WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:13.000 Births can reveal surprising things, can't they? You don't really know your wife in some ways until you've seen her giving birth. 00:00:13.000 --> 00:00:24.000 ! Someone once said to me, a good friend, that he didn't know his wife until they were in the labour room. And she started throwing things at him. 00:00:24.000 --> 00:00:33.000 And saying things to him which he'd never heard her say before. Births can be revealing, can't they? 00:00:33.000 --> 00:00:38.000 Births can bring out characteristics that we don't always see. 00:00:38.000 --> 00:00:44.000 And the birth of Jesus is like that. The birth of Jesus reveals to us things that we may not have noticed. 00:00:44.000 --> 00:00:53.000 And what I want to try and do in just a few minutes that we've got together this morning is to see how the birth of Jesus according to Matthew 00:00:53.000 --> 00:01:03.000 reveals things to us. First of all, it reveals to us the turmoil of God's ways. The turmoil of God's ways. 00:01:03.000 --> 00:01:14.000 Look at verse 18. Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, 00:01:14.000 --> 00:01:21.000 before they came together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. 00:01:21.000 --> 00:01:25.000 There are two words, I think, that are going through Joseph's mind at this point. 00:01:25.000 --> 00:01:30.000 Two words. Mary and pregnant. 00:01:30.000 --> 00:01:37.000 And I suppose if we can imagine it, can't we? He had his head in his hands as he paced around the carpenter's shop. 00:01:37.000 --> 00:01:40.000 Mary. Pregnant. 00:01:40.000 --> 00:01:44.000 Trying to make head nor tail of the situation. 00:01:44.000 --> 00:01:51.000 Somehow, Mary and adultery didn't seem to be in the same dictionary. 00:01:51.000 --> 00:01:53.000 It would be adultery. 00:01:53.000 --> 00:01:58.000 If you look at just verse 18, it talks about betrothed to Joseph. 00:01:58.000 --> 00:02:04.000 That is, the betrothal that was as good as marriage. 00:02:04.000 --> 00:02:08.000 When a couple is betrothal pledged to be married, that was the commitment. 00:02:08.000 --> 00:02:13.000 The consummation of the marriage was the physical sexual union. 00:02:13.000 --> 00:02:19.000 And that might take place as much as a year later when the groom took the bride to his own home. 00:02:19.000 --> 00:02:26.000 But in that intervening period, after that betrothal, after that commitment, after that pledge, 00:02:26.000 --> 00:02:34.000 even though they were living together, if there was marital infidelity on the part of one of them, 00:02:34.000 --> 00:02:37.000 it was adultery. It wasn't fornication. 00:02:37.000 --> 00:02:41.000 It wasn't sex before marriage. It was adultery. 00:02:41.000 --> 00:02:46.000 And therefore, a marriage could be subject to divorce. 00:02:46.000 --> 00:02:51.000 And you had to divorce if you wanted to separate as a result of infidelity. 00:02:51.000 --> 00:02:56.000 And if one of those spouses died during the period of betrothal, 00:02:56.000 --> 00:03:01.000 then the other one was left a widower or a widow. 00:03:01.000 --> 00:03:03.000 Even if the marriage hadn't been consummated. 00:03:03.000 --> 00:03:05.000 Even if there hadn't been a sexual union. 00:03:05.000 --> 00:03:10.000 So it was before this time that they'd come together. 00:03:10.000 --> 00:03:14.000 It was during the period of betrothal, the time of the pledge. 00:03:14.000 --> 00:03:18.000 The commitment had been made and Mary was found to be pregnant. 00:03:18.000 --> 00:03:23.000 She was pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit. 00:03:23.000 --> 00:03:28.000 But Joseph didn't know the bit about the Holy Spirit. 00:03:28.000 --> 00:03:33.000 Because as the story reads, he finds that out in verse 20, doesn't he, and following. 00:03:33.000 --> 00:03:39.000 All he knows in verse 18 is that Mary is pregnant. 00:03:39.000 --> 00:03:43.000 And you can imagine what must have gone through his head because of that. 00:03:43.000 --> 00:03:47.000 You see, we read this story and we know it, don't we? 00:03:47.000 --> 00:03:50.000 We read it every Christmas time, every Advent, again and again. 00:03:50.000 --> 00:03:52.000 And it's a hum-ho affair. 00:03:52.000 --> 00:03:55.000 And we never get too disturbed about it. 00:03:55.000 --> 00:03:58.000 It never grabs us or shocks us. 00:03:58.000 --> 00:04:02.000 But that's because you're not in Joseph's sandals. 00:04:02.000 --> 00:04:04.000 But think what he was going through. 00:04:04.000 --> 00:04:09.000 Surely, surely he knew, didn't he? 00:04:09.000 --> 00:04:12.000 He knew that he hadn't been the one. 00:04:12.000 --> 00:04:18.000 And he didn't think Mary could or would. 00:04:18.000 --> 00:04:21.000 She wouldn't. 00:04:21.000 --> 00:04:24.000 But she must have. 00:04:24.000 --> 00:04:31.000 Mary giving herself to another man. 00:04:31.000 --> 00:04:35.000 And the mere thought of it, 00:04:35.000 --> 00:04:39.000 he exclusively slammed his fist into his workbench in anguish. 00:04:39.000 --> 00:04:46.000 When God brought his Messiah, do you remember chapter 1 verse 1? 00:04:46.000 --> 00:04:52.000 The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. 00:04:52.000 --> 00:04:59.000 When God brought his Messiah, in this way, it almost wrecked Joseph's life. 00:04:59.000 --> 00:05:02.000 He didn't know why Mary was pregnant. 00:05:02.000 --> 00:05:07.000 He could only infer what he and everyone else must know. 00:05:07.000 --> 00:05:09.000 And you might be thinking, well, yes. 00:05:09.000 --> 00:05:12.000 Later, he'll find out, didn't he, in verse 20. 00:05:12.000 --> 00:05:15.000 And following what the real story is. 00:05:15.000 --> 00:05:18.000 And the angel of the Lord will give him additional information. 00:05:18.000 --> 00:05:20.000 But he doesn't have it at this point. 00:05:20.000 --> 00:05:27.000 All that he can think of, and all that he can deal with, is just what he knows. 00:05:27.000 --> 00:05:35.000 And the time when God was going to bring his supreme gift into the world. 00:05:35.000 --> 00:05:44.000 And the way he was bringing that supreme gift almost drove Joseph to utter despair. 00:05:44.000 --> 00:05:47.000 The turmoil of God's ways. 00:05:47.000 --> 00:05:52.000 And it plunges Joseph into a gut-wrenching turmoil. 00:05:52.000 --> 00:05:56.000 And so I want to ask a question. 00:05:56.000 --> 00:05:59.000 I don't think I'm declaring here. 00:05:59.000 --> 00:06:06.000 Because I think as God's people, as listeners to his certain words, we need to think and we need to ponder as well. 00:06:06.000 --> 00:06:17.000 But could it be, could it be that this pattern is something that God uses at other times as well? 00:06:17.000 --> 00:06:26.000 Could it be that when God is going to do his finest work in our lives, that he may initiate that work? 00:06:26.000 --> 00:06:32.000 He may start that work by lacing and driving us into intense confusion. 00:06:34.000 --> 00:06:40.000 Is it only Joseph that knows this pattern of God's working? 00:06:40.000 --> 00:06:44.000 Certainly in scripture, isn't it? 00:06:44.000 --> 00:06:47.000 You think of the other Joseph. 00:06:47.000 --> 00:06:49.000 You think of Abraham. 00:06:49.000 --> 00:06:51.000 You think of Daniel. 00:06:51.000 --> 00:06:54.000 And could it be that you know that as well? 00:06:55.000 --> 00:07:01.000 Could it be that in its own way, could this be a word of comfort and hope? 00:07:02.000 --> 00:07:10.000 For some of you, that even though you do not understand God's ways, it may just be a prelude to some of his best gifts. 00:07:10.000 --> 00:07:15.000 There is not only the turmoil of God's ways, but you see secondly the model of God's servant. 00:07:15.000 --> 00:07:22.000 You see it in verse 19, and then in verse 24, and then verse 25. 00:07:22.000 --> 00:07:27.000 I was once asked to do a video. 00:07:27.000 --> 00:07:29.000 You can't see it on the internet anymore. 00:07:29.000 --> 00:07:31.000 You've got to go behind a paywall. 00:07:31.000 --> 00:07:34.000 But I was asked to do a series of five minute videos. 00:07:34.000 --> 00:07:36.000 It's the best kind of preaching game I've ever been given. 00:07:36.000 --> 00:07:38.000 It was in a five star hotel in London. 00:07:38.000 --> 00:07:44.000 And you went into this room, and they put makeup on you, and you did this kind of talk. 00:07:44.000 --> 00:07:46.000 And then they took you for a five star meeting. 00:07:46.000 --> 00:07:48.000 It was an incredible day. 00:07:48.000 --> 00:07:51.000 But they gave me the topic of Joseph. 00:07:51.000 --> 00:07:55.000 So I prepared five minutes of talk on Joseph from the book of Genesis. 00:07:55.000 --> 00:08:01.000 And when I got there, they said, no, we want you to give five minutes on Joseph, Mary's husband. 00:08:02.000 --> 00:08:05.000 Well, five minutes, there's hardly anything about him in the Bible. 00:08:05.000 --> 00:08:13.000 And we don't, do we normally call attention to the human characters of Scripture? 00:08:13.000 --> 00:08:16.000 Because the Bible doesn't normally draw attention to them. 00:08:16.000 --> 00:08:24.000 And yet, actually, if you read Matthew 1 and 2, you'll see that Joseph is called to attention again and again. 00:08:24.000 --> 00:08:26.000 Matthew mentions him four times. 00:08:26.000 --> 00:08:31.000 He mentions him four times without ever calling him Jesus' father. 00:08:31.000 --> 00:08:36.000 But I think Matthew 1 and 2 is trying to set up Joseph as a model. 00:08:36.000 --> 00:08:38.000 A model of God's servants. 00:08:38.000 --> 00:08:42.000 You see that in his character, don't you? Verse 19. 00:08:42.000 --> 00:08:46.000 This is before Joseph has the additional information. 00:08:46.000 --> 00:08:48.000 Verse 19. 00:08:48.000 --> 00:08:51.000 And her husband Joseph being a just man. 00:08:51.000 --> 00:08:59.000 And unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. 00:08:59.000 --> 00:09:02.000 He made up his mind. 00:09:02.000 --> 00:09:05.000 And he's doing the best with what he's been given to work with. 00:09:05.000 --> 00:09:10.000 And Matthew describes him as a righteous man, not willing to put her to disgrace. 00:09:10.000 --> 00:09:12.000 It's interesting that, isn't it? 00:09:12.000 --> 00:09:14.000 Righteous. 00:09:14.000 --> 00:09:15.000 Righteous. 00:09:15.000 --> 00:09:19.000 And yet he doesn't want to put Mary to disgrace and to shame. 00:09:19.000 --> 00:09:22.000 So he decides to divorce her quietly. 00:09:22.000 --> 00:09:25.000 He's righteous. 00:09:25.000 --> 00:09:29.000 You see, you can't just say, oh well, Mary slept with some other guy. 00:09:29.000 --> 00:09:31.000 What's the big deal? 00:09:31.000 --> 00:09:33.000 Sex is no big deal. 00:09:33.000 --> 00:09:34.000 Do you see? 00:09:34.000 --> 00:09:36.000 He is a righteous man. 00:09:36.000 --> 00:09:39.000 And sexual purity matters to him. 00:09:39.000 --> 00:09:42.000 But he also doesn't want to put it in disgrace. 00:09:42.000 --> 00:09:43.000 It's beautiful. 00:09:43.000 --> 00:09:46.000 Joseph is righteous. 00:09:46.000 --> 00:09:49.000 But he's compassionately righteous. 00:09:49.000 --> 00:09:52.000 Joseph will do what is right. 00:09:52.000 --> 00:09:54.000 But he will do it kindly. 00:09:54.000 --> 00:09:57.000 He's a righteous man. 00:09:57.000 --> 00:10:00.000 And yet he cares for Mary. 00:10:00.000 --> 00:10:05.000 We as God's people would have that balance in our character. 00:10:05.000 --> 00:10:08.000 Compassionately righteous. 00:10:08.000 --> 00:10:12.000 But there's a costliness about it all that we need to see. 00:10:12.000 --> 00:10:14.000 He gets additional information, doesn't he? 00:10:14.000 --> 00:10:18.000 The angel of the Lord appears to him and tells him basically three things. 00:10:18.000 --> 00:10:22.000 What is conceived in Mary is not because she's been unfaithful. 00:10:22.000 --> 00:10:25.000 It is due to the power of the Holy Spirit. 00:10:25.000 --> 00:10:26.000 Notice the restraint. 00:10:26.000 --> 00:10:29.000 Notice there are no fantastic details. 00:10:31.000 --> 00:10:33.000 It's just the power of the Holy Spirit. 00:10:34.000 --> 00:10:36.000 The Holy Spirit touched Mary. 00:10:36.000 --> 00:10:38.000 That is why she is pregnant. 00:10:39.000 --> 00:10:41.000 That is all we're told. 00:10:41.000 --> 00:10:42.000 It is God's power. 00:10:42.000 --> 00:10:44.000 The power of the Holy Spirit. 00:10:44.000 --> 00:10:46.000 Have you thought of that? 00:10:46.000 --> 00:10:51.000 The role of the Holy Spirit in the conception of Jesus Christ. 00:10:51.000 --> 00:10:53.000 Think about it. 00:10:53.000 --> 00:11:06.000 The Holy Spirit made the pre-existent second person of the Trinity into a human being. 00:11:06.000 --> 00:11:07.000 By the power of the Holy Spirit. 00:11:07.000 --> 00:11:21.000 Human life is created in Mary's womb. 00:11:21.000 --> 00:11:26.000 And at this point we are full of awe but not understanding. 00:11:26.000 --> 00:11:29.000 And that is very important. 00:11:29.000 --> 00:11:33.000 The child to be born will save his people from their sins. 00:11:33.000 --> 00:11:39.000 And it's all a fulfillment of prophecy from Isaiah about the abandoned child that was to be born. 00:11:40.000 --> 00:11:42.000 Well it must have been a great relief to Joseph. 00:11:43.000 --> 00:11:46.000 It must have lifted a load from his shoulders. 00:11:46.000 --> 00:11:48.000 But he still wasn't without his problem. 00:11:48.000 --> 00:11:52.000 Don't be afraid, the angel says. 00:11:52.000 --> 00:11:56.000 Do not fear to take Mary as your wife. 00:11:57.000 --> 00:12:00.000 Don't be afraid but it will cost you something. 00:12:02.000 --> 00:12:05.000 Don't think that Joseph didn't count the cost. 00:12:07.000 --> 00:12:09.000 Don't you suppose Joseph talked to himself and said, 00:12:09.000 --> 00:12:11.000 Look Joseph, you can go ahead with this. 00:12:11.000 --> 00:12:12.000 And you can do it. 00:12:12.000 --> 00:12:14.000 But you know what will happen. 00:12:15.000 --> 00:12:16.000 You know what will happen. 00:12:16.000 --> 00:12:17.000 And people will begin to talk. 00:12:17.000 --> 00:12:18.000 And they are going to say, 00:12:18.000 --> 00:12:21.000 Joseph must have been the one who did it after all. 00:12:23.000 --> 00:12:25.000 Or don't go ahead with it. 00:12:29.000 --> 00:12:33.000 And you will be saying that Mary really did do it with someone else. 00:12:35.000 --> 00:12:37.000 Joseph would surely divorce her, wouldn't he? 00:12:37.000 --> 00:12:39.000 But he's not so it must be him after all. 00:12:39.000 --> 00:12:41.000 It was going to be a costly obedience. 00:12:41.000 --> 00:12:46.000 Why do you think, I know that there are other answers to this question. 00:12:46.000 --> 00:12:47.000 This isn't the only one. 00:12:47.000 --> 00:12:49.000 But why do you think perhaps Joseph took Mary to Bethlehem? 00:12:49.000 --> 00:12:50.000 Have you ever asked that question? 00:12:51.000 --> 00:12:56.000 To take Mary to Bethlehem at eight or nine months pregnant. 00:12:57.000 --> 00:13:00.000 Carrying her on a donkey to Jerusalem for the census. 00:13:01.000 --> 00:13:04.000 Why strictly speaking did he take her to Bethlehem when she wasn't required to go? 00:13:04.000 --> 00:13:06.000 Why did he take her? 00:13:06.000 --> 00:13:08.000 Why did he take her? 00:13:08.000 --> 00:13:14.000 Could he be empowered because he wanted to save her from the ridicule and the abuse that was being heaped on her in Nazareth? 00:13:15.000 --> 00:13:18.000 What do you think those Jews meant in John 8, 41? 00:13:18.000 --> 00:13:23.000 When later they're debating with Jesus and they said to him, we were not born of fornication. 00:13:25.000 --> 00:13:28.000 What they didn't say was as important as what they did say. 00:13:28.000 --> 00:13:32.000 Because they were implying, Jesus actually we know you were born out of fornication. 00:13:34.000 --> 00:13:38.000 We know that there were shady details around your birth Jesus. 00:13:38.000 --> 00:13:40.000 And Joseph realised he could do two things. 00:13:40.000 --> 00:13:44.000 He could divorce Mary and exonerate himself. 00:13:44.000 --> 00:13:48.000 And people would say, Joseph you did what was right. 00:13:50.000 --> 00:13:52.000 He's a righteous man. 00:13:53.000 --> 00:13:54.000 He could come out with his reputation intact. 00:13:54.000 --> 00:13:56.000 Or he could take Mary as his wife. 00:13:58.000 --> 00:14:02.000 And share in the shame and scandal and the suspicion and the indumendo. 00:14:03.000 --> 00:14:08.000 But the towns gossip would heap upon him and help them for the rest of their life. 00:14:08.000 --> 00:14:09.000 So what does he do? 00:14:09.000 --> 00:14:11.000 Joseph rose from his sleep. 00:14:12.000 --> 00:14:13.000 Do you see what it says? 00:14:13.000 --> 00:14:14.000 Joseph? 00:14:14.000 --> 00:14:18.000 He did as the angel commanded him. 00:14:18.000 --> 00:14:22.000 He did as the angel commanded him. 00:14:24.000 --> 00:14:26.000 It's just quiet obedience. 00:14:27.000 --> 00:14:30.000 It's quiet, costly obedience. 00:14:30.000 --> 00:14:38.000 Do you notice, I've not noticed this before but Dale Brunner pointed out, Joseph never talks. 00:14:38.000 --> 00:14:42.000 You never hear Joseph speak. 00:14:44.000 --> 00:14:49.000 In all the episodes in Matthew's Gospel, in chapter 1 and chapter 2, Joseph never says anything. 00:14:51.000 --> 00:14:54.000 He just does whatever God tells him to do. 00:14:54.000 --> 00:14:55.000 He never talks. 00:14:55.000 --> 00:14:58.000 It's like Noah in Genesis 6-8. 00:14:58.000 --> 00:14:59.000 In that flood story. 00:14:59.000 --> 00:15:04.000 I know Noah does talk after chapter 9 about the cursive on Canaan. 00:15:04.000 --> 00:15:05.000 But that is in the flood story. 00:15:05.000 --> 00:15:09.000 In the flood story from Genesis 6-8. 00:15:09.000 --> 00:15:13.000 And all the time it talks of and refers to Noah. 00:15:13.000 --> 00:15:14.000 Noah never speaks. 00:15:14.000 --> 00:15:16.000 He just does what God tells him to do. 00:15:16.000 --> 00:15:20.000 So here you have quiet Joseph. 00:15:20.000 --> 00:15:26.000 No one ever interviewed him on Christian TV to ask him what it must have been like. 00:15:27.000 --> 00:15:31.000 No Christian publisher ever put out a book describing his trauma. 00:15:31.000 --> 00:15:35.000 No one ever described him as a dynamic Christian personality. 00:15:35.000 --> 00:15:36.000 He just quietly obeyed. 00:15:36.000 --> 00:15:43.000 He did what was righteous according to God's command. 00:15:43.000 --> 00:15:46.000 Even though men and women wouldn't think it's righteous at all. 00:15:47.000 --> 00:15:50.000 He loved the praise of God more than the approval of men. 00:15:51.000 --> 00:15:54.000 And he just did quietly what God told him to do. 00:15:54.000 --> 00:15:56.000 There's no fanfare, there's no glamour. 00:15:57.000 --> 00:15:59.000 And maybe not even any recognition. 00:16:00.000 --> 00:16:02.000 There's a model of God's servant. 00:16:02.000 --> 00:16:06.000 Thirdly the birth of Jesus reveals to us the need of God's people. 00:16:06.000 --> 00:16:08.000 Can you see that in verse 21? 00:16:11.000 --> 00:16:12.000 She will bear a son. 00:16:13.000 --> 00:16:17.000 And you shall call his name Jesus for he will save his people from their sins. 00:16:17.000 --> 00:16:18.000 It's interesting how he describes that. 00:16:18.000 --> 00:16:20.000 Saved from their sins. 00:16:23.000 --> 00:16:24.000 Not saved from exile. 00:16:26.000 --> 00:16:27.000 Not saved from the Romans. 00:16:27.000 --> 00:16:29.000 He identifies our greatest need doesn't he? 00:16:29.000 --> 00:16:32.000 Saved from their sins. 00:16:34.000 --> 00:16:38.000 It's as if their sins are a kind of power that holds them under their influence. 00:16:38.000 --> 00:16:40.000 Kind of a hostage taker. 00:16:41.000 --> 00:16:43.000 They are kind of under the control of them. 00:16:45.000 --> 00:16:48.000 And they need to be rescued out of them. 00:16:50.000 --> 00:16:52.000 There's an element in which their sins have control. 00:16:52.000 --> 00:16:56.000 And they need to be taken out of that realm and that sphere and that dominance. 00:16:56.000 --> 00:17:00.000 And we don't always think about sin in that way. 00:17:01.000 --> 00:17:03.000 We don't always think of sin as a power. 00:17:04.000 --> 00:17:08.000 Instead we think about it as acts that we do and we don't do. 00:17:09.000 --> 00:17:11.000 Sin is like clothes that we put on or put off. 00:17:12.000 --> 00:17:15.000 It's not something that is there. 00:17:15.000 --> 00:17:18.000 It's a power that lays hold of us. 00:17:20.000 --> 00:17:22.000 I don't know if you've done this but some of us do it don't we? 00:17:22.000 --> 00:17:24.000 When you go to sleep at night you lie in the bed. 00:17:25.000 --> 00:17:26.000 And you can be sleeping overnight. 00:17:26.000 --> 00:17:28.000 And perhaps you're sleeping the wrong way. 00:17:28.000 --> 00:17:30.000 This has ever happened to you? 00:17:30.000 --> 00:17:32.000 And you've slept on your arm. 00:17:32.000 --> 00:17:34.000 Or your hand or something. 00:17:34.000 --> 00:17:38.000 And then a magic moment happens when the alarm goes off. 00:17:38.000 --> 00:17:39.000 And you roll over. 00:17:39.000 --> 00:17:43.000 And you go to reach the alarm on your phone. 00:17:44.000 --> 00:17:46.000 But your hand is asleep. 00:17:46.000 --> 00:17:48.000 And it won't grip anything. 00:17:49.000 --> 00:17:50.000 And you're trying to do what's right. 00:17:50.000 --> 00:17:55.000 But your hand is not doing what it should be doing. 00:17:55.000 --> 00:17:57.000 It's flopping all over the place. 00:17:58.000 --> 00:17:59.000 It's not under your control. 00:17:59.000 --> 00:18:01.000 It's under someone else's control. 00:18:01.000 --> 00:18:02.000 You don't know what's wrong with it. 00:18:02.000 --> 00:18:06.000 It won't do what you want it to do. 00:18:06.000 --> 00:18:08.000 It's a terrible feeling. 00:18:09.000 --> 00:18:10.000 Do you know what it's like to be helpless? 00:18:10.000 --> 00:18:12.000 To be in bondage to something? 00:18:12.000 --> 00:18:13.000 I just can't do it. 00:18:14.000 --> 00:18:16.000 Do you remember when you learned to ride a bike? 00:18:17.000 --> 00:18:20.000 If your father like mine wasn't a very patient man. 00:18:20.000 --> 00:18:23.000 You'd be stuck on the bike even though you were terrified. 00:18:23.000 --> 00:18:25.000 And he'd run alongside you. 00:18:25.000 --> 00:18:28.000 And he would push you until you got out of breath. 00:18:28.000 --> 00:18:30.000 And then he'd let you go. 00:18:30.000 --> 00:18:33.000 And he'd shout turn, turn, turn. 00:18:33.000 --> 00:18:34.000 And you couldn't do it. 00:18:34.000 --> 00:18:36.000 And you just kept on riding. 00:18:36.000 --> 00:18:37.000 Into the bush. 00:18:37.000 --> 00:18:39.000 Or the wall. 00:18:39.000 --> 00:18:43.000 Or barbed wire or whatever it was. 00:18:44.000 --> 00:18:46.000 And he says to you, why didn't you turn? 00:18:47.000 --> 00:18:48.000 And he said, I can't. 00:18:48.000 --> 00:18:49.000 I can't do it. 00:18:50.000 --> 00:18:51.000 I can't do it. 00:18:51.000 --> 00:18:52.000 I just can't. 00:18:53.000 --> 00:18:54.000 Why? 00:18:54.000 --> 00:18:55.000 Why can't you do it? 00:18:55.000 --> 00:18:56.000 He says. 00:18:58.000 --> 00:18:59.000 So I don't know. 00:19:00.000 --> 00:19:01.000 It's irrational. 00:19:01.000 --> 00:19:02.000 It's irrational. 00:19:02.000 --> 00:19:03.000 It's irrational. 00:19:04.000 --> 00:19:07.000 And that's the way the bondage of sin is, isn't it? 00:19:08.000 --> 00:19:11.000 I hope you don't think sin is rational. 00:19:12.000 --> 00:19:14.000 I really hope you don't think that. 00:19:14.000 --> 00:19:16.000 You can kind of explain it and get behind it and you can understand. 00:19:16.000 --> 00:19:18.000 Sin is totally irrational. 00:19:21.000 --> 00:19:22.000 But it holds us, doesn't it? 00:19:22.000 --> 00:19:23.000 It holds us. 00:19:23.000 --> 00:19:25.000 It holds us. 00:19:25.000 --> 00:19:28.000 It's what it's like to be in bondage. 00:19:28.000 --> 00:19:36.000 And you say, well if Jesus came to save people who are in bondage to their sin, then they must be very, very desperate people. 00:19:36.000 --> 00:19:37.000 And they are. 00:19:39.000 --> 00:19:41.000 It is what it says, isn't it? 00:19:42.000 --> 00:19:44.000 In verse 21. 00:19:44.000 --> 00:19:49.000 It says it will save his people. 00:19:49.000 --> 00:19:50.000 Isn't that interesting? 00:19:50.000 --> 00:19:54.000 It will save his people from their sin. 00:19:57.000 --> 00:20:00.000 Now this has got more meaning at the end of Matthew's Gospel. 00:20:01.000 --> 00:20:05.000 But think about what did it mean for Joseph when he heard those words? 00:20:05.000 --> 00:20:08.000 He will save his people. 00:20:09.000 --> 00:20:17.000 When Joseph heard those words as an Israelite, he'd know what those words meant. 00:20:18.000 --> 00:20:21.000 That Jesus will save his people from their sins. 00:20:21.000 --> 00:20:24.000 That he would save Israel, God's people. 00:20:28.000 --> 00:20:32.000 They were the ones with all the covenants and the prophecies and the promises. 00:20:32.000 --> 00:20:34.000 They were the ones who went to synagogue and so on. 00:20:34.000 --> 00:20:37.000 They were the ones who needed to be rescued from the power of their sin. 00:20:39.000 --> 00:20:45.000 And therefore, who are these people who are in such desperate need and bondage? 00:20:45.000 --> 00:20:46.000 Think about it. 00:20:47.000 --> 00:20:49.000 They are the religious folks, aren't they? 00:20:50.000 --> 00:20:51.000 They are the Israelites. 00:20:52.000 --> 00:20:56.000 They are the people who claim to be the people, the covenant people of God. 00:20:56.000 --> 00:21:01.000 And today there are Presbyterians among them. 00:21:02.000 --> 00:21:04.000 This verse is saying to us, isn't it? 00:21:05.000 --> 00:21:09.000 That the Israelites needed to be saved from the bondage of their sin. 00:21:10.000 --> 00:21:15.000 That you can be an Israelite and a slave of sin. 00:21:15.000 --> 00:21:23.000 You can be a Presbyterian and be a lost soul and lest Jesus save you. 00:21:26.000 --> 00:21:32.000 You can be a church goer and be lost and be in bondage. 00:21:33.000 --> 00:21:35.000 That is the need of God's people. 00:21:35.000 --> 00:21:37.000 That is my need. 00:21:38.000 --> 00:21:39.000 And that is your need. 00:21:41.000 --> 00:21:43.000 Let me read to you from J.C. Ryle. 00:21:43.000 --> 00:21:44.000 The name Jesus means Saviour. 00:21:45.000 --> 00:21:47.000 It's the same name as Joshua in the Old Testament. 00:21:47.000 --> 00:21:51.000 He saves from the guilt of sin by washing them in his own atoning blood. 00:21:52.000 --> 00:21:56.000 He saves them from the dominion of sin by putting in their hearts the sanctifying spirit. 00:21:56.000 --> 00:22:02.000 He saves them from the presence of sin when he takes them out of this world to rest with him. 00:22:03.000 --> 00:22:08.000 He will save them from all the consequences of sin when he gives them a glorious body at the last day. 00:22:09.000 --> 00:22:13.000 From sorrow, cross and conflict they are not saved but they are saved from sin. 00:22:14.000 --> 00:22:19.000 Jesus is a very encouraging name to heavy laden sinners. 00:22:19.000 --> 00:22:26.000 He who is King of Kings and Lord of Lords might have lawfully taken some high sounding title but he did not do so. 00:22:27.000 --> 00:22:32.000 The rulers of this world have called themselves great, conqueror, bold, magnificent and the like. 00:22:33.000 --> 00:22:36.000 The Son of God was content to be called Saviour. 00:22:37.000 --> 00:22:42.000 You shall call his name Jesus because you shall save his people from their sins. 00:22:42.000 --> 00:22:47.000 And lastly the birth of Jesus reveals the arrival of God's presence. 00:22:47.000 --> 00:22:48.000 Look at verse 23. 00:22:49.000 --> 00:22:54.000 Behold the virgin shall conceive and bear a son and they shall call his name Immanuel. 00:22:55.000 --> 00:22:56.000 Which means God with us. 00:22:57.000 --> 00:23:00.000 A quote is saying from Isaiah 7, do you remember that? 00:23:01.000 --> 00:23:06.000 And in that passage Isaiah the prophet throws in the teeth of King Ahaz a promise from God. 00:23:06.000 --> 00:23:12.000 But the Assyrians, the big enemy was going to come and they will decimate the nation of Judah. 00:23:13.000 --> 00:23:14.000 And Judah will be brought low. 00:23:15.000 --> 00:23:21.000 And out of this time, this future time when Judah will be in a very low and desperate condition. 00:23:22.000 --> 00:23:23.000 There will be born a child who is going to be a king. 00:23:24.000 --> 00:23:26.000 And the name of that child would be Immanuel. 00:23:27.000 --> 00:23:28.000 God with us. 00:23:30.000 --> 00:23:32.000 We can't go into it further this morning. 00:23:32.000 --> 00:23:36.000 And accept to say, isn't that all that ever sustains God's people? 00:23:38.000 --> 00:23:42.000 Wasn't that what sustained Isaiah and his fellow believers in chapter 8? 00:23:43.000 --> 00:23:45.000 Just the fact that God is with us. 00:23:50.000 --> 00:23:52.000 Isn't that all that holds us up sometimes? 00:23:53.000 --> 00:23:57.000 And now Matthew is saying that Immanuel has come. 00:23:57.000 --> 00:24:01.000 It's not just a statement of faith. 00:24:02.000 --> 00:24:04.000 God is with us. 00:24:04.000 --> 00:24:06.000 But it's a personal. 00:24:07.000 --> 00:24:08.000 Immanuel. 00:24:10.000 --> 00:24:13.000 God with us has come in warm flesh. 00:24:14.000 --> 00:24:15.000 And living colour. 00:24:16.000 --> 00:24:18.000 And Jesus is Immanuel. 00:24:19.000 --> 00:24:21.000 He is God with us. 00:24:22.000 --> 00:24:25.000 He is both human and divine. 00:24:25.000 --> 00:24:28.000 Jesus is a human mother. 00:24:28.000 --> 00:24:31.000 And a divine heavenly father. 00:24:32.000 --> 00:24:33.000 The creed. 00:24:33.000 --> 00:24:36.000 He was conceived by the Holy Spirit. 00:24:37.000 --> 00:24:39.000 Born of the Virgin Mary. 00:24:40.000 --> 00:24:44.000 He is God with us. 00:24:45.000 --> 00:24:48.000 He is God with us. 00:24:50.000 --> 00:24:51.000 And that is what makes all the difference. 00:24:51.000 --> 00:24:55.000 When I was in year 7. 00:24:56.000 --> 00:24:57.000 In high school. 00:24:58.000 --> 00:24:59.000 We had one boy. 00:24:59.000 --> 00:25:00.000 Philip Van der Waal. 00:25:01.000 --> 00:25:02.000 Parents of South Africa. 00:25:03.000 --> 00:25:04.000 He was a giant amongst men. 00:25:05.000 --> 00:25:06.000 We were all little boys. 00:25:07.000 --> 00:25:09.000 Van der Waal was shaving at 11 years old. 00:25:10.000 --> 00:25:11.000 Every school has stuff done there. 00:25:12.000 --> 00:25:13.000 He was an absolute giant. 00:25:14.000 --> 00:25:15.000 Played in the second row. 00:25:15.000 --> 00:25:16.000 And we would make sure. 00:25:17.000 --> 00:25:19.000 That he came out of the changing room last. 00:25:21.000 --> 00:25:22.000 And we never feared. 00:25:23.000 --> 00:25:24.000 Any other rugby teams. 00:25:25.000 --> 00:25:26.000 Because if at the end of the day. 00:25:26.000 --> 00:25:28.000 We just had to give the ball to Philip Van der Waal. 00:25:28.000 --> 00:25:29.000 And he kind of ran through them all. 00:25:30.000 --> 00:25:31.000 It was alright. 00:25:31.000 --> 00:25:33.000 Because he was with us. 00:25:33.000 --> 00:25:36.779 Children we talked about in Sunday school. 00:25:37.000 --> 00:25:37.000 00:25:38.000 --> 00:25:39.000 Your mum and dad. 00:25:39.000 --> 00:25:40.000 They gave you your coat. 00:25:40.000 --> 00:25:41.000 It will be dark tonight before church. 00:25:41.000 --> 00:25:42.000 And they said. 00:25:42.000 --> 00:25:43.000 We are going to church tonight. 00:25:43.000 --> 00:25:44.000 We will meet you there. 00:25:44.000 --> 00:25:45.000 You walk. 00:25:45.000 --> 00:25:46.000 How do you feel as you walk in the dark. 00:25:46.000 --> 00:25:47.000 On your way to church? 00:25:48.000 --> 00:25:49.000 You feel terrified. 00:25:49.000 --> 00:25:50.000 You feel scared. 00:25:52.000 --> 00:25:53.000 But it is all the difference in the world. 00:25:54.000 --> 00:25:54.000 00:25:54.000 --> 00:25:55.000 Come on. 00:25:55.000 --> 00:25:56.000 Let's walk together. 00:25:56.000 --> 00:25:57.000 You are no longer scared. 00:25:58.000 --> 00:26:00.000 Because your dad is with you. 00:26:03.000 --> 00:26:06.000 What makes the difference this week? 00:26:08.000 --> 00:26:09.000 Isn't it this? 00:26:09.000 --> 00:26:11.000 It is that God is with us. 00:26:12.000 --> 00:26:14.000 That Jesus Emmanuel. 00:26:14.000 --> 00:26:15.000 By his spirit. 00:26:16.000 --> 00:26:17.000 Is with us. 00:26:17.000 --> 00:26:19.000 It is the only thing sometimes that supports us. 00:26:20.000 --> 00:26:22.000 In the midst of afflictions. 00:26:23.000 --> 00:26:25.000 And the only thing that steadies us. 00:26:25.000 --> 00:26:26.000 In the midst of fears. 00:26:27.000 --> 00:26:28.000 Is that we have this. 00:26:29.000 --> 00:26:30.000 Strange conviction. 00:26:30.000 --> 00:26:33.000 From the testimony of God's word. 00:26:33.000 --> 00:26:34.000 That Jesus. 00:26:34.000 --> 00:26:36.000 Is with us. 00:26:38.000 --> 00:26:39.000 And that's why we confess. 00:26:39.000 --> 00:26:40.000 In all of our troubles. 00:26:40.000 --> 00:26:42.000 With the rest of God's believing people. 00:26:42.000 --> 00:26:44.000 That even though I walk through the valley. 00:26:44.000 --> 00:26:45.000 Of the shadow of death. 00:26:45.000 --> 00:26:47.000 I will fear no evil. 00:26:47.000 --> 00:26:48.000 Why will you fear no evil? 00:26:49.000 --> 00:26:50.000 Because. 00:26:50.000 --> 00:26:51.000 You are with me. 00:26:53.000 --> 00:26:54.000 We say in Psalm 139. 00:26:54.000 --> 00:26:55.000 Before the sermon. 00:26:55.000 --> 00:26:57.000 That if I ascend to the heavens. 00:26:58.000 --> 00:26:59.000 You are there. 00:26:59.000 --> 00:27:00.000 There. 00:27:00.000 --> 00:27:02.000 And if I make my bed in the grave. 00:27:02.000 --> 00:27:04.000 You are there. 00:27:04.000 --> 00:27:07.000 And if I go to my workplace. 00:27:07.000 --> 00:27:09.000 Which is an absolute nightmare. 00:27:09.000 --> 00:27:10.000 Or my family situation. 00:27:10.000 --> 00:27:12.000 Which is so difficult. 00:27:12.000 --> 00:27:13.000 You are there. 00:27:14.000 --> 00:27:16.000 Or if I come to the communion table. 00:27:16.000 --> 00:27:18.000 You are there. 00:27:19.000 --> 00:27:22.000 For you are Jesus. 00:27:23.000 --> 00:27:24.000 Emmanuel. 00:27:24.000 --> 00:27:27.000 God with us. 00:27:27.000 --> 00:27:28.000 Come. 00:27:28.000 --> 00:27:32.000 Though long expected Jesus. 00:27:32.000 --> 00:27:36.000 Come and meet thy waiting people. 00:27:37.000 --> 00:27:39.000 Show them that the Lord is good. 00:27:40.000 --> 00:27:42.000 To the soul that seeks him. 00:27:42.000 --> 00:27:43.000 To the soul. 00:27:43.000 --> 00:27:43.000 00:27:43.000 --> 00:27:44.000 That's a great. 00:27:44.000 --> 00:27:45.000 Thank you. 00:27:45.000 --> 00:27:45.000 00:27:45.000 --> 00:27:46.000 Thank you. 00:27:46.000 --> 00:27:47.000 Thank you.