Born Of The Virgin Mary (Matthew 1:18-25, Isaiah 7:1-17)
Rev. William L. Barron, December 24, 2023Part of the Advent Series: Christ Coming To Build His Church series, preached at a Sunday Morning service
Isaiah introduces the first reference in the Bible of Immanuel, or God with us, in Chapter 7. It is actually imperative, or "I will be with you." This Isaiah verse (14) was repeated in Matthew 1 at the time when the angel of the Lord appeared to Mary to give her son the name Jesus. The world can have three responses to this advent of God with us: rejection, indifference, or embracing/receiving. The offer from God of redemption through His Son is amazing mercy, because this is not what we deserve. King Ahaz is an example of rejection, saying, "I don't want to hear from God." Do we follow Ahaz's path? Do we follow our own pan? Do we reject the counsel of God? Isaiah commands us to stand firm in the Lord, or we won't stand at all. If we fight against God, we will lose. The rebellion and rejection in Romans 1 brings forth consequences--God gives rebels over to their own plans, bringing chaos and death. In the time of Ahaz, Assyria was threatening Israel. Ahaz would not listen to God through His prophets and carried forth his own strategy, suffering loss and paying tribute to Assyria. In less than 65 years, Israel would be destroyed by Assyria as judgment on its disobedience. Rebels against God may succeed for a while, but will lose in the end. Joseph, however, believed in the testimony of the angel Gabriel, displaying his obedience to God. Jesus came and just before His ascension, He foretold the coming of the Holy Spirit upon the church in power. Equal in power to God, He would be in our abiding presence. In the Holy Spirit, we will never be deserted or forsaken. The Holy Spirit is Immanuel, God with us, until Jesus' return.
| Earlier: | Same day: | Later: |
|---|---|---|
| « Conceived By The Holy Spirit | None | How To Judge Rightly » |
Matthew 1:18–25 (Listen)
18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. 19 And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. 20 But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “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. 21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:
23 “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
and they shall call his name Immanuel”
(which means, God with us). 24 When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, 25 but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.
(ESV)
Isaiah 7:1–17 (Listen)
7:1 In the days of Ahaz the son of Jotham, son of Uzziah, king of Judah, Rezin the king of Syria and Pekah the son of Remaliah the king of Israel came up to Jerusalem to wage war against it, but could not yet mount an attack against it. 2 When the house of David was told, “Syria is in league with Ephraim,” the heart of Ahaz and the heart of his people shook as the trees of the forest shake before the wind.
3 And the LORD said to Isaiah, “Go out to meet Ahaz, you and Shear-jashub your son, at the end of the conduit of the upper pool on the highway to the Washer’s Field. 4 And say to him, ‘Be careful, be quiet, do not fear, and do not let your heart be faint because of these two smoldering stumps of firebrands, at the fierce anger of Rezin and Syria and the son of Remaliah. 5 Because Syria, with Ephraim and the son of Remaliah, has devised evil against you, saying, 6 “Let us go up against Judah and terrify it, and let us conquer it for ourselves, and set up the son of Tabeel as king in the midst of it,” 7 thus says the Lord GOD:
“‘It shall not stand,
and it shall not come to pass.
8 For the head of Syria is Damascus,
and the head of Damascus is Rezin.
And within sixty-five years
Ephraim will be shattered from being a people.
9 And the head of Ephraim is Samaria,
and the head of Samaria is the son of Remaliah.
If you are not firm in faith,
you will not be firm at all.’”
10 Again the LORD spoke to Ahaz: 11 “Ask a sign of the LORD your God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven.” 12 But Ahaz said, “I will not ask, and I will not put the LORD to the test.” 13 And he said, “Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary men, that you weary my God also? 14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. 15 He shall eat curds and honey when he knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good. 16 For before the boy knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land whose two kings you dread will be deserted. 17 The LORD will bring upon you and upon your people and upon your father’s house such days as have not come since the day that Ephraim departed from Judah—the king of Assyria!”
(ESV)