“The virgin birth of Christ is a key doctrine; for if Jesus Christ is not God come in sinless human flesh, then we have no Savior. Jesus had to be.” This quote from Pastor/Bible teacher Warren W. Wiersbe strikes at the very core of the Christian faith. Sceptics throughout the ages have questioned the miraculous conception and virgin birth of Jesus Christ. Their unbelief and criticism should not make us doubt. The testimony of Mary is that Jesus was miraculously conceived. So, let us be strengthened because we serve the God of miracles who spoke creation into existence (Gen. 1:1) and sent the Holy Spirit to come upon Mary along with the power of the Most High to overshadow her (Lk. 1:35). In order that she would bear a son and call him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins (Matt. 1:21). The greatest gift this Christmas season is that God has come in the flesh (Jn. 1:14).
4. • His justice is demonstrated in his
intention to obey the Law of
Moses.
Joseph was a just man
5. Joseph was a just man
• His justice is demonstrated in his
intention to obey the Law of
Moses.
• His justice is demonstrated in his
mercy and kindness.
8. Annunciation to Joseph
• Joseph has a dream
in which an angel
of the Lord appears
to him.
• The angel delivers
a message to
Joseph.
Annunciation to Mary
• The angel Gabriel
“came to Mary”.
• Gabriel and Mary
have a dialogue.
Both Joseph and Mary Obey the Angelic Message
9. Annunciation to
Joseph
“…for that
which is
conceived in
her is from the
Holy Spirit.”
Matthew 1:20b
Annunciation to Mary
“The Holy Spirit will come
upon you, and the power of
the Most High will
overshadow you; therefore,
the child to be borne will be
called holy—the Son of God.
Luke 1:25b
11. Isaiah 7:14
A Sign to Ahaz
Therefore, the
Lord himself will
give you a sign.
Behold, the virgin
shall conceive
and bear a son,
and shall call his
name Immanuel.
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).
Matthew 1:
A Sign to Us
12. The Believability of the
Virgin Birth
“Grant me Genesis 1:1 and I’llhave no
difficulty with Isaiah 7:14 orthe rest
of the Bible.”
14. 3 Lessons from Joseph
1. “He took her as his wife” –
Costly Obedience.
15. 3 Lessons from Joseph
1. “He took her as his wife” – Costly
Obedience.
2. “He knew her not” – Delayed
Gratification.
16. 3 Lessons from Joseph
1. “He took her as his wife” – Costly
Obedience.
2. “He knew her not” – Delayed
Gratification.
3. “He called his name Jesus” –
Total Surrender.
Notas del editor
The Annunciation to Joseph: Matthew 1:18-25
First Point
Joseph’s Character (Mt. 1:18-19)
18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ[a] took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed[b] 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.
Joseph was a just man
His justice is demonstrated in his intention to obey the Law of Moses.
Joseph was a just man
His justice is demonstrated in his mercy and kindness.
Micah 6:8
He has shown you, O man, what is good;
And what does the Lord require of you
But to do justly, To love mercy (chesed),And to walk humbly with your God?
חֶסֶד = Lovingkindness.
Second Point
The Angelic Message
Mt. 1:20-21
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.”
Third Point
Matthew’s Insight
Mt. 1:22-23
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).
Fourth Point
Joseph’s Response
Mt. 1:24-25
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.
3 Lessons from Joseph
1.“He took her as his wife” – Costly Obedience.
2. “He knew her not” – Delayed Gratification.
3. “He called his name Jesus” – Total Surrender.
6 Reasons Why Names are Important in the Bible
A biblical name could record some aspects of a person’s birth.
Biblical names sometimes expressed the parents’ reaction to the birth of their child.
Biblical names were sometimes used to secure the solidarity of family ties.
Biblical names could be used to communicate God’s message.
Biblical names were also used to establish an affiliation with God.
Biblical names are given to establish authority over another, or to indicate a new beginning or new direction in a person’s life.
Notice that Joseph surrendered his right to name his own child. He surrendered his right to frame the story of this child’s birth. He surrendered his right to build an obvious link to his own family’s history. His decision not to not name his first son after his father or grandfather was a sleight to his family. But in naming his son Jesus, he surrendered to God’s purpose and God’s priorities for his son!