The Father of Jesus

The Messiah According to Matthew PART II
Rev John Lin (Keller mp3)
7 December 2014

Matthew 1: 18-25
18This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit.  19Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.

20But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.  21She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins."

22All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23"The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel" (which means, "God with us").

24When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife.  25But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son.  And he gave him the name Jesus.

FEAR OF JOSEPH
--Quietly divorces her preserves his reputation.
--Virgin birth was inconvenient for Joseph

COURAGEOUS HEART
--Believing this is counter cultural.
--Be generous to those in need.
--We tend to put our hope in things of our own life.
--Courage is putting our joy in the happiness of others.

COURAGE FOR US
--Jesus, our hope, came amidst poverty - splendor from tragedy.
--V.25 - call him our savior.; allowing the angel to name him abdicates Joseph's claim over his son.
--Comfort during suffering; v.23 (from Isaiah)  God with us identifies with our sorrow and suffering.
--Courage during Service - Incarnation of God in our world means things of the world matters.

PERSON OF JESUS
--Child growing in Mary comes not from this world.
--Jesus will come to save HIS people which means Jesus is God.
--An all or nothing character - God with us

DOCTRINE OF JESUS
--God will save us from our sins--not instruct us on how to save ourselves.
--Joseph, by giving up naming rights, gives up his authority over the child.

AUTHORITY OF JESUS
--Jesus is born into our lives and we lose control because He takes over.
--From the serpent, if I give up my control to God, I'll be unhappy.
--We have been wounded at the core of our being.
--Self giving is the way to fulfillment - Trinity (all three are praising one another)
--God gave himself away for us, so give ourselves to Him.