WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.960 Well, like most people, Christmas is probably my favorite season of the year. 00:00:06.960 --> 00:00:08.279 It's at least top three. 00:00:09.060 --> 00:00:15.500 But our most enduring tradition as a family, I'm sure we all have different traditions that we like to do. 00:00:15.660 --> 00:00:20.179 ! Some of them are much more adventurous than what I'm about to describe to you. 00:00:20.240 --> 00:00:26.560 But probably our most enduring tradition is just simply to make a list of our favorite Christmas movies every year. 00:00:26.559 --> 00:00:30.539 And we watch through them, some of them a couple of times, our favorites. 00:00:30.739 --> 00:00:37.280 Every night, just about over these couple of weeks, Julie will have a different Christmas favorite that the girls love. 00:00:37.359 --> 00:00:39.000 And we'll pull it up and we'll watch. 00:00:39.060 --> 00:00:47.399 And I think that I've determined that all of the Christmas movies out there, or at least most of them, fit in three categories. 00:00:48.340 --> 00:00:55.859 The first category, and the most ubiquitous one, even though it's probably the worst of them, is the Finding Love at Christmas theme. 00:00:55.859 --> 00:00:57.159 Finding Love at Christmas. 00:00:57.439 --> 00:00:58.899 This is Hallmark, right? 00:00:58.979 --> 00:01:00.679 This is the Hallmark standard. 00:01:01.280 --> 00:01:05.939 And all of the love stories, nobody really wants that at Christmas, but they keep making movies about that. 00:01:06.000 --> 00:01:07.340 And that's a common thing that we find. 00:01:08.900 --> 00:01:13.579 Second, that I think is quite common, is the Home for Christmas theme, right? 00:01:13.879 --> 00:01:14.460 Home for Christmas. 00:01:14.680 --> 00:01:16.960 Somebody's trying to get home so that they can enjoy Christmas. 00:01:17.060 --> 00:01:21.239 Maybe it's been a while since they've been with their family and their friends for the Christmas season. 00:01:21.239 --> 00:01:26.659 They're trying to get there, and there's all kinds of obstacles that are standing in the way, preventing them from getting there, 00:01:26.679 --> 00:01:31.619 until finally, the climax of the movie, at the end, they finally make it, right? 00:01:31.699 --> 00:01:34.419 And it's sometimes even better than what they had hoped. 00:01:34.500 --> 00:01:35.619 So that would be the second thing. 00:01:35.879 --> 00:01:41.140 And then there's the third thing that I actually think might become the most common before long. 00:01:41.359 --> 00:01:43.739 It's the Christmas is in trouble theme. 00:01:44.119 --> 00:01:45.379 Christmas is in trouble theme. 00:01:45.379 --> 00:01:51.219 Think of the entire Tim Allen, Santa Claus's movies. 00:01:51.560 --> 00:01:55.239 Something's always in trouble, going to prevent Christmas from happening. 00:01:56.399 --> 00:02:00.859 Think of the Christmas Chronicles, if you want more of a modern movie. 00:02:01.119 --> 00:02:05.319 And then, of course, there's the great cinematic classic, Ernest Saves Christmas. 00:02:07.479 --> 00:02:09.780 All of them have this theme, right? 00:02:09.819 --> 00:02:12.620 There's something that's going to stand in the way of Christmas. 00:02:12.620 --> 00:02:21.360 Christmas isn't going to come, and if Christmas doesn't come, there's going to be catastrophic consequences for the whole world. 00:02:21.860 --> 00:02:25.180 And as you reach the climactic moment in the movie, what do we find? 00:02:25.620 --> 00:02:34.860 Often, a surprising hero emerges and saves Christmas, which then, in turn, saves the world. 00:02:35.140 --> 00:02:39.640 And it's actually with that thought that I want to pose a question to you. 00:02:39.639 --> 00:02:45.759 In that kind of movie, the issue is, if Christmas doesn't happen, we're doomed. 00:02:46.679 --> 00:02:48.839 The world's going to fall apart. 00:02:49.059 --> 00:02:50.619 We're going to go into another dark ages. 00:02:51.579 --> 00:02:54.959 What would happen if we didn't have Christmas? 00:02:57.560 --> 00:03:02.419 What if something really did prevent this holiday from taking place this year? 00:03:02.419 --> 00:03:11.519 What would be the consequences if our cultural celebrations of the holiday just didn't take place? 00:03:12.319 --> 00:03:17.879 I recognize the kids are in the service today, and I'm not trying to start any fights with anybody in the service today. 00:03:17.959 --> 00:03:18.959 But here's the answer. 00:03:19.979 --> 00:03:21.000 What would happen? 00:03:21.519 --> 00:03:22.839 Well, nothing would happen. 00:03:22.840 --> 00:03:26.620 We would all be just fine. 00:03:27.659 --> 00:03:35.980 We would exist like a good bit of people in the world who have never celebrated Christmas in their entire life, and they get along just fine. 00:03:36.080 --> 00:03:40.020 If we didn't have Christmas, everything would be okay. 00:03:40.020 --> 00:03:40.140 Okay. 00:03:42.060 --> 00:03:50.659 But there is something related to Christmas that is actually absolutely essential for everyone, whether you acknowledge it or not. 00:03:50.659 --> 00:04:04.659 If it didn't happen, or if you could prove it to be a lie or a farce, the consequences of it would not just be hard or difficult. 00:04:05.560 --> 00:04:12.819 The consequences of it would be eternally destructive for everybody. 00:04:14.120 --> 00:04:18.860 And, of course, that thing is the incarnation of Jesus Christ. 00:04:18.860 --> 00:04:35.360 By incarnation, we mean that the eternal God, the almighty God, has become man through a virgin birth so that he might reconcile sinners to himself. 00:04:35.480 --> 00:04:37.500 That's what we mean by incarnation. 00:04:37.780 --> 00:04:43.199 God has become man, and he has become man without losing his divinity in the process. 00:04:43.199 --> 00:04:50.379 So that what we have in this individual is a unique, one-of-a-kind person. 00:04:51.319 --> 00:04:53.399 Truly God in every way. 00:04:54.279 --> 00:04:56.539 Truly man in every way. 00:04:57.719 --> 00:04:59.000 That's the incarnation. 00:05:00.839 --> 00:05:08.699 And the truth of the incarnation is actually central to the Christian gospel. 00:05:08.699 --> 00:05:16.219 If there is no incarnation, there is no gospel hope for any of us. 00:05:17.579 --> 00:05:30.399 And it's the proclamation and defense of this gospel of the incarnation that is the very purpose of the four gospel books that we have in the New Testament. 00:05:30.819 --> 00:05:32.599 Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. 00:05:32.600 --> 00:05:39.040 The whole purpose of their writing is to proclaim and to defend the incarnation. 00:05:39.500 --> 00:05:40.560 That God has come. 00:05:41.120 --> 00:05:44.580 He has become man in order to save us from our sins. 00:05:45.320 --> 00:05:55.060 Two of those gospels, Matthew and Luke, cover the events and the explanations of the incarnation with respect to Jesus' birth. 00:05:55.780 --> 00:05:59.620 And it's Matthew's account that I want to draw your attention to this morning. 00:06:00.200 --> 00:06:01.540 Look with me at verse 18. 00:06:01.540 --> 00:06:05.920 Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. 00:06:07.260 --> 00:06:16.860 When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. 00:06:18.120 --> 00:06:25.980 And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. 00:06:25.980 --> 00:06:33.980 But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, 00:06:34.160 --> 00:06:43.860 Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 00:06:43.860 --> 00:06:52.400 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins. 00:06:53.460 --> 00:06:57.360 All of this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet. 00:06:58.360 --> 00:07:07.319 Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which means God with us. 00:07:07.319 --> 00:07:12.500 When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him. 00:07:13.099 --> 00:07:20.800 He took his wife, but knew her not until she had given birth to a son, and he called his name Jesus. 00:07:20.800 --> 00:07:32.680 But there's some things that Matthew is doing around this text that will actually serve to help us understand what he meant to do with this text. 00:07:33.040 --> 00:07:34.000 We're not going to read through it. 00:07:34.040 --> 00:07:35.080 You can read through it on your own. 00:07:35.180 --> 00:07:41.960 But just know that before he gets to this point, he records Jesus' ancestry. 00:07:42.800 --> 00:07:44.639 And he does that for a very specific reason. 00:07:44.639 --> 00:07:51.339 He's putting emphasis on Jesus of Nazareth as a descendant of King David. 00:07:52.680 --> 00:07:59.560 After this section, when you get to verse 26, or excuse me, the first verse of chapter 2. 00:08:00.279 --> 00:08:11.539 After this section, Matthew tells of King Herod's reaction to the news that a baby had been born that some people thought would become, quote, the king of the Jews. 00:08:11.540 --> 00:08:28.600 So Matthew is presenting here for us Jesus as a kind of king who is from the line of King David, whom Herod viewed as a legitimate threat to his own rule. 00:08:30.439 --> 00:08:38.560 And still, it's worth noting that Matthew didn't himself use the term king when he was describing Jesus. 00:08:38.559 --> 00:08:41.979 He's using king around some of the other statements of people. 00:08:42.219 --> 00:08:45.679 He's not using king especially right now with his own words. 00:08:45.819 --> 00:08:46.959 He's using a different word. 00:08:47.279 --> 00:08:48.819 He's using the word Christ. 00:08:50.259 --> 00:08:52.819 Look with me just at verse 16. 00:08:52.959 --> 00:09:05.079 At the end of the genealogy, the ancestry, we see that in Jacob, the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was born, who is called Christ. 00:09:06.040 --> 00:09:13.280 And then we get to verse 18, as we read just a moment ago, and he tells us, now I'm going to tell you about the birth of Jesus, but he doesn't call him Jesus yet, and he doesn't call him a king. 00:09:13.420 --> 00:09:15.500 He calls him a Christ. 00:09:15.600 --> 00:09:17.020 Well, why is he doing this? 00:09:17.020 --> 00:09:22.080 If he's presenting Jesus as a kind of king, why isn't he using the language of king? 00:09:23.620 --> 00:09:31.060 Well, to be a king is no small thing, and certainly that is implied at the very least in the term Christ. 00:09:31.059 --> 00:09:33.119 But Jesus is much more than a king. 00:09:33.519 --> 00:09:34.500 He's much more than that. 00:09:35.599 --> 00:09:55.439 He is the messianic fulfillment of all that the scriptures foretold of a savior king who would save his people and would rule as God's righteous king, not for a limited amount of time, but for eternity. 00:09:55.440 --> 00:10:00.980 And this is actually what establishes the purpose of Matthew's gospel. 00:10:01.160 --> 00:10:02.140 This is what you see. 00:10:02.280 --> 00:10:04.980 He's cluing us in into why he's writing this book. 00:10:06.240 --> 00:10:20.800 He is proclaiming and defending the essential truth that Jesus of Nazareth is the Christ, which means that Jesus of Nazareth is the son of God and the son of David. 00:10:20.940 --> 00:10:22.500 That's the whole purpose of his writing. 00:10:22.500 --> 00:10:28.480 Now, if Jesus is the Christ, what are his origins? 00:10:29.580 --> 00:10:31.080 How did he become the Christ? 00:10:31.899 --> 00:10:36.240 Was he a man that God chose to use as a Christ figure? 00:10:36.379 --> 00:10:37.720 Is there something different? 00:10:37.879 --> 00:10:39.980 How does that actually work itself out? 00:10:40.240 --> 00:10:44.639 Well, that's what Matthew is answering in this section in verses 18 to 25. 00:10:44.639 --> 00:10:52.120 By giving us the birth story, brief as it is in Matthew's account, he's answering those questions for us. 00:10:53.840 --> 00:11:01.939 Sandwiched in between the genealogy and Herod's reaction is this brief account of Jesus' birth. 00:11:01.940 --> 00:11:13.760 Significant to Matthew's account and unique to Matthew's account is that it's told entirely with an eye toward one person. 00:11:15.180 --> 00:11:15.620 Joseph. 00:11:15.620 --> 00:11:18.539 It's not Mary in Matthew's case. 00:11:18.600 --> 00:11:20.179 Of course, Mary's there, but that's not the focus. 00:11:20.679 --> 00:11:22.259 Of course, Jesus is at the heart of it. 00:11:22.299 --> 00:11:23.320 He's telling about Jesus. 00:11:23.419 --> 00:11:28.159 But he's telling about Jesus through the lens of Joseph. 00:11:29.720 --> 00:11:32.799 Historically referred to as quiet Joseph. 00:11:33.879 --> 00:11:34.220 Why? 00:11:34.980 --> 00:11:36.460 Because he doesn't actually say anything. 00:11:36.460 --> 00:11:41.840 After this point, he's mostly forgotten. 00:11:44.060 --> 00:11:47.340 And this is more important than you might think at first. 00:11:49.100 --> 00:12:00.019 Joseph's identity and Joseph's actions in this text are critical to showing that Jesus really is that promised Christ. 00:12:00.019 --> 00:12:10.439 And these events help prove that Jesus truly is the incarnate king, born of a virgin to save his people from their sins. 00:12:11.159 --> 00:12:15.299 The first thing I want you to notice is a marriage in jeopardy. 00:12:16.079 --> 00:12:18.579 A marriage in jeopardy. 00:12:19.639 --> 00:12:26.559 Now, the scandal of Jesus' birth should be totally unsurprising when you really think about it. 00:12:27.039 --> 00:12:27.879 I mean, think about this. 00:12:27.879 --> 00:12:36.279 The gospel authors, they're presenting Jesus as an incarnate king, as the divine son of God and son of David. 00:12:37.720 --> 00:12:46.759 How could the incarnation, God becoming truly man while remaining truly God, happen without some kind of significant controversy being around it? 00:12:47.100 --> 00:12:48.460 I mean, it just makes sense, right? 00:12:48.480 --> 00:12:55.120 There's no other way for this to have happened apart from a human perspective looking at it scandalously. 00:12:55.120 --> 00:13:10.000 This is such an utterly unique occurrence that we should fully expect to come about in ways that defy our imaginations and what we would otherwise think impossible. 00:13:10.000 --> 00:13:17.740 But grasping the weight of the scandal itself is also helpful in seeing the godliness of Joseph and Mary. 00:13:17.820 --> 00:13:25.740 And I think it would be helpful if we let the weight of this scandal settle before we get into the rest of the story. 00:13:26.039 --> 00:13:34.279 So I'm going to read these first two verses, but I'm going to leave out the one phrase that Matthew gives us that clues us in to the thing that descandalizes the whole thing. 00:13:34.299 --> 00:13:35.080 We're going to skip that. 00:13:35.159 --> 00:13:35.820 We'll come back to it. 00:13:35.820 --> 00:13:36.559 We're going to skip it for now. 00:13:36.559 --> 00:13:38.119 Look again at verse 18. 00:13:38.919 --> 00:13:41.299 Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place this way. 00:13:42.899 --> 00:13:50.659 When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found to be with child. 00:13:52.139 --> 00:14:01.639 And her husband Joseph, being a just man but unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. 00:14:03.039 --> 00:14:04.559 It's a marriage in jeopardy. 00:14:04.559 --> 00:14:10.079 Just think about what this actually means in the cultural context of the day. 00:14:11.159 --> 00:14:17.639 Joseph and Mary's marriage would have been arranged probably when they were young by their fathers. 00:14:18.239 --> 00:14:21.759 Some type of financial arrangement probably was part of this. 00:14:21.859 --> 00:14:23.379 They would have been picked out. 00:14:23.379 --> 00:14:32.080 The thing about marriage in those days and in people's minds is it was far too significant, serious of a thing to leave to the heart. 00:14:32.820 --> 00:14:34.419 And so your parents chipped in and helped you out. 00:14:34.539 --> 00:14:35.419 Actually, I like that. 00:14:35.519 --> 00:14:37.159 I think we might should go back to that. 00:14:37.159 --> 00:14:48.019 But this actual step, the arrangement of the marriage as they were young, that's actually the closest thing to modern engagement that we have. 00:14:48.299 --> 00:14:49.699 Not the betrothal part. 00:14:49.700 --> 00:15:01.700 This part, the arrangement, could be broken at any time from either side without religious, civil, or financial consequences. 00:15:01.700 --> 00:15:05.060 However, the betrothal is different. 00:15:06.540 --> 00:15:10.860 Betrothal occurred when the two would have been at proper age. 00:15:10.860 --> 00:15:23.500 And it legally ratified the marriage so that when we get to verse 19 and we see that they're betrothed but Joseph is still referred to as Mary's husband. 00:15:23.960 --> 00:15:26.180 Culturally speaking, that was exactly right. 00:15:27.279 --> 00:15:28.300 There was no wedding yet. 00:15:28.360 --> 00:15:30.120 There was no consummation of the marriage yet. 00:15:30.200 --> 00:15:37.500 But this betrothal period, it locked in the marriage contract so that she would have been understood to be Joseph's wife. 00:15:37.500 --> 00:15:40.200 Joseph would have been understood to be Mary's husband. 00:15:40.899 --> 00:15:46.460 And to break that required formal proceedings for divorce. 00:15:47.679 --> 00:15:49.980 The betrothal period, it would have lasted a year. 00:15:50.159 --> 00:15:57.379 During that time, Joseph would have been preparing a place for his bride before the final wedding ceremony and consummation. 00:15:57.779 --> 00:16:05.720 Now, it's during that betrothal period that we read here, before Joseph and Mary consummate the marriage, that Mary is found to be pregnant. 00:16:05.720 --> 00:16:09.019 Which puts their marriage in jeopardy. 00:16:10.960 --> 00:16:15.860 Different from engagement, this would have required a serious divorce proceeding. 00:16:16.840 --> 00:16:24.840 Joseph was within his legal rights to actually put Mary to great shame, which would have prevented her from marrying again. 00:16:24.840 --> 00:16:29.120 This is truly catastrophic for both of them. 00:16:29.540 --> 00:16:30.980 But especially for Mary. 00:16:32.800 --> 00:16:34.800 Joseph knows the child isn't his. 00:16:36.240 --> 00:16:40.899 He's left reeling and trying to determine how to handle the divorce. 00:16:42.720 --> 00:16:45.960 Now, if we step outside the story for just a second, we're looking in and we think, 00:16:45.960 --> 00:16:48.500 Okay, we understand this was supposed to be of God? 00:16:51.420 --> 00:16:56.860 Before we accuse God of injustice and cruelty toward Joseph and Mary. 00:16:58.519 --> 00:17:00.879 Remember, there's no other way for this to happen. 00:17:02.840 --> 00:17:04.860 It has to happen with a virgin. 00:17:06.240 --> 00:17:08.420 There's no way to avoid the controversy. 00:17:09.180 --> 00:17:11.799 There's no way to avoid the appearance of scandal. 00:17:11.799 --> 00:17:18.399 But even more than that, God would prove faithful to them as he always proves faithful. 00:17:19.980 --> 00:17:22.960 Giving them strength and grace each step of the way. 00:17:23.399 --> 00:17:31.240 God does not lead his people to places that he does not intend to supernaturally sustain them in it. 00:17:32.519 --> 00:17:35.819 And that's as true for you as it was for Joseph and Mary. 00:17:35.819 --> 00:17:44.019 Joseph reflects on what will happen and what he will do. 00:17:44.119 --> 00:17:47.839 And what we actually find as he is reflecting and considering these things. 00:17:48.379 --> 00:17:58.200 Is we find that Joseph images, pictures, and mirrors the justice and the mercy of God so well here. 00:17:58.200 --> 00:18:05.860 That he was a just man means that he was concerned to obey God's law as it related to this dilemma. 00:18:06.100 --> 00:18:08.600 He couldn't just turn a blind eye toward it. 00:18:09.319 --> 00:18:11.279 That wouldn't have been just for him to do. 00:18:11.340 --> 00:18:12.120 He couldn't have done that. 00:18:12.640 --> 00:18:14.039 He couldn't have just let it go. 00:18:16.559 --> 00:18:18.340 Douglas Sean O'Donnell, he said this, 00:18:18.339 --> 00:18:45.559 When Matthew says that Joseph was just, 00:18:45.559 --> 00:18:52.559 He means that Joseph was concerned about being obedient to God's law as he was considering the dilemma. 00:18:53.039 --> 00:18:56.079 And yet, that's not the only thing that he's concerned with. 00:18:57.819 --> 00:19:05.700 We also see that he has a desire to demonstrate love and mercy toward Mary. 00:19:07.159 --> 00:19:12.819 Whom he thinks at this point has committed adultery with another man. 00:19:12.819 --> 00:19:17.779 He was unwilling to put her to public shame. 00:19:18.439 --> 00:19:20.419 Even though it was his right to do so. 00:19:21.819 --> 00:19:23.079 He resolved. 00:19:23.740 --> 00:19:25.019 That's a strong word. 00:19:25.419 --> 00:19:26.399 He resolved. 00:19:27.960 --> 00:19:31.539 Perhaps he had friends and people around him encouraging him to do otherwise. 00:19:31.839 --> 00:19:34.480 He was resolved to divorce her quietly. 00:19:35.819 --> 00:19:37.019 Not for himself. 00:19:38.220 --> 00:19:39.079 For her. 00:19:39.079 --> 00:19:43.099 Knowing the mercy of God. 00:19:43.859 --> 00:19:47.559 He was determined to show as much mercy as possible to Mary. 00:19:48.839 --> 00:19:49.960 And we all know. 00:19:50.079 --> 00:19:51.480 We've lived long enough to know. 00:19:51.839 --> 00:19:53.939 That this is not natural to us. 00:19:53.940 --> 00:20:11.240 This kind of thoughtfulness and godliness and righteousness can only be explained as God's work of grace and of sanctification in Joseph's life. 00:20:11.240 --> 00:20:20.180 This idea of God being unjust and cruel and forcing this upon Joseph who otherwise had done nothing wrong. 00:20:20.539 --> 00:20:22.180 It's not the way to think about this. 00:20:23.380 --> 00:20:25.279 No, God is working in Joseph's life here. 00:20:25.339 --> 00:20:30.660 And he has so worked in Joseph's heart that Joseph does the righteous thing. 00:20:30.799 --> 00:20:32.440 He stops before he acts. 00:20:32.799 --> 00:20:33.480 And he thinks. 00:20:33.839 --> 00:20:35.440 And he meditates on the word of God. 00:20:35.519 --> 00:20:39.240 And he thinks mercifully in relation to the character of God. 00:20:39.240 --> 00:20:46.940 And it's during that time and during that demonstration that God begins to do an important work in Joseph. 00:20:47.980 --> 00:20:49.859 Was it a serious scandal? 00:20:50.440 --> 00:20:50.859 Yes. 00:20:51.180 --> 00:20:53.620 Was their marriage truly in jeopardy at this moment? 00:20:54.099 --> 00:20:54.579 Absolutely. 00:20:55.180 --> 00:20:58.339 Was God working his will in and through them in glorious ways? 00:20:58.859 --> 00:21:00.579 Yes and yes. 00:21:00.579 --> 00:21:07.079 And it was all necessary for the incarnation to actually take place. 00:21:07.139 --> 00:21:09.240 So we find that there is a marriage in jeopardy. 00:21:09.319 --> 00:21:12.399 But secondly we see that there is a message from heaven. 00:21:13.559 --> 00:21:14.740 A message from heaven. 00:21:14.819 --> 00:21:15.519 Look at verse 20. 00:21:17.399 --> 00:21:19.039 As Joseph considered these things. 00:21:19.119 --> 00:21:20.299 As he's trying to figure out what to do. 00:21:20.299 --> 00:21:23.500 Behold an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream saying. 00:21:24.579 --> 00:21:26.000 Joseph son of David. 00:21:27.259 --> 00:21:30.059 Do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. 00:21:31.599 --> 00:21:34.119 For that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 00:21:34.480 --> 00:21:35.419 She will bear a son. 00:21:36.099 --> 00:21:37.579 You shall call his name Jesus. 00:21:38.680 --> 00:21:40.899 For he will save his people from their sins. 00:21:41.839 --> 00:21:43.960 Now this is Matthew's commentary now. 00:21:44.079 --> 00:21:46.139 The angel finishes speaking in verse 21. 00:21:46.579 --> 00:21:49.619 Verse 22 picks up Matthew's commentary on that message. 00:21:49.619 --> 00:21:54.500 Matthew says all of this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet. 00:21:54.619 --> 00:21:56.439 And he quotes the prophet Isaiah. 00:21:57.699 --> 00:22:00.399 Isaiah chapter 7 and verse 14 in particular. 00:22:01.239 --> 00:22:04.939 Behold the virgin shall conceive and bear a son. 00:22:05.819 --> 00:22:07.679 And they shall call his name Emmanuel. 00:22:07.879 --> 00:22:11.739 And then in parenthesis Matthew gives us an explanation of what that name means. 00:22:11.959 --> 00:22:13.539 It means God is with us. 00:22:13.779 --> 00:22:16.679 In other words Isaiah said a virgin would conceive. 00:22:16.680 --> 00:22:23.340 And the child that she would conceive would be understood to be God with us. 00:22:23.460 --> 00:22:25.140 God in flesh. 00:22:27.380 --> 00:22:31.700 And now he's telling us all of this is taking place to fulfill that. 00:22:31.700 --> 00:22:35.880 Now the explanation of Mary's pregnancy. 00:22:36.019 --> 00:22:37.680 It makes all the difference for us here doesn't it? 00:22:38.779 --> 00:22:45.759 Matthew clues us into it in verse 18 when he says Mary was pregnant by the Holy Spirit. 00:22:46.120 --> 00:22:49.200 But it's here that we see this heavenly message bringing clarity. 00:22:50.779 --> 00:22:52.380 Joseph considers the situation. 00:22:53.080 --> 00:22:56.299 And God sends his messenger to deliver his word. 00:22:56.299 --> 00:22:59.539 God's word is always enough. 00:23:00.740 --> 00:23:02.879 And it always comes at the right time. 00:23:05.039 --> 00:23:08.139 Three things that the message of the angel clarifies. 00:23:08.299 --> 00:23:11.079 First it clarifies Joseph's role in the whole thing. 00:23:12.099 --> 00:23:13.579 It clarifies Joseph's role in the whole thing. 00:23:13.579 --> 00:23:16.759 Did you notice anything peculiar about the way he addresses Joseph? 00:23:17.119 --> 00:23:17.940 What does he call him? 00:23:18.279 --> 00:23:19.059 Joseph what? 00:23:19.919 --> 00:23:20.899 Son of David. 00:23:23.220 --> 00:23:23.940 Son of David. 00:23:24.019 --> 00:23:24.779 This is unique. 00:23:24.779 --> 00:23:27.220 There's only one person. 00:23:28.039 --> 00:23:32.240 One person in the New Testament referred to ever as the son of David. 00:23:32.399 --> 00:23:34.079 Other than Jesus Christ. 00:23:34.680 --> 00:23:35.779 And it's Joseph. 00:23:37.180 --> 00:23:39.299 Why does he address him this way? 00:23:39.359 --> 00:23:40.619 Because that's what he was. 00:23:41.420 --> 00:23:42.619 He was an heir of David. 00:23:43.099 --> 00:23:45.480 He had royal blood coursing through his veins. 00:23:45.839 --> 00:23:51.940 And his identity as part of David's lineage is what reveals God's purpose for him in the incarnation. 00:23:52.879 --> 00:23:53.759 Why Joseph? 00:23:53.759 --> 00:23:57.420 Because he was from David's line. 00:23:59.940 --> 00:24:03.900 As the legal father of Mary's child. 00:24:04.440 --> 00:24:08.059 Joseph ensured that Jesus would truly be. 00:24:08.559 --> 00:24:09.500 Truly, legally. 00:24:10.279 --> 00:24:10.680 Be. 00:24:11.200 --> 00:24:12.359 The son of David. 00:24:13.019 --> 00:24:18.059 Which is essential if he is to be the promised Christ. 00:24:18.059 --> 00:24:29.539 Listen, Joseph was not just some chump who gets included in the story because he happened to be the one who hitched up with Mary. 00:24:30.480 --> 00:24:32.139 We think of him that way, don't we? 00:24:32.599 --> 00:24:34.599 We put all of this emphasis on Mary. 00:24:35.379 --> 00:24:41.500 And we think, well, he just gets to tag along because he happened to be the one who snatched her up first. 00:24:41.500 --> 00:24:43.960 But that's not true. 00:24:43.960 --> 00:24:51.559 He was chosen by God for this thing just as much as Mary was. 00:24:51.660 --> 00:24:57.079 And his place in the story helps to give proof of Jesus' messianic identity. 00:24:57.460 --> 00:24:58.600 And that's so important. 00:24:58.980 --> 00:25:02.259 If it's not Joseph, then he's not the son of David. 00:25:02.340 --> 00:25:04.460 And if he's not the son of David, he's not the Christ. 00:25:04.460 --> 00:25:06.200 And if he's not the Christ, we're lost. 00:25:07.880 --> 00:25:09.500 The message brings clarity. 00:25:09.799 --> 00:25:11.700 Helps Joseph understand why him. 00:25:12.539 --> 00:25:15.319 Second, it clarifies Mary's pregnancy. 00:25:15.480 --> 00:25:16.720 That's the big thing that it does. 00:25:17.019 --> 00:25:18.819 It clarifies the pregnancy itself. 00:25:20.319 --> 00:25:23.740 Okay, he's son of David, but what's he supposed to do with the fact that Mary is pregnant? 00:25:26.140 --> 00:25:32.000 The angel told him that he didn't need to be afraid of marrying her as if marrying her would be a sin otherwise. 00:25:32.000 --> 00:25:35.000 He's saying it won't be a sin for you to marry her in this case. 00:25:36.859 --> 00:25:38.059 Don't be afraid. 00:25:40.420 --> 00:25:42.160 For she truly is a virgin. 00:25:42.319 --> 00:25:43.799 She has not broken God's law. 00:25:45.619 --> 00:25:50.240 The child's conception was not the result of biological processes. 00:25:51.480 --> 00:25:54.559 It was a creative act of God the Holy Spirit. 00:25:56.059 --> 00:25:58.680 That doesn't mean that Jesus was then created. 00:25:58.680 --> 00:26:02.160 We know he is the preexistent, eternal God. 00:26:02.259 --> 00:26:04.019 That's not what I mean to say by that. 00:26:04.360 --> 00:26:16.740 It only means to say that the process of God the Son taking on flesh required a creative act of the Holy Spirit that is beyond natural processes. 00:26:16.740 --> 00:26:24.500 This makes it a truly virgin conception, which is essential to the incarnation. 00:26:25.180 --> 00:26:27.180 People keep getting tripped up on this, don't they? 00:26:28.319 --> 00:26:35.079 Modern times, nobody wants to admit that something like this could happen as if God could actually bring salvation in a way that isn't supernatural. 00:26:35.079 --> 00:26:39.240 How could he do that? 00:26:41.240 --> 00:26:46.079 No, we need to be prepared to recognize that God works in ways that are beyond natural processes. 00:26:46.799 --> 00:26:53.519 And here, in the incarnation, God works in a way supernaturally, becoming man. 00:26:55.220 --> 00:26:57.480 The Christ must not only be from God. 00:26:58.619 --> 00:27:01.619 He must be God in flesh. 00:27:01.619 --> 00:27:03.000 This is so necessary. 00:27:04.659 --> 00:27:10.539 John chapter 1, in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 00:27:11.519 --> 00:27:18.219 He was in the beginning with God, and the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory. 00:27:18.679 --> 00:27:22.739 Glory is the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. 00:27:24.000 --> 00:27:26.019 No one has ever seen God, John says. 00:27:26.099 --> 00:27:27.019 The only God. 00:27:27.099 --> 00:27:28.159 That's a reference to Jesus. 00:27:28.160 --> 00:27:31.440 The only God who is at the Father's side. 00:27:31.980 --> 00:27:34.960 He has made him known to us. 00:27:35.740 --> 00:27:38.440 When you look at Jesus, you look at God. 00:27:38.680 --> 00:27:41.680 When you listen to Jesus, you listen to God. 00:27:42.220 --> 00:27:45.019 When you follow Jesus, you follow God. 00:27:46.360 --> 00:27:49.519 He wasn't created in this moment, but he did become flesh in this moment. 00:27:49.620 --> 00:27:52.040 But he is the pre-existing God, and this is necessary. 00:27:52.460 --> 00:27:55.740 This brings clarity to Mary's pregnancy for Joseph, doesn't it? 00:27:55.740 --> 00:27:57.120 You're the son of David. 00:27:57.120 --> 00:27:58.019 That's important here. 00:27:58.079 --> 00:28:00.180 But Mary, she hasn't disobeyed. 00:28:00.220 --> 00:28:01.339 She hasn't broken God's law. 00:28:01.480 --> 00:28:03.579 This is an act of God, Joseph. 00:28:03.660 --> 00:28:04.359 Don't be afraid. 00:28:05.519 --> 00:28:09.720 Third, it clarifies the child's purpose, doesn't it? 00:28:10.519 --> 00:28:12.240 It clarifies the child's purpose. 00:28:13.819 --> 00:28:15.640 She will bear a son, Joseph. 00:28:15.640 --> 00:28:22.559 And you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins. 00:28:22.559 --> 00:28:28.339 The purpose of the incarnation is revealed in Jesus' name. 00:28:30.139 --> 00:28:36.619 It's the New Testament equivalent of Joshua, which means the Lord saves or God is our salvation. 00:28:38.019 --> 00:28:43.339 The angel reveals that through this child, God would save his people from their sins. 00:28:44.599 --> 00:28:48.940 Now, how that would happen is not disclosed to Joseph, at least in Matthew's account. 00:28:48.940 --> 00:28:56.759 But we know it would come through his suffering, his crucifixion, his resurrection from the dead. 00:28:58.259 --> 00:29:06.340 The Christ would save his people from their sins by taking their punishment, God's wrath, upon himself. 00:29:07.779 --> 00:29:14.200 The incarnation was necessary if this was going to be effective, which Paul helps us with in Philippians 2. 00:29:14.200 --> 00:29:22.279 Christ Jesus, though he was in the form of God, form there meaning his very essence, that unchangeable quality of him was divine. 00:29:22.980 --> 00:29:25.480 That though he was in the form of God, his essence is God. 00:29:25.860 --> 00:29:28.799 He did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped. 00:29:29.059 --> 00:29:33.140 But he emptied himself by taking on the form of a servant. 00:29:34.440 --> 00:29:36.220 Being born in the likeness of men. 00:29:37.019 --> 00:29:39.799 And being born, being found in the human form. 00:29:39.799 --> 00:29:44.259 He humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death. 00:29:45.440 --> 00:29:47.659 Even death on a cross. 00:29:49.419 --> 00:29:50.899 God becomes man. 00:29:52.359 --> 00:29:54.960 So that he might be murdered by men. 00:29:56.720 --> 00:29:58.299 Taking their place. 00:29:59.899 --> 00:30:01.019 Forgiving their sins. 00:30:01.019 --> 00:30:03.359 The incarnation. 00:30:03.359 --> 00:30:03.599 The incarnation. 00:30:03.900 --> 00:30:04.859 This condescension. 00:30:05.559 --> 00:30:06.740 Of the divine. 00:30:07.900 --> 00:30:08.940 The humiliation. 00:30:09.539 --> 00:30:10.639 Of the Christ. 00:30:11.759 --> 00:30:13.099 Is God's love. 00:30:13.579 --> 00:30:14.139 Incarnate. 00:30:15.759 --> 00:30:18.220 He has come not because we asked him to. 00:30:19.220 --> 00:30:21.379 He has come because we needed him to. 00:30:23.440 --> 00:30:26.000 And he himself lays down his life. 00:30:26.660 --> 00:30:28.400 So that we might be forgiven. 00:30:28.400 --> 00:30:31.360 So that we might be at peace with God. 00:30:32.740 --> 00:30:33.740 And then of course. 00:30:34.500 --> 00:30:36.120 Matthew adds a touch of commentary. 00:30:36.120 --> 00:30:36.660 Doesn't he? 00:30:37.560 --> 00:30:40.140 This was how God fulfilled his word through the prophets. 00:30:41.060 --> 00:30:42.240 A virgin would conceive. 00:30:43.080 --> 00:30:45.120 So that God would be with us. 00:30:45.400 --> 00:30:47.840 So that God could save us. 00:30:49.800 --> 00:30:52.660 Now there's several reasons why this was necessary. 00:30:53.340 --> 00:30:55.320 There's one I want you to consider now. 00:30:55.319 --> 00:30:58.519 If Joseph. 00:30:59.319 --> 00:31:00.879 Or some other man. 00:31:01.379 --> 00:31:04.179 Had been Jesus's biological father. 00:31:05.779 --> 00:31:09.159 That means that Jesus would have been in Adam. 00:31:11.039 --> 00:31:14.339 Meaning he would have been born with the same sinful. 00:31:14.759 --> 00:31:15.839 Corrupt nature. 00:31:16.700 --> 00:31:17.579 As the rest of us. 00:31:17.579 --> 00:31:25.500 That would mean that he couldn't have possibly provided an atonement for our sins. 00:31:27.000 --> 00:31:31.019 But given the fact of the incarnation through the virgin birth. 00:31:31.740 --> 00:31:34.139 We understand Jesus's death. 00:31:34.619 --> 00:31:36.659 To be an atonement for our sin. 00:31:37.319 --> 00:31:38.299 Not his own. 00:31:39.419 --> 00:31:40.919 For in him there is no sin. 00:31:40.920 --> 00:31:44.420 And how is that possible? 00:31:45.820 --> 00:31:47.460 Because he's not just a man. 00:31:48.519 --> 00:31:49.700 He's the God man. 00:31:49.840 --> 00:31:50.920 He is God in flesh. 00:31:52.120 --> 00:31:54.140 And this requires a virgin birth. 00:31:56.039 --> 00:31:57.680 Without the virgin birth. 00:31:58.420 --> 00:31:59.800 There is no gospel. 00:32:02.279 --> 00:32:03.440 If you're Christian today. 00:32:03.519 --> 00:32:04.800 You can't weaken on this. 00:32:04.920 --> 00:32:10.279 There is no gospel. 00:32:10.279 --> 00:32:11.460 We lose the gospel. 00:32:12.559 --> 00:32:13.879 We lose hope. 00:32:14.839 --> 00:32:16.519 We lose the atonement. 00:32:18.759 --> 00:32:22.720 If we do not proclaim and defend the virgin birth. 00:32:24.740 --> 00:32:28.000 So we see that there is a marriage in jeopardy. 00:32:28.079 --> 00:32:29.639 We see that there is a message from heaven. 00:32:29.839 --> 00:32:33.519 Finally we find a man with great faith. 00:32:34.359 --> 00:32:35.960 A man with great faith. 00:32:36.680 --> 00:32:37.980 Look at verses 24 and 25. 00:32:37.980 --> 00:32:42.200 When Joseph woke from sleep. 00:32:43.460 --> 00:32:45.900 He did as the angel of the Lord commanded him. 00:32:47.299 --> 00:32:48.460 He took his wife. 00:32:49.740 --> 00:32:52.059 But knew her not until she had given birth to a son. 00:32:53.339 --> 00:32:54.420 And he called his name. 00:32:54.960 --> 00:32:55.220 Jesus. 00:32:56.819 --> 00:32:59.299 Now just because Joseph heard the word of the Lord. 00:32:59.660 --> 00:33:02.599 Didn't guarantee that he would respond to it appropriately. 00:33:02.599 --> 00:33:08.459 Just like there's no guarantee that even after hearing the word of the Lord this morning in this service. 00:33:08.459 --> 00:33:10.099 That you will respond appropriately. 00:33:10.579 --> 00:33:11.980 That was true for Joseph too. 00:33:13.519 --> 00:33:16.039 He could have continued to pursue the divorce. 00:33:16.039 --> 00:33:21.680 And he would have at least been justified in the eyes of men. 00:33:22.519 --> 00:33:23.799 If he had done so. 00:33:25.200 --> 00:33:31.299 And while that would have saved him from some potential embarrassment and ridicule from others. 00:33:31.299 --> 00:33:34.339 It would have been sinful. 00:33:35.740 --> 00:33:36.819 Disobedience to God. 00:33:37.779 --> 00:33:38.980 And a lack of faith. 00:33:42.299 --> 00:33:46.099 Do you realize that that's exactly the position that you're in at this moment? 00:33:48.200 --> 00:33:49.940 This is the word of the Lord. 00:33:51.019 --> 00:33:52.059 Not what I'm saying. 00:33:52.339 --> 00:33:53.519 What he has said here. 00:33:53.519 --> 00:33:58.240 You cannot be indifferent to it. 00:33:59.639 --> 00:34:00.980 You have to respond. 00:34:01.079 --> 00:34:02.539 And you will respond in some way. 00:34:04.639 --> 00:34:09.239 You can save yourself some potential embarrassment and ridicule. 00:34:10.340 --> 00:34:12.780 By just continuing on as if it doesn't matter. 00:34:14.380 --> 00:34:18.739 But that will be in disobedience sinfully to the Lord God. 00:34:20.940 --> 00:34:22.619 That's not how Joseph responds. 00:34:23.519 --> 00:34:25.920 He did all that God commanded. 00:34:26.440 --> 00:34:27.119 But why? 00:34:30.579 --> 00:34:32.820 What's the positive here for Joseph? 00:34:33.739 --> 00:34:35.920 From a human perspective there isn't one. 00:34:38.159 --> 00:34:40.300 He did all that God commanded. 00:34:40.900 --> 00:34:44.400 Because he believed all that God said. 00:34:46.639 --> 00:34:48.699 He took Mary as his wife. 00:34:49.800 --> 00:34:52.659 He refused to consummate until after the birth. 00:34:52.659 --> 00:34:54.559 And he named the child Jesus. 00:34:55.940 --> 00:34:57.940 Obedience is the only right response. 00:34:58.259 --> 00:35:03.299 But true obedience only comes through genuine faith in God's word. 00:35:05.159 --> 00:35:09.519 Joseph's faith and obedience then validated Mary's virginity. 00:35:09.739 --> 00:35:11.940 And it officially made Jesus the son of God. 00:35:12.179 --> 00:35:16.139 And this was all according to God's eternal plan in Christ. 00:35:16.480 --> 00:35:18.099 To save us from our sins. 00:35:18.099 --> 00:35:18.460 Obedience. 00:35:18.460 --> 00:35:18.940 Obedience. 00:35:18.940 --> 00:35:19.579 Obedience. 00:35:20.219 --> 00:35:20.819 Essential. 00:35:21.500 --> 00:35:24.619 But obedience only follows genuine faith. 00:35:25.279 --> 00:35:28.179 There's no upside for Joseph from a human perspective. 00:35:28.699 --> 00:35:30.799 He obeys because he believes. 00:35:30.800 --> 00:35:40.019 But just because it was the faithful and obedient response doesn't mean it was the easy response. 00:35:40.240 --> 00:35:41.720 It certainly wasn't. 00:35:44.000 --> 00:35:47.940 Joseph and Mary's faith was costly. 00:35:47.940 --> 00:35:58.539 I was talking with the girls earlier this week about, I don't know, I guess just being a girl dad, this stuff comes up a lot. 00:35:58.639 --> 00:36:02.619 But we were talking about weddings and how terrible of a thing that is. 00:36:02.740 --> 00:36:05.519 And how they can't get married and all of that kind of thing. 00:36:06.260 --> 00:36:07.579 You just have to stay at home forever. 00:36:07.579 --> 00:36:19.119 And when I think about how ladies in particular, maybe not all of them, but a lot of them, there's things that you think about a lot as you're growing. 00:36:20.360 --> 00:36:23.539 Even as young girls, you begin to think about that wedding day. 00:36:23.639 --> 00:36:26.460 And you have this dream of what your marriage will be and what it will look like. 00:36:26.460 --> 00:36:38.440 And surely Mary, understanding the custom of the day, embracing the fact that there was a man set aside for her to love, to care for, and to serve. 00:36:38.699 --> 00:36:40.900 And he would love and care for. 00:36:41.480 --> 00:36:46.619 Surely she had this amazing idea of what her life was going to be like. 00:36:46.619 --> 00:36:58.039 Surely Joseph, as he is preparing a place for his bride in that betrothal season, was dreaming about how awesome it would be to have a family of his own. 00:36:58.039 --> 00:37:03.599 And in this moment, all of that goes away. 00:37:03.679 --> 00:37:07.480 At least what their dream was, what they thought it would be, what they thought it would be like. 00:37:09.019 --> 00:37:13.659 In order to be faithful to the Lord, they have to turn away from all of that. 00:37:14.799 --> 00:37:15.679 It's costly. 00:37:16.619 --> 00:37:21.139 Few would have believed their story. 00:37:23.420 --> 00:37:24.779 Sounds far-fetched, doesn't it? 00:37:26.079 --> 00:37:27.219 Joseph, Mary's pregnant? 00:37:27.400 --> 00:37:28.639 What did you do? 00:37:29.619 --> 00:37:30.279 Oh, well, it wasn't me. 00:37:30.319 --> 00:37:31.659 There was this angel that appeared to me. 00:37:32.980 --> 00:37:35.859 He said his name was Gabriel, and he said that God did this. 00:37:38.259 --> 00:37:39.900 Not many people are going to believe that. 00:37:42.679 --> 00:37:45.960 They would have dealt with shameful looks and ridicule for the rest of their life. 00:37:45.960 --> 00:37:50.300 Is there any wonder why they didn't immediately want to go back to Nazareth? 00:37:50.880 --> 00:37:54.679 Why they maybe tried to camp out around Bethlehem or Jerusalem for a little while? 00:37:54.760 --> 00:37:56.460 Maybe a place where they weren't as well known? 00:37:56.880 --> 00:37:59.480 People didn't understand their situation quite as much? 00:37:59.480 --> 00:38:06.340 Mary understood the cost when she said to the angel in Luke chapter 1, 00:38:06.699 --> 00:38:08.559 Behold, I am the servant of the Lord. 00:38:09.500 --> 00:38:11.559 Let it be to me according to your word. 00:38:11.940 --> 00:38:16.460 When Mary says that to God, she understands what the cost will be. 00:38:16.460 --> 00:38:21.559 When Joseph takes Mary as his wife and he raises the child as his own, 00:38:21.639 --> 00:38:23.199 he understands what the cost will be. 00:38:23.280 --> 00:38:25.240 And in the end, they knew the truth, 00:38:25.539 --> 00:38:28.460 even if no one else did and no one else would believe them. 00:38:28.940 --> 00:38:31.820 But even more than that, they trusted God. 00:38:33.000 --> 00:38:34.579 They believed God's word. 00:38:35.079 --> 00:38:36.880 They trusted that God would be faithful, 00:38:37.380 --> 00:38:38.599 that he would see them through, 00:38:38.720 --> 00:38:39.699 that this was of him, 00:38:39.760 --> 00:38:42.360 and that it would pay off in the end. 00:38:42.360 --> 00:38:45.760 And eventually, their faith was vindicated. 00:38:46.539 --> 00:38:49.500 But it wasn't vindicated before Joseph died. 00:38:51.840 --> 00:38:53.680 It was vindicated after. 00:38:54.840 --> 00:38:56.780 It was vindicated in the suffering, 00:38:56.960 --> 00:38:58.620 in the life, in the crucifixion, 00:38:58.680 --> 00:39:00.160 in the resurrection of their child. 00:39:00.400 --> 00:39:02.280 That's when their faith was vindicated. 00:39:03.599 --> 00:39:04.880 It was costly. 00:39:06.340 --> 00:39:08.420 But it was true and it was worth it. 00:39:08.420 --> 00:39:12.260 And it's in this way that Joseph and Mary 00:39:12.260 --> 00:39:15.539 show the only right response to the incarnation. 00:39:16.119 --> 00:39:17.380 It is faith and obedience, 00:39:18.059 --> 00:39:20.639 which is always costly, 00:39:20.840 --> 00:39:22.420 and it will be costly for you. 00:39:23.760 --> 00:39:26.200 But those who believe and follow Jesus, 00:39:26.380 --> 00:39:27.400 by God's grace, 00:39:27.519 --> 00:39:30.920 they know the truth and they trust God. 00:39:31.500 --> 00:39:33.680 Isn't that what we're studying right now in 1 Peter? 00:39:33.760 --> 00:39:34.420 As we're going through, 00:39:34.579 --> 00:39:36.780 we're thinking about life in exile. 00:39:36.780 --> 00:39:39.620 suffering and the struggle 00:39:39.620 --> 00:39:42.980 that relates specifically to believing God 00:39:42.980 --> 00:39:45.980 and living out that faith in practical ways. 00:39:47.180 --> 00:39:48.880 And that's hard and it's costly 00:39:48.880 --> 00:39:49.980 and it always will be. 00:39:50.220 --> 00:39:52.920 The incarnation, it grounds that faith. 00:39:53.300 --> 00:39:54.820 It grounds that obedience. 00:39:55.360 --> 00:39:56.360 And one day, 00:39:56.820 --> 00:40:00.019 our faith will also be vindicated. 00:40:00.620 --> 00:40:03.760 It will be vindicated when the son returns. 00:40:03.760 --> 00:40:06.460 When he comes again, 00:40:07.000 --> 00:40:08.940 all who like Joseph and Mary, 00:40:09.180 --> 00:40:10.380 trust and obey, 00:40:10.840 --> 00:40:15.300 will be saved forever from their sins. 00:40:16.980 --> 00:40:19.280 And it's all because of the incarnation. 00:40:21.540 --> 00:40:24.500 As wonderful as the Christmas holiday is, 00:40:24.920 --> 00:40:27.140 we'd be just fine if we didn't have it. 00:40:27.139 --> 00:40:31.400 But without the incarnation of Jesus Christ, 00:40:31.480 --> 00:40:34.500 we'd all be doomed to God's eternal judgment. 00:40:36.339 --> 00:40:37.460 All of us. 00:40:39.119 --> 00:40:42.599 Matthew didn't write this to entertain us 00:40:42.599 --> 00:40:45.559 with an interesting and unbelievable story. 00:40:46.039 --> 00:40:47.319 It's not a work of fiction. 00:40:48.519 --> 00:40:51.079 No, he recorded the facts of what happened 00:40:51.079 --> 00:40:53.759 so that we might know Jesus is the Christ, 00:40:54.139 --> 00:40:55.599 the incarnate son of God, 00:40:55.599 --> 00:40:57.219 and that by believing, 00:40:57.659 --> 00:40:58.199 John said, 00:40:58.279 --> 00:41:02.039 we would have life and forgiveness in his name. 00:41:03.960 --> 00:41:05.019 And as we close, 00:41:05.099 --> 00:41:06.860 I just want you to see the flow 00:41:06.860 --> 00:41:08.759 of how he lays this out. 00:41:09.000 --> 00:41:11.079 Isn't the flow of Joseph's experience 00:41:11.079 --> 00:41:13.719 giving us a picture of the Lord's work in the gospel? 00:41:15.799 --> 00:41:16.699 Like Joseph, 00:41:17.380 --> 00:41:18.400 some of you, 00:41:19.299 --> 00:41:22.159 you know something isn't right 00:41:22.159 --> 00:41:23.980 with your life. 00:41:23.980 --> 00:41:28.179 You can't exactly put your thumb on what it is. 00:41:28.260 --> 00:41:29.280 You try all kinds of things. 00:41:29.340 --> 00:41:30.440 And every time you try something, 00:41:30.539 --> 00:41:31.440 maybe it helps for a little while, 00:41:31.480 --> 00:41:33.880 but you eventually end up with the same emptiness 00:41:33.880 --> 00:41:34.940 and the same struggle 00:41:34.940 --> 00:41:35.960 and the same anxiety 00:41:35.960 --> 00:41:37.820 and the same issues as before. 00:41:37.880 --> 00:41:39.659 And you just don't know something's wrong 00:41:39.659 --> 00:41:40.699 and I can't figure it out. 00:41:40.760 --> 00:41:41.719 And you're trying to sort it out. 00:41:42.559 --> 00:41:43.780 Isn't that where Joseph was? 00:41:44.699 --> 00:41:45.380 Something's wrong. 00:41:45.619 --> 00:41:46.740 He's trying to sort it out. 00:41:47.039 --> 00:41:48.559 He's trying to figure out what to do about it 00:41:48.559 --> 00:41:49.380 to make things better 00:41:49.380 --> 00:41:50.159 and make them right. 00:41:50.159 --> 00:41:53.099 And it's at that point 00:41:53.099 --> 00:41:56.739 that he hears the word of the Lord. 00:41:58.960 --> 00:42:01.159 You'll never grasp the truth 00:42:01.159 --> 00:42:03.239 of who you are 00:42:03.239 --> 00:42:05.699 and how you feel 00:42:05.699 --> 00:42:08.399 and the struggle that you have 00:42:08.399 --> 00:42:10.859 apart from God's word 00:42:10.859 --> 00:42:12.739 and the good news of Jesus. 00:42:12.739 --> 00:42:18.799 But now that you've heard that word, 00:42:20.079 --> 00:42:23.959 the only right response 00:42:23.959 --> 00:42:25.019 is faith and obedience. 00:42:28.279 --> 00:42:29.959 That will always be costly. 00:42:31.379 --> 00:42:33.399 As Paul said again to the Philippians, 00:42:34.719 --> 00:42:36.119 the cost cannot compare 00:42:36.119 --> 00:42:38.699 to the surpassing worth 00:42:38.699 --> 00:42:41.460 of knowing Jesus as Savior 00:42:41.460 --> 00:42:43.079 and Lord 00:42:43.079 --> 00:42:46.039 because that's who he is. 00:42:50.359 --> 00:42:51.879 Will you come to him 00:42:51.879 --> 00:42:53.219 this Christmas? 00:42:55.799 --> 00:42:57.119 Will you believe 00:42:57.119 --> 00:42:59.159 this Christmas? 00:43:01.439 --> 00:43:03.219 Will you lay down your dreams 00:43:03.219 --> 00:43:04.799 and everything that you want 00:43:04.799 --> 00:43:08.039 in order to know him 00:43:08.039 --> 00:43:10.539 to love him 00:43:10.539 --> 00:43:12.480 and to serve him? 00:43:13.480 --> 00:43:14.619 He's worth it 00:43:14.619 --> 00:43:16.820 because it really is true 00:43:16.820 --> 00:43:20.340 and he really is that good. 00:43:21.500 --> 00:43:23.420 And this is the only hope you have 00:43:23.420 --> 00:43:25.579 but it's a glorious hope. 00:43:26.500 --> 00:43:27.420 Let's pray together.