Tag: Matthew 1

December 29th 2024: John Scanlon

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Matthew 1:18-25, Isaiah 9:1-7

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One advantage of old age is that I can remember incidents which happened long ago. I can remember my first day at school, Easter 1935, but yesterday’s breakfast, I can’t remember! There is one particular memory that stands out for me – September 29th 1936. We lived in this terraced house, in an area where there was almost 100% unemployment. I was 5 ½  years old and I had been playing out in the backyard with my younger brother Tom. Eventually, father called us in for bed. We were washed and changed in the kitchen and sent straight upstairs to bed. We weren’t allowed in the front room. My mother was ill. My father brought us a single bed downstairs so he could watch over her. In those days doctors and nurses cost money. We usually depended on neighbours for help or we managed on our own. Father had been unemployed for as far back as I can remember. He spent his days looking for work. We lived in a slum. There was no garden so we were unable to grow food. The only grass we saw was on the flagstones between the pavement. Times were hard.

The next morning I got up and I had the biggest surprise ever.my mother was sitting up in bed. Beside her was a brand new baby boy. I had a baby brother! I spent the whole of that morning standing on the front door stop telling everyone who passed by, neighbours and strangers, ‘I’ve got a new baby brother!’ As a 5 year old boy, the street I lived in was my whole world. I spread the news. As my mother was weak and tired, so my father brought the whole thing to a close.

My brother grew up having a normal childhood. 88 years ago I announced the birth of a baby to all concerned. But there was another baby born; His birth was foretold old as far back as Genesis 3:15. Perhaps the most wonderful proclamation of this birth is,

“For unto us a Child is born,
Unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called
Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
Isaiah 9:6

This baby brought with Him something needed from the dawn of creation, from the fall of grace of Adam and Eve in the garden. He brought salvation. The five names given to him in this prophecy are distinctive. He is named wonderful, showing He is awesome, God in flesh, a miracle worker, full of wonder. Counsellor shows He advises us in all things by the love He has for us. Mighty God reflects He is the divine one. Everlasting father shows He is the provider, protector and disciplinarian. Prince of Peace shows He gives divine peace and calm to all who trust in Him.

On a dark cold night, shepherds were exposed to all kinds of dangers. Then, good news came. The angel of the Lord came upon them and the glory of the Lord shone around them and they were sore afraid. The shepherds were accustomed to a quiet life. They made the journey to where this great event took place. There, an essential part of this nativity scene, they saw the Prince of Peace. When Isaiah uttered this prophecy, about 3000 years ago, the nation was suffering. Yet, Isaiah held hope for the people. This light is Jesus who said, “I am the light of the world.”

The Hebrew word for peace, Shalom, was known well enough and used as a greeting. Finally, on that first Christmas Day, peace came. The shepherds were ceremoniously unclean, the nobodies of their day. Who would believe the testimonies of shepherds, the forgotten of men? But God often uses the forgotten. Just imagine peace- no more war, no more killing. But there was still no more peace. One day a Roman legion came to Bethlehem so that boys aged 2 years and under would be slain. For hundreds of broken, bleeding hearts the cry goes on, ‘The angel was wrong. There is no peace on earth.’ But the peace that Jesus brings is a peace that passes understanding. It is not a political peace, it is peace with God.

Sin separates man and God. Sin is the greatest disturber. It constantly troubles the heart. It is the source of all disorder. Jesus came to restore order to the heart of man. Jesus came to redeem, to save His people from their sins. Not only does Jesus give peace with God but He gives the peace of God. (Philippians 4:7).

How can we find this peace? It doesn’t come through the world of men. Jesus said, “My peace I give unto you, not as the world giveth.” The peace of God is a gift. You need to accept it in humility and in thanksgiving. (Isaiah 26:23).  This peace is God’s gift in response to repentance in faith, “For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation.” (Ephesians 2:14).

The peace of God is God Himself. The coming of God to this world must never be forgotten. He lived and died for us. The wisdom and love of God is brought home to us and we read His word. He was born and died for us on a Roman cross. The greatest act of love this world has known! This is the good news that needs to be told.

December 25th 2024: Jonathan Scott

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I want to welcome you here on this most special of Days, which we remember and celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. This morning we will have a look at the account of His glorious birth and sing carols of praise to our king.

What do you enjoy about Christmas? Sometimes people say to me, ‘I’m so looking forward to time off work or school, to see friends, to have a break, to relax with food and family, to get lots of presents.’ While some of these things are important, it is nothing compared to the real meaning of Christmas. Everywhere you go people will wish you a happy Christmas. However all the money that is spent and the hustle and bustle means people can tend to forget the real meaning of Christmas. I want to tell you this morning of the greatest gift ever given, foretold for centuries, and is still the greatest gift 2000 years after it was given to us – that gift has been given to us if we accept it.

The First Christmas an angel appeared to some shepherds and said, ‘I bring you good tidings of great Joy.’ (Luke 2: 10-11). At Christmas you can be happy about the gifts, the nice things to eat and the other surprises that you might get on Christmas day. However, you can be especially joyful that the Lord Jesus came to be our Saviour. Without Him there would be no forgiveness for the wrong things we have done, there would be no hope of going to Heaven to be with Him. The promised Saviour came.

The announcement of the angel must have come as a surprise to the shepherds. They were afraid. They did not fully understand all that it meant that the Saviour was born. Here was the most important event in the history of the world so far and they were the first to know that the Saviour had come. What a privilege!

Before this great event in  Bethlehem 2000 years ago, let us look further back to the prophet Isaiah who foretold this at least 700 years beforehand. This is a story of a baby born in the most lowly of stables despite being the King of Kings who can save each and every one of us. He is also with us in every circumstance. He is God who is with us!

“For to us a child is born,

to us a son is given;

and the government shall be upon his shoulder,

    and his name shall be called

Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God,

    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Of the increase of his government and of peace

    there will be no end,

on the throne of David and over his kingdom,

    to establish it and to uphold it

with justice and with righteousness

    from this time forth and for evermore.

The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.”

Matthew records the fulfilment of this prophecy in his gospel, 1:18-25. We are here this morning to celebrate the fulfilment of the prophecy from Isaiah 9, which was over 700 years before this account in Matthew chapter 1, when our Creator stepped into His creation in the most unbelievable way, stepping out of eternity into the constraints of time.

The Gospel of Matthew begins by introducing us to the “with-us” Jesus (1:23) and concludes with the same emphasis when Jesus told the disciples: “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (28:20).

Matthew 1:22-23 is an important marker in his book. These verses record a momentous fulfillment of prophecy. The fact that Matthew highlights the ‘with us’ theme so early in his gospel unveils this as a key theme. All throughout his account we read of God’s presence with us and ultimately reaching its climax in the last verse when Jesus states to His disciples and us, (Matt 28:20).

God came down from the infinite glory of heaven into the finite world of man. The omnipotent Creator became one of creation’s most helpless  – a new born baby.

Many sermons will be preached today celebrating the birth of our Saviour, but today I find myself captured by the meaning of one of His names, Immanuel – which means God with us.  During this Advent season I have been contemplating the reason why God would leave the glory of heaven to be born in that lowly stable in Bethlehem.

In Matthew He is given two names. We read in verse 21 He is named Jesus, and in verse 23 He is then named Immanuel. What is the significance of these names?

Immanuel – “God with us” reflects Jesus’ unique nature as God in flesh, but also describes the direction of all of God’s actions from Genesis to Revelation. In the Garden of Eden, we see that God placed Adam and Eve there as more than caretakers of His creation, but also to form a special relationship with Himself as He would walk among them in ‘the cool of the day’. 

When Adam and Eve sinned, the relationship drastically changed. Yet even sin and judgement did not change the purposeful path of God’s love. Again and again God has been reaching out to His people in order to rescue them and this rescue plan came to being through the birth, death and resurrection of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ,

The name Immanuel describes His nature, whilst the name Jesus describes His mission. The name Jesus means ‘Saviour’. It is the same name as Joshua in the Old Testament and given to our Lord because He will save His people from their sins. This is His special mission from God, our Father: He saves us from the guilt of sin by washing us in His own atoning blood and granting us new life through Him, if we place our faith and trust in Him, asking for repentance of sins.

The earthly rulers of this world might have often called themselves great, conquerors, bold, magnificent, yet the Son of God is content to call Himself a servant, to save God’s people from their sins! His role is shown in John 3:17, ‘For God did not send His son Into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.’ The Bible tells us our need for salvation and how Jesus has to be a man to redeem us.

But I want us to look this morning and see the heart of a God who desired to come near His children. He was not content to be a distant deity removed from our real day to day life. Not like Bette Midler’s song which said that God was watching from a distance, no, not our God. He came as close as you could ever imagine. He stepped right into our human world and not even as an adult. He could have just appeared as a man at the Jordan river, been baptised and started His ministry, but no, our God wanted the whole human experience from conception to the grave.

The name Immanuel was first given as a prophecy in Isaiah 7:14 – “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.”

This name given to the Lord Jesus shows His nature. God with us, or slightly changed to God manifest in flesh: Jesus is ‘God with us’. He had a nature like our own in all things, except the sinful part. But Jesus was ‘with us’ in human flesh and blood, and at the same time truly God.

Those who followed Jesus for the three years of his earthly ministry experienced the presence of God with them in a very intimate and personal fashion. During Jesus’ last night with His disciples, Phillip asked Him to show them the Father (John 14:8). Jesus responded to him that if they had seen Him, Jesus, they had seen the Father.

In Matthew 18:20, Jesus tells us that where two or three of us gather, in His name, He will be with us. While we no longer see His physical presence among us when we gather, but we can be assured that He is with us. As the church, we are His body. Wherever we are, He is as well.

In the New Testament gospels, Jesus’ followers experienced the presence of God with them in the person of Jesus. Jesus was God in human form, walking, talking, and eating with them. I have often wondered what it would be like to have spent time with Jesus like that.

But the reality is, we have an even more intimate relationship with God now. While Jesus walked side-by-side with the disciples, we have the Holy Spirit living within us. For those who believe in Jesus, God is with us every moment of every day. God personally entered our very humanity so that He would feel what we feel, live what we live, know the same limitations and the same temptations. His human experience allows Him to relate to us at our deepest point of need. The Christmas story is about a God who is near, a God who is here, a God who is real, a God who understands everything you feel.

Immanuel is so much more than Jesus coming. It is Jesus staying. God not only was with us – God is with us. He has always been with us and always will be with us. He is with us even now. From His coming to His going, God has been reminding us that He is with us.

Jesus came to earth to be ‘with us’, just Joseph and Mary found comfort in this truth, you too can have faith and reassurance that Jesus is Immanuel to all who trust in Him. His name is more than a title, it is a promise and it serves as a signpost until we reach our final eternal destination with Him. He alone is worthy of the name Immanuel, as He is the Holy God who draws near to us and the only One through whom we are able to draw near to God.  1 Peter 3:18 says, ‘For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God.’

The baby that was born in Bethlehem, the greatest gift ever given, grew up to be a man who was perfect. He performed miracles, healed the sick, drove out demons, walked on water, and died for our sins. He is our wonderful counselor and Mighty God, who rose again on the third day and now is with us for eternity.

The Lord is our strength, our refuge. He is the one we can lean on in every circumstance as He promises that He will never leave or forsake us, if we put our trust in Him this Christmas.

Immanuel is not just a name to remember at Christmas, but throughout the year. The gift of Christ given at Christmas, is with us forever and He will come alongside us, if we accept the wonderful free gift of salvation today.  As the hymn says,

‘Every need His hand supplying,
Every good in Him I see;
On His strength divine relying,
He is all in all to me.’

If you do not know the greatest gift for yourself, do not leave here today without speaking to someone after the service. This could be the greatest gift you will receive today. 

November 26th 2023: Andrew Bowden

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Matthew 1:18-25, 2:13-23: Looking at the role of Joseph

Joseph is often overlooked, yet he played such a distinctive role in the birth of Jesus and the raising of Jesus. He was quite a remarkable individual. Matthew begins with a list of seemingly unpronounceable names, of broken lives. Then one appears – name above all names – one who will be born like no other. He is the only mediator between God and man.

  1. Joseph is tested by God.

Joseph is severely tested by way of relationships. There are many tests and trials of life. The hardest of all is relationships. For Joseph, there is a close relationship with a beautiful woman who has a depth of beauty of spirit. Mary and Joseph would have been pledged to each other at a very young age. Their relationship would have developed over many years. Then there was the act of betrothal, a legally binding act. Following this, there would have been the anticipation of the wedding day, a time of great joy.

One can well imagine Joseph counting the days to be married to the love of his life. He would have been the happiest carpenter in Nazareth. As children count the sleeps to Christmas, so Joseph may have been counting the sleeps, the days when they would be one. Imagine his devastation when Mary takes him aside, struggling with words. Then out it comes, ‘I’m going to have a baby!’ He would have thought she’d has been unfaithful, betrayed him.

We can easily sweep over these things. Then, wait for it. She says, ’I’m going to give birth to the Son of God.’ What is Joseph going to do? He didn’t act rashly. He agonises in what is the right thing to do. He loves Mary far too much to publicly divorce her. It would have brought endless shame and disgrace for her. So, he doesn’t want any fuss and seeks to put her away secretly. What a severe test for Joseph.

Tests do come when God expects of us. These often what seems so unfair, unexpected, unreasonable, when we say, ‘Lord, why this? Why now?’ Tests come when our dreams are shattered, when our lives are turned upside down. But it is that quiet stillness in Joseph, as he deliberates what is the way forward, that shows his character. He has a spirit of surrender to God, to His unfailing love and care. We have to say, ‘Your will be done.’ When God tests us, He does so to bring out the best in us. When God tests us, it is to reveal and remove the dross, and to reveal the real us. This was a dark time for Joseph.

  • In that stillness and quietness Jospeh was visited by God.

In verse 20 onwards an angel of the Lord appears to Joseph. Joseph is addressed as the Son of David – a high-sounding title. That is all important – how we are seen and known in heaven. Joseph is told not to be fearful for God is working out something wonderful. How often our fears have been totally unfounded. God has everything in control. God says there is no need to fear. For Joseph, God is going to do something wonderful. He is given the task of naming the Son of God. He shall be called Jesus, one who will save the people from their sin. “But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.” (Hebrews 9:26). This is the wonder of Christmas. The Son of God, man of sorrows. What a name! What a Saviour!

There is also another name here, Immanuel, God with us. He is one who is fully God. God manifest, revealed in the flesh. Here is the true image of the invisible God in Christ. Here is the unveiling of the true heart of God in Jesus, God with us. This is the new covenant in all its glory. A personal saviour. We have a reference to Jesus, to the Lord’s work and what He will do. He is Emmanuel. He will be with us. He will be for us. On the cross, He would be instead of us. Holy angels stood confounded to behold their maker thus. It was all for us.

  • Joseph is directed by God (2:13 onwards).

When the wise men had left, the Lord appears to Joseph again in a dream. The Lord directs his path. Joseph went to Bethlehem because of the census. It was providential. Now he is directed to Egypt. God knows our needs and goes before us,

“Your eyes saw my unformed substance;
in your book were written, every one of them,
    the days that were formed for me,
    when as yet there was none of them.”

                    (Psalm 139:16).

Amazing! Days of trial, days of heartache, days of blessing, God goes before us. Search your Bible and you will never find the word ‘guidance,’ but you will find ‘guide.’ It is personal. God leads us, God directs us, lovingly through all things. Yes, we make our mistakes. Looking back on life we see God graciously rules overall.

Angels come and explain all to Joseph. God knows all our limitations and weaknesses. He will overrule and work out his purposes in our life. All the way my saviour leads me. Not some of the way.

All the way my Saviour leads me
What have I to ask beside?
Can I doubt His tender mercy,
Who through life has been my guide?
Heav’nly peace, divinest comfort,
Here by faith in Him to dwell!
For I know, whate’er befall me,
Jesus doeth all things well;
For I know, whate’er befall me,
Jesus doeth all things well.

Fanny Crosby.

Joseph could look back on this journey and see God protected him. The slaughter of infants is in-keeping with the character of Herod. In the midst of rage, anger and spite of Herod, God protected Joseph, Mary and Jesus. God directs Joseph to Nazareth, a despised region. Yet, this is the place where God will have His Son raised. God is our fortress, our high tower, our refuge. We shelter in God’s awesome tender love and grace. He is always the same. We can count on Him. He is true to Himself, unchanging. We shelter in all the glorious promises in scripture. We shelter in His providential care, “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28).

We shelter in God. Isn’t it wonderful to be safe, to be secure in God?

A Sovereign Protector I have,
unseen, yet for ever at hand,
unchangeably faithful to save,
almighty to rule and command.
He smiles, and my comforts abound;
his grace as the dew shall descend;
and walls of salvation surround
the soul he delights to defend.

Augustus Toplady

It is a wonderful thing to be at peace in God.

December 5th 2021: Gareth Edwards

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Isaiah 9:1-7
Matthew 1:18-25

Are you getting excited about Christmas? Perhaps, as you get older, you don’t have the same level of excitement and engagement as youngsters do? Perhaps you can’t wait for January, to get back to normal? As Christians, we should be those most excited – not for presents, tees, carol services etc., but because we are conscious of the significance of the incarnation of Jesus Christ, born of a virgin, conceived in Mary’s womb by a sovereign act of the Holy Spirit, according to the holy will of the Father.

The second person of the Trinity came into this world and dwelt amongst us. This is a great mystery, one we will never be able to get our mind around. It is not something mystical that we cannot get an understanding of. It is so unique it can never be fully comprehended. Here is an event which continually fills us with awe and wonder.

We should never be tired of considering these things. We should never think of just going through the motions of another Christmas. Here we encounter a glorious miracle; Jesus was not just a mere baby, He was supernaturally begotten of the Holy Spirit – the miracle of the virgin conception, the birth of a sinless person, one promised by God 4,000 years prior to the event. In Genesis 3:15 God promises the woman’s seed – a singular word – one who would come from the woman, in due time, who would be there conqueror of Satan, and who would be the one who would release them from their captivity to sin.

In the person of Jesus Christ, the woman’s seed, the Saviour comes – miraculously conceived in in the womb of a virgin – a great and glorious miracle of God. Marvel afresh at the mystery and the miracle of our Saviour’s birth. Matthew, like Luke, wants to emphasise the wonder of this event by pointing to the reality of the virgin conception.

“Jacob the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was born, who is called Christ,” (Matthew 1:16). ‘Of whom’ is feminine, not masculine. The original language is unambiguous; Jesus is the son of Mary, not the son of Joseph. That great lineage that we read at the start of Matthew 1 is emphasised in the original language, that He is born of Mary.

“Now the birth of Jesus Christtook place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothedto Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit.” (Matthew 1:18) There is an emphasis on the absence of sexual relationship between Mary and Joseph. A betrothal has taken place, something more than an engagement. We are told specifically, as the Holy Spirit guides Matthew, there was no sexual relationship between Joseph and Mary that could have led to her conceiving. Indeed, we are told in verse 18 and re-emphasised in verse 20, as the angel speaks to Joseph, Mary was not involved with any man, “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.” (Matthew 1:20). Joseph need not worry that Mary had been unfaithful to Him.

“Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us). Matthew 1:23 Matthew quotes Isaiah. He uses a word in Greek that only means virgin. The Holy Spirit guides Matthew, confirming it is a virgin who gives birth. Mary remains a virgin up to His birth. Subsequently, we know Mary has a further four boys and at least two girls that Joseph fathered. But in this instance, Joseph has no involvement in this conception. A virgin conception leads to a virgin birth.

If Jesus was the natural child of sinful parents, then there would be no reason for us to celebrate Christmas, to be excited, to be full of awe and wonder at His birth. If Jesus were not the Son of God who entered into this world via the virgin’s womb, He could not be the Saviour of His people. The name Jesus that was given to Him, by direction of God through the angel, means Saviour. It’s a name that was a fairly commonly used in Bible times. It has an Old Testament version, Joshua. Of all the boys that were born down the centuries that bore His name, there was only one who was truly the Saviour, bringing salvation to those born in sin. This Jesus is Immanuel, God with us. Here is the one mysteriously, miraculously conceived, the one who brings hope to a hopeless, lost world.

This Jesus is Immanuel. We are told this is God, God with us. Here is the one who is mysteriously, miraculously conceived, the one who brings hope to the hopeless. Here is one who is fully God, never anything less than that. It is important for fallen human beings to ascend to God, to approach the holy one, to draw near to this holy God. It there was ever to be a renewed fellowship between sinful men and the holy God, God must come down, for man cannot go up.

Sharing in this remarkable event, in this mysterious, miraculous occurrence, God comes – one who is fully God, but one who is also the fullness of God. “For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell,” (Colossians 1:19), “For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily,” (Colossians 2:9). In this one person the fullness of God was found in bodily form. An incredible mystery! It is phenomenal – not just a bit of God but the whole of God. It’s only God the Son who is conceived of the Holy Spirit, who is born. But such is the unity of the Trinity that when one person of the Trinity comes, then the whole of God comes, in Jesus of Nazareth, the one who is Immanuel.

How amazing it is that the God we have sinned against and rejected, condescends to come. He doesn’t sit in glory and say, ‘Do your best to get to me,’ for that is impossible. He comes! Who is it that can pay the infinite price for sin other than the infinite God. It is God the Son who will offer Himself up, as a sacrifice, taking the punishment from our sin, in our place, upon the cross. The Father will pour out upon Him the wrath the should rightly consume each one of us.

It is the one who is fully God, the one who is the fullness of God, who pays the penalty that God requires, so that we can be forgiven and receive salvation, eternal life, that renewed fellowship with God which is the essence of what life is – an eternal union with Christ through faith, that draws us into the very communion of the godhead itself. We don’t become divine, but through Christ we are drawn into the divine, and we know salvation. Immanuel. It’s God. It is God with us.

He is God but He is also fully man. He identifies full with us in our humanity. He is therefore able to represent us and take upon Himself the responsibility for our sin. It is not an angel who comes in order to die, it is a man, for it is a man who fell into sin and brought into captivity all his descendants. We are all sinners by our nature and by our deed. We share in the responsibility for Adam’s sin. We cannot say, ‘It’s unfair because it was Adam who fell not me.’ The reality is Adam fell, and I fell in him, but I have continued to fall in sin and I must bear the responsibility.

But a Saviour comes! One who is fully God but who is also fully man, one who identifies completely with me in order that He can take the responsibility of my sin upon myself.

He is sinless, protected by the Holy Spirit from the contamination of sin, by this virgin conception. This perfect man was perfectly God. He knew no sin. But God made Him, who knew no sin, to be sin, by taking the responsibility of our sin. He is not condemned, as He dies upon the cross, because of His own sin, but because He has identified so fully with me that He becomes me, in the eyes of the Father. As He hangs upon that tree, He bears the full weight of the punishment of my sin. He is God with us.

He is our great High Priest. He identifies with us so fully. He has experienced all the trials of our lives. He is moved with compassion towards us. He has loved us so much that He has given Himself as the sacrifice for our sin. His great desire is for our eternal good and well-being. He intercedes on our behalf before the Father. His purpose is to keep all those who, repenting of their sin, trust in Him for forgiveness. He is going to keep every single one of these people safe in the salvation that He has accomplished for all eternity. There is not one that will not be kept or preserved, to stand before the God of glory in eternity. There is not one who will be separated from Him. There is not one who will not be kept and preserved by His grace, through the power of the Holy Spirit, to stand before the throne of God in glory and to worship for eternity.

The great triune God. Here is Jesus, the Saviour, who is Immanuel, God with us. Two natures in one person. Here is the mystery and miracle of Christmas that brings true joy, that provides sure and certain hope of salvation. Here is the reason why we should be full of praise and thanksgiving. Here is the Saviour. Here is my Saviour, my God, come down for me, that I might ascend to His glorious presence and enjoy eternity, in fellowship with Him. Are you excited, full of awe, full of wonder?

December 17th 2017: Alan Davison

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alan davison-dec17Matthew 1:18-25: Joseph, the forgotten man

When reflecting on the Christmas story, Joseph is usually in the background, in a supporting role. However, if we look at the scriptures, Mary and Joseph have equal billing in the Nativity story. Here in Matthew the focus is on Joseph. Luke’s focus is on Mary. The Roman Catholic tradition of focusing on Mary has contributed to the general forgetfulness of Joseph. Here in Matthew’s account of the Nativity, God’s story is from Joseph’s perspective. Joseph was a carpenter living a fairly normal life. Other than the Nativity and visit to Jerusalem when Jesus was 12, there is no other mention of him. He had a humble station in life and yet the Holy God dealt with him directly.

As a carpenter Joseph would have had a busy life of hard, manual labour. He was engaged to be married to Mary, everything seemed set for the rest of his life. He was betrothed – effectively married, underlying the seriousness of the relationship. May became pregnant by the Holy Spirit. Joseph, in his human nature, must have thought this incredible. He probably thought the worst, that Mary had been unfaithful. Deuteronomy 22 warns of falsely accusing a woman of adultery. If, however, this was true, an adulteress would have been stoned to death. This was the potential threat hanging over Mary. However, more likely, it would have ended in divorce (Deuteronomy 24:1).

Joseph could have formally divorced Mary. But instead he wanted to put her away secretly, to save her from public embarrassment. Joseph is to be commended here. He did not have a knee-jerk reaction to Mary’s pregnancy. He wanted to protect both Mary and himself. Yet it’s a wrong decision, even if made for the right reasons. ‘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.”’ (Matthew 1:20). Joseph still considers what to do when God intervenes to reveal exactly what is going on. As human beings we can be easily confused and distracted by what we see. God in His grace intervened in Joseph’s life.

God then reassures Joseph. An angel says, ‘Do not be afraid.’ This phrase occurs throughout scripture (e.g. shepherds, Mary). Jesus repeatedly had to tell people not to be afraid (e.g. disciples on the boat in Lake Galilee). God always reassures His people. Joseph here is going to be told the reason for Mary’s pregnancy, which is the will of God. The Holy Spirit is the agent of God’s creativity, particularly in the creation of new life. Isaiah 11:1-2, Isaiah 42:1.

As well as being told by the angel of Mary’s pregnancy, Joseph was probably told by Mary herself. Presumably he did love Mary. Any doubts about her truthfulness would be removed. The angel now goes on to offer an explanation about what is happening. God is under no obligation to do this but issues commands in a loving manner (Matthew 1:20). Joseph is to take Mary as his wife, to continue the marriage. Joseph is part of the lineage of David, born into the people of God. Any sons of his would be legally considered to be sons of David, thus fulfilling the prophecy that Jesus would come from David’s line.

 ‘She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.’ (Matthew 1:21). For God to reveal a child’s name would reveal something special and the role for them. Here, even before Jesus was born, God is saying He will save people from sins. Isaiah prophesies the role of Jesus’ life. When Jesus came to earth He was Immanuel, God with us. We are separated from God by our sin, but Immanuel, God is with us.

God remains in control throughout. Having been reassured and given an explanation, Joseph obeys. He didn’t pause to consider any more. He acts and obeys. It is not just blind servitude. God has explained to Joseph what is going on. His own knowledge of the scriptures would have directed his way as well. Joseph kept Mary a virgin after marriage. There was no doubt Jesus was born of the Holy Spirit. Joseph follows God’s guidance to the letter.

What does all of this mean for us? God intervened in Joseph’s life. Even as believers we can find it difficult to follow God’s will. After intervening God then reassures Joseph. Because God is with us we too know things will work out. God didn’t reveal everything to Joseph, but he knew it would all be OK. God gave Joseph everything he needed, enough so he could make the right decisions.

Sometimes, life can overwhelm us. The temptation is to despair but God guides us step by step. Sometimes we just need to get on with the work. God will never overburden us. Joseph obeyed. Quite simply, that’s all we need to do. God is sovereign. He knows what is best for us. God wants us to enjoy our lives. We only really do that when we trust the future to God. This Christmas, may we, like Joseph, find the time to pause and consider things. Simply trust Him for tomorrow, as Joseph did.

 

December 3rd 2017: Paul Daniel

Published on by Penuel Baptist RochLeave a comment

Paul Daniel-Dec17Matthew 1:17-25

What’s appropriate at Christmas time? What is Christmas all about? It is a time of year of watching cute Christmas films, trees and Christmas decorations. There are Christmas films being released. Perhaps a surprising one is a new war film of the 9/11 events. Christmas is more like the war film than the cute Christmas films.

This is a story of when God Himself comes to this earth in flesh. Mary conceives, the conception is from the Holy Spirit (v.18). This reminds us Jesus was born without sin, therefore, He will war against sin. He took on flesh – God came down out of heaven to take on flesh. This is the nitty gritty of the Christmas story, the real nativity.

We love opening gifts, it’s wonderful. There are things we want, things we desire in this world. Sometimes we may receive things we don’t need. But what we really need is a Saviour to save us from death, destruction and sin. That is what all of us will have to face. Adam and Eve brought death into this world. Adam lived and died. You and I live and die – which is why this message of a Saviour is wonderful. It brings us hope. Jesus was born into this world to be a Saviour.

We are to remember what the significance of the story is – at Christmas we focus on the birth, the little baby. But do you see in verse 21 Jesus will save His people from their sin? “She will give birth to a son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:21). This is not just about a baby but what that baby will do. He will fulfil all righteousness and save His people from their sins. This is about a Saviour. It’s a humbling reminder that Jesus came to save sinners.

Look back at your life and all the things you’ve done – your achievements but also your failures, the times you’ve not done what is right – when you’ve hurt the people you love most. Then look at this verse. You’re reminded, if you’re a Christian, at one point in time you were not saved. But Christ came and made you aware your sin deserved hell. By His grace you turned and now follow Him. Jesus went to war for you. Because of your own sin there was nothing you could do, ‘As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins.’ (Ephesians 1:1). But Jesus came to save you, not people, but His people. Not everyone will be saved – only those who come to Him and ask for forgiveness.

Once upon a time, when you lived your life your own way, God in His goodness and justice could have left you like that – doing exactly what you wanted – and you wouldn’t have been saved. But in His mercy and love He came to you and made you aware of His love for you, ‘The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call Him Immanuel (which means ‘God with us.)’ (Matthew 1:23).

What is more important, the gift or the giver? Children get excited about the gift. But the giver is more important, the relationship is more important. What is the purpose of having your sin forgiven? Christmas is all about God being with us and us being with God. There is a time coming when, if you’re one of God’s people, you will be with God. Jesus was with us, died on the cross, then was absent for 3 days before He rose again and appeared with His followers, then left. There is a time coming when we will be with God. Revelation 21 speaks of God dwelling with man, ‘And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and He will dwell with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death.” (Revelation 21:3-4).

That is where the Christian story started and is heading to. As Christians we are looking forward to a time when we will see Jesus and live with Him in perfection and glory forever. Are you looking forward to seeing your Saviour, talking to Him, being with Him forever? The gates of heaven are open. If you know your sin brings death and destruction and know Jesus died for you, if you confess your sin and repent, then nothing condemns you, you are welcomed into heaven.

There’s a certainty about Salvation. You’ll be with Jesus. The doors are open if you’re a Christian. But on that final day when Jesus Christ comes and His people will live with Him forever, the doors are also going to be shut. When He comes to judge the living and the dead, and make everything right, the doors will be closed. No-one else will ever be able to go in there again. There is only a certain amount of time for people to come to the Saviour, to put their trust in Jesus. For one day the door will be closed.

As God came to be with us and us with Him, share the gospel message – not in our own strength but asking in His Spirit – to change the hearts of children, parents and loved ones. The time is coming when Jesus Christ is coming again, when He will open and close the doors. Let’s get people ready. Let’s remind them of this wonderful, miraculous birth.