,080 To the Gospel. Jesus is. 304 00:20:30,080 --> 00:20:34,920 Conceived of the Holy Spirit in the womb of his mother Mary, to 305 00:20:34,920 --> 00:20:39,840 ensure a few different things. One, his true humanity, he's 306 00:20:39,840 --> 00:20:45,160 born of Mary. It's also to ensure his true 307 00:20:45,160 --> 00:20:48,160 deity that he's conceived by God. 308 00:20:51,240 --> 00:20:54,560 And it's also to. Ensure his sinlessness because 309 00:20:54,560 --> 00:20:57,240 he is not inheriting Adam's guilt. 310 00:20:59,320 --> 00:21:01,720 If Jesus had been. Conceived by a man, he would 311 00:21:01,720 --> 00:21:05,080 share in Adam's fallen nature, right? 312 00:21:05,080 --> 00:21:08,600 We see this in Genesis. Chapter 5 and verse one we get 313 00:21:08,600 --> 00:21:12,240 the genealogy or in chapter 5 we get this genealogy of Adam. 314 00:21:13,440 --> 00:21:15,640 And it starts in verse. One where it says when God 315 00:21:15,640 --> 00:21:19,480 created man he made him in the likeness of God and it says male 316 00:21:19,480 --> 00:21:21,640 and female he made them. It's essentially repeating 317 00:21:21,880 --> 00:21:27,120 Genesis 127 and 28. But then in Genesis 5. 318 00:21:27,120 --> 00:21:33,960 Verse 3 just two verses later we see Adam fathering a son and it 319 00:21:33,960 --> 00:21:37,560 says that Adam fathered a son in his own likeness after his 320 00:21:37,560 --> 00:21:40,680 image. And So what we see is. 321 00:21:40,680 --> 00:21:46,200 The inheritance of guilt. The inheritance of a sin nature. 322 00:21:49,680 --> 00:21:55,400 But here being conceived by the. Holy Spirit means that Jesus is 323 00:21:55,400 --> 00:21:58,560 fully man and yet utterly without sin. 324 00:22:00,480 --> 00:22:02,560 This qualifies. Him to be our Savior. 325 00:22:03,320 --> 00:22:06,200 This qualifies him to be the spotless Lamb who takes away the 326 00:22:06,200 --> 00:22:08,560 sin of the world. And in other words, the hope of 327 00:22:08,560 --> 00:22:11,040 the gospel begins in the womb of the woman. 328 00:22:12,840 --> 00:22:16,320 Isaiah 714 promised that a virgin would conceive and bear a 329 00:22:16,320 --> 00:22:18,440 son. And in this moment God is 330 00:22:18,440 --> 00:22:21,160 fulfilling His word exactly as he said. 331 00:22:21,320 --> 00:22:24,200 The Virgin has conceived, and she's burying a son. 332 00:22:25,720 --> 00:22:28,280 God's plan is. Unfolding with absolute 333 00:22:28,480 --> 00:22:32,840 faithfulness, even when Joseph cannot yet understand it now. 334 00:22:36,240 --> 00:22:38,920 I think that. Joseph's experience speaks 335 00:22:39,120 --> 00:22:44,720 powerfully into our lives. Some of you feel. 336 00:22:44,720 --> 00:22:47,720 Like you're standing where Joseph stood. 337 00:22:49,440 --> 00:22:52,280 You're you're faced with. Circumstances you didn't choose. 338 00:22:54,600 --> 00:22:57,800 With outcomes. You didn't foresee with 339 00:22:57,800 --> 00:23:01,920 questions you cannot answer. You're trying to do. 340 00:23:01,920 --> 00:23:05,920 What's right? But the path ahead is confusing 341 00:23:05,920 --> 00:23:11,840 to say the least. And this bit about. 342 00:23:11,840 --> 00:23:15,280 Joseph reminds us of something really important. 343 00:23:16,120 --> 00:23:21,640 God is faithful even when the situation feels impossible. 344 00:23:23,760 --> 00:23:26,880 He's always faithful. Your confusion is. 345 00:23:26,880 --> 00:23:28,760 Not a sign that God has left you. 346 00:23:32,280 --> 00:23:35,040 Your uncertainty does. Not mean that God's plan has 347 00:23:35,280 --> 00:23:40,120 stalled. Your questions do not cancel 348 00:23:40,120 --> 00:23:43,600 God's promises. Right the same. 349 00:23:43,600 --> 00:23:47,240 God, who formed the Savior in Mary's womb, is sovereign over 350 00:23:47,240 --> 00:23:51,480 the details of your life. Joseph is wrestling with what he 351 00:23:51,480 --> 00:23:55,280 can see, but God is accomplishing something far 352 00:23:55,280 --> 00:24:00,240 greater than Joseph imagines. And it's into this moment. 353 00:24:00,240 --> 00:24:03,920 Of uncertainty that God speaks not only to what is happening, 354 00:24:04,120 --> 00:24:10,240 but also to why it is happening. That leads us to the. 355 00:24:10,240 --> 00:24:14,200 Saving purpose behind the birth of Christ The birth of Jesus 356 00:24:14,200 --> 00:24:17,800 reveals God's saving purpose point #2. 357 00:24:19,960 --> 00:24:23,400 Look at verses 20 through. 23 But as he considered these 358 00:24:23,400 --> 00:24:27,440 things, behold, an Angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, 359 00:24:27,440 --> 00:24:33,400 saying, Joseph, son of David. Do not fear to take Mary as your 360 00:24:33,400 --> 00:24:35,920 wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the 361 00:24:35,920 --> 00:24:38,680 Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you 362 00:24:38,680 --> 00:24:41,920 shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from 363 00:24:41,920 --> 00:24:44,720 their sins. All this took place. 364 00:24:44,720 --> 00:24:49,200 To fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, Behold, 365 00:24:49,200 --> 00:24:52,440 the Virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and they shall call 366 00:24:52,440 --> 00:24:55,840 his name Emmanuel, which means God with us. 367 00:24:59,640 --> 00:25:02,720 So Joseph has. Resolved to quietly divorce his 368 00:25:02,720 --> 00:25:06,880 wife or to divorce Mary to break off the engagements. 369 00:25:08,080 --> 00:25:12,000 Doing what seems. Righteous and merciful, He 370 00:25:12,480 --> 00:25:14,200 doesn't want to bring shame to her. 371 00:25:15,400 --> 00:25:18,160 But before he can. Act God intervenes through an 372 00:25:18,160 --> 00:25:22,280 angelic messenger. And verse 20 remind. 373 00:25:22,440 --> 00:25:25,120 Tells us that as he considered these things. 374 00:25:25,120 --> 00:25:29,800 In other words, God steps in precisely when Joseph needs 375 00:25:29,960 --> 00:25:33,680 clarity. He's considering these things. 376 00:25:33,680 --> 00:25:38,760 What shall I do? And he's resolved. 377 00:25:38,760 --> 00:25:44,520 To divorce her quietly. And then God steps. 378 00:25:44,520 --> 00:25:49,080 In Through the voice of an Angel, the Angel calls Joseph by 379 00:25:49,080 --> 00:25:51,360 a title that is loaded with significance. 380 00:25:51,360 --> 00:25:56,320 I hope you saw it. Joseph, son of David. 381 00:26:00,040 --> 00:26:06,240 He's been reminded. Of his royal lineage, Joseph is 382 00:26:06,240 --> 00:26:10,200 not a king. He's not a Prince. 383 00:26:11,200 --> 00:26:14,960 He doesn't have any real great standing among the people of his 384 00:26:14,960 --> 00:26:18,200 day. Joseph is a humble Carpenter. 385 00:26:20,440 --> 00:26:24,320 He's committed to woodworking. And yet God is. 386 00:26:24,320 --> 00:26:30,000 Positioning him in the stream of divine promise, the Messiah will 387 00:26:30,000 --> 00:26:34,160 come through David's line, and Joseph is the chosen legal 388 00:26:34,160 --> 00:26:37,080 father who will bring Jesus into that line. 389 00:26:39,560 --> 00:26:42,280 Then the Angel. Addresses Joseph's fear, right? 390 00:26:42,280 --> 00:26:44,800 Do not fear to take Mary as your wife. 391 00:26:47,680 --> 00:26:50,320 How often does? Fear stand between US and 392 00:26:50,320 --> 00:27:01,000 obedience Pretty often. Pretty often, but God reassures 393 00:27:02,040 --> 00:27:05,920 Joseph even before the command comes. 394 00:27:07,080 --> 00:27:08,600 Do not fear to do. This. 395 00:27:11,040 --> 00:27:12,920 Here we have what you. Might call the divine 396 00:27:12,920 --> 00:27:17,240 explanation. The Angel reveals the mystery of 397 00:27:17,240 --> 00:27:20,080 what is happening. Mary has not. 398 00:27:20,080 --> 00:27:23,320 Been unfaithful. This is not a. 399 00:27:23,320 --> 00:27:27,760 Scandal, Joseph. This is sovereignty at work. 400 00:27:28,960 --> 00:27:32,160 The child. Conceived in her is from the 401 00:27:32,160 --> 00:27:37,040 Holy Spirit. Matthew Henry writes. 402 00:27:37,040 --> 00:27:40,640 This, he says, when we are at most at law, at a loss. 403 00:27:41,240 --> 00:27:44,040 God has ways to bring light into our darkness. 404 00:27:44,720 --> 00:27:48,520 God sent the Angel not merely to clear Mary's name, but to 405 00:27:48,520 --> 00:27:52,040 confirm Joseph's faith. Amen. 406 00:27:55,200 --> 00:28:00,280 For the divine explanation lifts the entire situation above human 407 00:28:00,280 --> 00:28:03,800 understanding. God Himself has entered into the 408 00:28:03,800 --> 00:28:07,200 womb of a virgin to bring forth the promised Redeemer. 409 00:28:08,360 --> 00:28:10,600 And so there's more. Things you have to notice right? 410 00:28:10,600 --> 00:28:13,080 You need to notice the naming of Jesus. 411 00:28:13,640 --> 00:28:17,520 In the naming of Jesus, the mission of Christ is defined. 412 00:28:18,240 --> 00:28:23,520 Joseph is commanded to name the child Jesus, the Greek form of 413 00:28:23,520 --> 00:28:27,360 Yeshua, which means Yahweh saves. 414 00:28:29,960 --> 00:28:32,520 You see names in. Scripture are not sentimental 415 00:28:33,440 --> 00:28:37,560 they're often theological the Angel is telling Joseph the 416 00:28:37,560 --> 00:28:43,640 baby's identity and his mission he will save his people from 417 00:28:43,640 --> 00:28:48,200 their sins he's. Not going to save them. 418 00:28:48,200 --> 00:28:51,200 From Rome. He's not going to save. 419 00:28:51,200 --> 00:28:53,280 Them from poverty, He's not going to save them from 420 00:28:53,280 --> 00:28:55,280 oppression. He's not going to save them from 421 00:28:55,280 --> 00:28:58,880 difficult circumstances. He's going to save them from 422 00:28:58,880 --> 00:29:02,640 their sins. The greatest? 423 00:29:03,000 --> 00:29:05,600 Problem. Is going to be. 424 00:29:05,600 --> 00:29:12,480 Removed in Christ the deepest, most destructive, most universal 425 00:29:12,480 --> 00:29:15,760 human problem. That's what Jesus has come to 426 00:29:15,760 --> 00:29:17,000 solve. Amen. 427 00:29:18,960 --> 00:29:20,320 Matthew Henry. Says this. 428 00:29:20,320 --> 00:29:25,600 He says it is sin that has made all of our sorrows, and if sin 429 00:29:25,600 --> 00:29:32,000 be pardoned then all is well. This is why Jesus. 430 00:29:32,000 --> 00:29:35,720 Came He came to deal with the source of our brokenness, not 431 00:29:35,720 --> 00:29:39,400 just the brokenness. The source of it? 432 00:29:40,240 --> 00:29:43,040 The birth of Jesus is not ultimately about a Manger. 433 00:29:43,560 --> 00:29:46,400 It's not ultimately about shepherds or wise men. 434 00:29:47,240 --> 00:29:50,520 It is the opening chapter in the story of redemption. 435 00:29:51,160 --> 00:29:53,280 It's a story that leads to a cross. 436 00:29:53,840 --> 00:29:56,880 It leads to an empty tomb. It leads to a victorious king. 437 00:29:57,120 --> 00:30:01,360 Jesus was born so that he may die for sinners. 438 00:30:06,200 --> 00:30:09,280 We should note also. That this is the fulfillment of 439 00:30:09,280 --> 00:30:12,400 prophecy. Jesus is. 440 00:30:12,400 --> 00:30:19,240 Emmanuel, God with us. Matthew prophesied that some 700 441 00:30:19,240 --> 00:30:21,840 years before the birth of Christ. 442 00:30:25,400 --> 00:30:28,600 So Matthew draws. Our eyes to Isaiah 714 Behold, 443 00:30:28,600 --> 00:30:31,520 the Virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call 444 00:30:31,520 --> 00:30:36,960 his name Emmanuel. If Christmas has a. 445 00:30:36,960 --> 00:30:39,600 Heartbeat, so to speak. This is it. 446 00:30:40,600 --> 00:30:43,560 This is the theological heartbeat of Christmas. 447 00:30:43,720 --> 00:30:50,600 God with us, not God against us any longer, not God above us, 448 00:30:50,600 --> 00:30:54,960 not God distant from us, but God come down to be with us in our 449 00:30:54,960 --> 00:30:58,800 flesh and our suffering and our temptation and our need. 450 00:30:58,960 --> 00:31:03,320 God is with us. The incarnation. 451 00:31:03,320 --> 00:31:07,640 Is God's declaration that He refuses to remain far off? 452 00:31:08,600 --> 00:31:15,160 He has come near to save. God becoming a man. 453 00:31:15,160 --> 00:31:18,360 Is not optional doctrine, brothers and sisters. 454 00:31:21,920 --> 00:31:25,160 Jesus taking on. Flesh is essential for 455 00:31:25,160 --> 00:31:28,280 salvation. Jesus had to be. 456 00:31:28,280 --> 00:31:32,040 Fully human to represent us. He had to be fully divine to 457 00:31:32,040 --> 00:31:34,560 save us. He had to be sinless to be our 458 00:31:34,560 --> 00:31:37,000 substitute. He had to be God with us to 459 00:31:37,000 --> 00:31:40,920 reconcile us to God. If Jesus is. 460 00:31:40,920 --> 00:31:43,960 Not Emmanuel. Then you and I who have placed 461 00:31:43,960 --> 00:31:46,680 our faith in Christ would still be in our sins. 462 00:31:48,040 --> 00:31:49,920 We would still be destined. For hell. 463 00:31:50,520 --> 00:31:59,520 But because Jesus is Emmanuel, sinners can have hope, and our 464 00:31:59,520 --> 00:32:01,560 hope is rooted in the presence of God. 465 00:32:04,920 --> 00:32:06,880 So here's where this lands. For us. 466 00:32:08,880 --> 00:32:13,360 I have good news. For you today, hope is not based 467 00:32:13,360 --> 00:32:16,160 on your ability to figure out life. 468 00:32:20,280 --> 00:32:22,720 All that worrying you? Do all that anxiety you have, 469 00:32:22,720 --> 00:32:28,800 all that perplexion you endure. These things are not where your 470 00:32:28,800 --> 00:32:33,280 hope is found. Hope is not based on. 471 00:32:33,280 --> 00:32:34,960 Your ability to figure out your life. 472 00:32:36,200 --> 00:32:38,880 Hope is based. On God's unwavering commitment 473 00:32:38,880 --> 00:32:43,000 to be with His people. In the darkness of. 474 00:32:43,000 --> 00:32:50,960 Your circumstances, whatever they may be, sickness, death, 475 00:32:51,880 --> 00:32:56,640 financial marriage, parenting. In the darkness of your 476 00:32:56,640 --> 00:33:00,520 circumstances, remember God is with you. 477 00:33:05,520 --> 00:33:06,760 In the weight of your. Guilt. 478 00:33:08,480 --> 00:33:10,160 You recall your? Sins. 479 00:33:14,600 --> 00:33:16,600 You're beaten over the. Head with shame. 480 00:33:19,120 --> 00:33:22,320 Satan wants you to think. That God can't save you, but 481 00:33:23,200 --> 00:33:25,040 that's for somebody else out there. 482 00:33:27,960 --> 00:33:29,280 In the weight of your. Guilt. 483 00:33:30,280 --> 00:33:37,680 Remember, God is with you. In the ache of. 484 00:33:37,680 --> 00:34:01,200 Grief. God is with you in the battle 485 00:34:01,200 --> 00:34:03,680 that you. Have with temptation and sin, 486 00:34:05,800 --> 00:34:13,239 falling to the same schemes of Satan over and over, struggling, 487 00:34:13,239 --> 00:34:19,320 wrestling with your flesh. God is with you. 488 00:34:23,800 --> 00:34:26,560 This is the hope of. Advent, brothers and sisters. 489 00:34:27,600 --> 00:34:31,080 But God came. Near, so that sinners could draw 490 00:34:31,080 --> 00:34:35,560 near to him. Jesus Christ. 491 00:34:35,560 --> 00:34:38,920 Birth, His death, his resurrection. 492 00:34:40,760 --> 00:34:44,639 Those things open. Wide the door of salvation for 493 00:34:44,639 --> 00:34:47,000 all who will come to him through repentance and faith. 494 00:34:49,199 --> 00:34:53,400 If God's saving. Purpose is so clear, then the 495 00:34:53,400 --> 00:35:01,000 question becomes how do we? Respond What? 496 00:35:01,000 --> 00:35:01,920 What does? Hopeful. 497 00:35:01,920 --> 00:35:08,240 Faith look like in real life. Well, Matthew answers. 498 00:35:08,240 --> 00:35:10,480 That through the obedience of Joseph, I think. 499 00:35:12,920 --> 00:35:15,720 Point #3 the birth. Of Jesus calls for trusting 500 00:35:15,760 --> 00:35:21,240 obedience. 24 and 25. When Joseph woke from sleep. 501 00:35:22,560 --> 00:35:25,960 He did as the Angel. Of the Lord commanded him, he 502 00:35:25,960 --> 00:35:28,440 took his wife, but. Knew her. 503 00:35:28,440 --> 00:35:32,920 Not until she had given birth to a son and he called his name 504 00:35:33,440 --> 00:35:37,880 Jesus. You see, Joseph wakes from his 505 00:35:37,880 --> 00:35:41,000 dream with a clarity that he didn't have before. 506 00:35:42,480 --> 00:35:45,600 The Angel has. Spoken God has revealed his plan 507 00:35:45,600 --> 00:35:48,840 to him, and what Joseph does next is one of the clearest 508 00:35:48,840 --> 00:35:51,600 portraits of biblical faith in the New Testament. 509 00:35:52,480 --> 00:35:57,440 Verse 24 states very simply, he did as the Angel of the Lord 510 00:35:57,600 --> 00:36:05,440 commanded him. No hesitation, no bargaining 511 00:36:05,440 --> 00:36:08,280 with God. No demanding. 512 00:36:08,280 --> 00:36:13,000 More Signs. Just simply. 513 00:36:13,360 --> 00:36:19,160 Obedience. First, Joseph. 514 00:36:19,160 --> 00:36:24,000 Takes Mary as his wife. This is significant. 515 00:36:24,000 --> 00:36:27,760 He willingly steps into a situation that's going to bring 516 00:36:28,600 --> 00:36:32,200 misunderstanding. It's going to bring. 517 00:36:32,200 --> 00:36:35,680 Social stigma against him. There's going to be whispers 518 00:36:35,800 --> 00:36:40,680 from the neighbors next door. Joseph. 519 00:36:40,680 --> 00:36:45,320 Accepts public shame for the sake of obedience. 520 00:36:47,320 --> 00:36:51,920 And so often Christians are called to accept public shame 521 00:36:52,120 --> 00:36:56,840 for the sake of obedience. Matthew Henry comments. 522 00:36:56,840 --> 00:37:01,080 Joseph, by obeying God, exposes himself to the reproaches of 523 00:37:01,080 --> 00:37:04,520 men. But it is better. 524 00:37:04,880 --> 00:37:08,240 To have the approval of God. Amen. 525 00:37:10,200 --> 00:37:12,960 Joseph's obedience. Cost him something and. 526 00:37:14,520 --> 00:37:17,280 Again, true. Obedience usually does. 527 00:37:19,520 --> 00:37:22,560 Next, we see Joseph. Refrains from consummating the 528 00:37:22,560 --> 00:37:24,720 marriage until after Jesus's birth. 529 00:37:26,160 --> 00:37:29,000 Matthew includes. This detail to safeguard the 530 00:37:29,000 --> 00:37:33,600 truth of the virgin birth. It's necessary for salvation. 531 00:37:35,440 --> 00:37:40,720 It's essential Joseph's self. Restraint emphasizes that this 532 00:37:40,720 --> 00:37:43,600 child is entirely the work of God. 533 00:37:47,040 --> 00:37:50,240 Thirdly, we see that. Joseph names the child Jesus. 534 00:37:51,880 --> 00:37:54,200 And Jewish culture. Naming a child was an act of 535 00:37:54,360 --> 00:37:57,600 legal adoption. By naming. 536 00:37:57,600 --> 00:38:02,160 Jesus Joseph brings him officially and publicly into the 537 00:38:02,160 --> 00:38:05,200 line of David, which fulfills the Messianic prophecy. 538 00:38:08,240 --> 00:38:11,320 So Joseph's. Joseph's obedience is not like 539 00:38:11,320 --> 00:38:14,040 some minor footnote in Matthew's Gospel. 540 00:38:15,600 --> 00:38:20,360 It's part of God. 'S sovereign plan, His actions 541 00:38:20,520 --> 00:38:22,440 protect the truth of the virgin birth. 542 00:38:22,880 --> 00:38:26,400 They establishes Jesus. They establish Jesus's legal 543 00:38:26,400 --> 00:38:29,760 right to David's throne. They show the proper human 544 00:38:29,760 --> 00:38:33,480 response to divine revelation when. 545 00:38:33,480 --> 00:38:36,720 The word of the Lord. Has said we should obey. 546 00:38:36,720 --> 00:38:39,640 Amen. And they demonstrate. 547 00:38:39,640 --> 00:38:42,840 Faith that acts, not just believes. 548 00:38:45,600 --> 00:38:50,320 The Bible consistently teaches us that true faith obeys. 549 00:38:53,520 --> 00:38:57,240 It's one of the great. Fruits of true faith, Obedience 550 00:38:57,240 --> 00:39:02,040 to God, obedience to His Word. And Joseph models this for us 551 00:39:02,280 --> 00:39:06,200 beautifully. So Joseph's example. 552 00:39:06,200 --> 00:39:09,960 Confronts us with questions that we must consider. 553 00:39:11,440 --> 00:39:14,840 Where is God calling? You to obey him today. 554 00:39:17,840 --> 00:39:20,240 Where is obedience? Costly. 555 00:39:22,480 --> 00:39:26,120 Where are you tempted to? Wait for the perfect conditions 556 00:39:26,120 --> 00:39:31,440 before acting. You see, Joseph reminds us that 557 00:39:31,440 --> 00:39:36,960 obedience is not about convenience, it's about trust. 558 00:39:39,280 --> 00:39:41,520 You trust what? That God's Word is true. 559 00:39:42,840 --> 00:39:43,640 You. You trust that? 560 00:39:43,640 --> 00:39:47,640 God's presence is enough. You trust that God will sustain 561 00:39:47,640 --> 00:39:49,880 you even when obedience is costly. 562 00:39:52,680 --> 00:39:55,960 If Jesus is truly. Emmanuel, God with us, then we 563 00:39:55,960 --> 00:39:59,360 have every reason to trust and obey Him. 564 00:40:00,440 --> 00:40:03,400 Obedience becomes hope in action. 565 00:40:04,960 --> 00:40:08,520 Joseph's obedience completes this picture that Matthew is 566 00:40:08,520 --> 00:40:12,080 painting for us. The faithful plan of God, the 567 00:40:12,080 --> 00:40:15,320 saving purpose of God, the trusting obedience of His 568 00:40:15,320 --> 00:40:18,720 servant, all converge in the birth of the king. 569 00:40:19,960 --> 00:40:22,440 All of it. Points us to the hope that we 570 00:40:22,440 --> 00:40:30,160 find only in Emmanuel. And so Advent teaches our hearts 571 00:40:30,640 --> 00:40:38,120 to hope not in ourselves, not in our circumstances, not in 572 00:40:38,120 --> 00:40:41,800 sentimental things, but in the God who keeps his promises. 573 00:40:42,640 --> 00:40:45,520 Hope in the God who keeps his promises. 574 00:40:45,640 --> 00:40:48,720 In Matthew chapter one, we learn that God's plan is faithful. 575 00:40:49,920 --> 00:40:52,880 That God's purpose is. Saving that God's presence is 576 00:40:53,000 --> 00:40:56,000 with us. In the heart of it all is 577 00:40:56,000 --> 00:41:02,280 Emmanuel, God with us. And so if you are. 578 00:41:02,280 --> 00:41:07,920 A believer in Jesus Christ, you're walking with the Lord. 579 00:41:10,080 --> 00:41:12,720 I will encourage you to. Trust the promises of God this 580 00:41:12,720 --> 00:41:15,960 morning. I will encourage you to. 581 00:41:15,960 --> 00:41:21,040 Walk in obedience to God. I will encourage you to. 582 00:41:21,040 --> 00:41:24,840 Rest in the presence of God in your life. 583 00:41:27,680 --> 00:41:33,320 Jesus came to be near you. Jesus came to save you. 584 00:41:34,560 --> 00:41:38,280 Jesus came that he might hold you fast in his hand. 585 00:41:40,600 --> 00:41:44,200 And so let his. Nearness, strengthen your hope 586 00:41:44,360 --> 00:41:53,200 today. If you're not a believer, you 587 00:41:53,200 --> 00:41:55,360 haven't placed your. Faith in Christ yet? 588 00:41:59,880 --> 00:42:02,880 I want you to know. That the king has come. 589 00:42:06,160 --> 00:42:08,680 Hope has. A name now. 590 00:42:09,800 --> 00:42:11,720 Jesus. Christ. 591 00:42:14,160 --> 00:42:16,600 And he will save his. People from their sins. 592 00:42:18,800 --> 00:42:21,560 And if you'll call. Upon his name. 593 00:42:22,560 --> 00:42:25,920 If you repent of your. Sin and call upon him. 594 00:42:28,120 --> 00:42:30,680 And you will find. Salvation because He has come to 595 00:42:30,680 --> 00:42:37,080 save sinners like you and me. Remember the Virgin? 596 00:42:37,080 --> 00:42:41,760 Birth reveals God's faithful intervention to bring hope and 597 00:42:41,760 --> 00:42:47,480 salvation to sinners through Jesus, Emmanuel, let's. 598 00:42:47,480 --> 00:42:50,360 Pray Heavenly Father, we. Thank you. 599 00:42:51,800 --> 00:42:55,120 For this morning, God, we thank you. 600 00:42:55,120 --> 00:42:58,080 For this word about Jesus Emmanuel. 601 00:42:59,080 --> 00:43:02,040 You God coming to be. With us. 602 00:43:04,600 --> 00:43:06,920 We thank you that we. See that Christ has put on 603 00:43:06,920 --> 00:43:10,760 flesh. That he's fully. 604 00:43:10,760 --> 00:43:18,880 Human. And that he's fully God, and 605 00:43:18,880 --> 00:43:23,920 that qualifies. Him to be our Savior, that 606 00:43:23,920 --> 00:43:26,960 qualifies him to be the Lamb that is slain. 607 00:43:30,440 --> 00:43:36,560 As as beautiful as this is, we know. 608 00:43:36,560 --> 00:43:38,240 That it. Results in a cross. 609 00:43:40,840 --> 00:43:45,160 We know that it results. In Christ, bearing our shame, 610 00:43:46,000 --> 00:43:50,680 taking our sin on Himself, and dying on a cross. 611 00:43:54,680 --> 00:43:56,800 But God we also. Know as we looked at in First 612 00:43:56,800 --> 00:44:02,960 Corinthians 15 just weeks ago. That it ends in a. 613 00:44:02,960 --> 00:44:07,280 Resurrection. Christ has defeated. 614 00:44:07,280 --> 00:44:10,920 The grave. He sits in heaven as the 615 00:44:10,920 --> 00:44:15,520 victorious king over sin. He's the Lord of Lords. 616 00:44:19,520 --> 00:44:23,760 And everyone. Who calls on His name will be 617 00:44:23,760 --> 00:44:28,640 saved, since, Father, we thank You that You have granted us 618 00:44:28,640 --> 00:44:33,320 salvation in Christ alone. By your great. 619 00:44:33,320 --> 00:44:37,040 Grace, by your mercy, by your love for us. 620 00:44:39,120 --> 00:44:42,800 You have given your. Son, that we might be reconciled 621 00:44:42,800 --> 00:44:51,840 to You once again, and Father, we know that He is able to save 622 00:44:51,840 --> 00:44:55,920 to the uttermost all who draw near to you through Him. 623 00:44:57,600 --> 00:45:00,840 Many of us here. Today, sit here as believers 624 00:45:00,840 --> 00:45:03,480 because we have drawn near through Christ. 625 00:45:03,680 --> 00:45:06,000 You have saved us by your marvelous grace. 626 00:45:07,640 --> 00:45:09,040 And we praise you. For it. 627 00:45:10,440 --> 00:45:13,520 Father, would you let this? Word fill us with hope today. 628 00:45:15,560 --> 00:45:17,960 We would see that you. Are with us in every 629 00:45:17,960 --> 00:45:20,120 circumstance. You're with us in every grief. 630 00:45:20,240 --> 00:45:23,920 You're with us in every pain and every loss and every temptation. 631 00:45:23,920 --> 00:45:29,040 God, you are near to us. Because of Christ. 632 00:45:29,560 --> 00:45:31,400 Because of your spirit within us. 633 00:45:34,640 --> 00:45:37,160 God, let it strengthen. Our hope this morning. 634 00:45:41,480 --> 00:45:43,800 Father, I plead. With you now to save. 635 00:45:45,000 --> 00:45:47,360 Anyone here who? Doesn't know you as Lord. 636 00:45:48,920 --> 00:45:51,200 Would you draw them to? Yourself this morning. 637 00:45:53,840 --> 00:45:56,200 Would you grant them? Salvation in Christ, would you 638 00:45:56,200 --> 00:45:58,680 grant them to be children of God? 639 00:46:02,920 --> 00:46:04,640 Would you save them by? Your Grace. 640 00:46:11,560 --> 00:46:15,040 Heavenly Father again. We thank you for Jesus Christ, 641 00:46:15,040 --> 00:46:17,040 our Lord, our King. I'm. 642 00:46:20,440 --> 00:46:21,920 Going to. Give you a moment now in your 643 00:46:21,920 --> 00:46:26,880 seat to pray and to seek the Lord maybe. 644 00:46:26,880 --> 00:46:29,640 There's something you need to. Confess to God today. 645 00:46:31,720 --> 00:46:34,600 Maybe there's a circumstance. You've been trying to be Lord 646 00:46:34,600 --> 00:46:38,600 over in your own way. You haven't entrusted it to him. 647 00:46:43,160 --> 00:46:45,400 Maybe there's a role you. Need to step into. 648 00:46:47,600 --> 00:46:50,000 There's something the Lord's. Leading you to and you're 649 00:46:50,000 --> 00:46:56,400 fearful. You're worried you don't have it 650 00:46:56,400 --> 00:46:57,760 all. Figured out and so you won't 651 00:46:57,760 --> 00:47:00,360 take the step. Would you trust the Lord this 652 00:47:00,360 --> 00:47:05,160 morning and. Maybe it's you that. 653 00:47:05,160 --> 00:47:10,800 Needs salvation today. You haven't placed your. 654 00:47:10,800 --> 00:47:12,760 Faith in Christ. You haven't repented of your 655 00:47:12,760 --> 00:47:15,160 sins. You're seeking to be your own 656 00:47:15,160 --> 00:47:19,760 God. But you confess your sin, 657 00:47:20,560 --> 00:47:24,560 Confess your faith in Christ this morning, call upon him, and 658 00:47:24,560 --> 00:48:18,160 receive salvation today. Heavenly Father, we thank. 659 00:48:18,160 --> 00:48:22,680 You for your love and your mercy and your grace, we thank you. 660 00:48:22,680 --> 00:48:29,760 For your faithfulness. We thank you that you are good 661 00:48:29,840 --> 00:48:32,880 to every generation, as Psalm 100 tells us. 662 00:48:36,080 --> 00:48:41,040 That you meet us. And our desperation, and our 663 00:48:41,040 --> 00:48:44,440 sin, and our pain and our struggles. 664 00:48:47,520 --> 00:48:49,640 God, would you help? Us to lift our eyes to you. 665 00:48:49,640 --> 00:48:52,800 Would you help us to lift our hearts, our souls to you? 666 00:48:56,200 --> 00:49:03,000 Help us to have faith. To trust, to be hopeful this 667 00:49:03,000 --> 00:49:08,440 morning in. The name of Christ. 668 00:49:08,440 --> 00:49:09,640 I pray. Amen.