12/24/11 THE BIRTH OF JESUS, OUR SAVIOR

Matthew 1:18-25                                              Saturday, December 24, 2011
Key Verse: 1:21                                                Kevin Jesmer NIU UBF

“She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus,[c] because he will save his people from their sins.”

Dear Lord heavenly Father, thank you for this Christmas time. I thank you for the family you have given me. I thank you for the joy and love you have given. I also thank you for your love Jesus. You truly are the meaning of this season. Without you, anything we do is for Christmas is lacking. But with you it is complete. I pray that we may worship you at DeKalb Christian Church and at DuPage UBF. May we worship and celebrate Jesus. May our hearts be filled with the Holy Spirit. May the word of God come alive in us. May those who are less fortunate taste and experience the love of Jesus. Lord, I pray that you help me to hold onto one word of God, deeply in my heart. I thank you and I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen!
1. Jesus saves us from our sins (18-21,24-25).

Verses 18-21 read, “This 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. 19 Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet[b] did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. But 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. 21 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.”

God’s great plan to send the Messiah was fulfilled when he sent Jesus into the family of Mary and Joseph. It required Mary to be pregnant by the Holy Spirit before marriage. Her fiancé, Joseph tempered justice with mercy to protect Mary and also obeyed the word of God decisively, overcoming his own misunderstandings, feelings, and fears (19,20,24). These people of faith were useful in sending the Son of God into the world.

It was a hard mission to fulfill. Mary could have been ostracized or worse, stoned to death. Joseph could have received some persecution. But they obeyed the word of God. They were willing to accept the challenges and the dangers involved. God has called me to a great mission to reveal Jesus to the world. He has called me to be to a shepherd and Bible teacher for NIU students and the young people of DeKalb. But there are certain hardships to endure. I am not in Winnipeg, but 1,000 miles away, in the holiday season. There are spiritual struggles in my heart that keep me on the edge of falling into despair and fatalism. When I was reaching out more, I was frequently stood up and ignored and I had to give up some of my own private moments in an attempt to have Bible study. But, by the grace of Jesus, I could embrace the life of a shepherd. I could say, “Yes, Lord. May it be to me as you have said.” When I have this attitude then Jesus Christ can come into the hearts of many young people. I could also raise my own kids up be servants of God who can know and love Jesus.

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

God named his Son, Jesus, which means “the Lord saves.” The root of all evil and misery in the world is human sin. No one had been able to solve the sin problem. But Jesus saves his people from their sins.

Jesus saves us from our sins. I thank God for saving me from my sins. I surely would be a slave to depression and despair. I surely would just sleep, eat, exercise and be grumpy and wait to die if it we not for my savior, Jesus Christ. I could not live and my kids could not grow normally if it were not for Jesus and the gospel and the mission of God. Lord, I need you to save me from my sins each and every day. I also need Jesus to save me from my sins so that I can make it to heaven. Without Jesus I just have no way to be there. Only Jesus can help me and he is keeping me in his love and helping me to get to the Kingdom of God.

2. They will call him Immanuel (22-23).

Verses 22-23 read, “ All 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”).”

Matthew especially emphasizes that Jesus’ virgin birth fulfilled Scripture. Jesus came into the world exactly as God planned in order to carry out his specific mission. Jesus is God who came to be with us, so he is also called, “Immanuel.” Jesus saves us by being with us. Jesus was with Matthew as a good friend and shepherd until Matthew was changed from a selfish tax collector to a great apostle who wrote the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus wants to be with you in the same way.
I thank God who sent Jesus as planned. I can trust the gospel if Jesus. It came to us down through history, through prophecies. I can devote my life to the gospel, not because of threats and co-ersion, but through willing commitment and devotion. I don’t know how anyone could commit to anything else. There is no basis…history. But thoughtful people can commit to Jesus freely and without reservation because it is all because of God’s plan. Lord, I commit my life and my family to you because I know that you are a faithful God and the gospel is confirmed though historical fact.

Jesus came to be with us. Jesus is with me and my family. He is with all who put their faith in him. There are so many lonely people in this world. They feel all alone. They need Jesus to come into their lives. They need to be with Jesus who so desperately wants to dwell with them. Certain people who are close to me, would not be so lonely if they would only give their hearts to Immanuel Jesus. Immanuel Jesus is the answer to anyone who is alone and suffering.

It is nice that my kids are here with me. But one day they will go away and live their own lives. I can not depend on their love forever. But Jesus is with me all the way to the kingdom of God. Jesus is with me throughout this cold world, warming my heart with his love.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for coming into this world to save me from my sins. Please dwell in my heart today and every day as my Savior.

One Word: Jesus saves us and is with us