TLDR;
This sermon explores the profound significance of Jesus Christ's birth, emphasizing the virgin birth as a pivotal event that fulfills prophecy and establishes Jesus's dual lineage. It addresses the historical context, theological implications, and prophetic fulfillments surrounding Jesus's birth, highlighting the importance of understanding the scriptures and personally seeking a relationship with God. The narrative also covers the visit of the Magi, their gifts, and Herod's reaction, underscoring the contrast between genuine worship and mere pretense.
- The virgin birth is essential for fulfilling prophecies and establishing Jesus's lineage.
- Two genealogies of Jesus exist to show both His legal right to the throne of David and the purity of His bloodline.
- The visit of the Magi highlights the contrast between genuine worship and pretense.
Introduction [0:01]
The sermon begins with an introduction to the study of the Bible, emphasizing the importance of understanding the truth of God in an interactive and enjoyable way. The speaker expresses gratitude for the gathering of people with a common interest in spiritual things and a hunger for truth, highlighting the need for frequent immersion in truth amidst worldly influences. He references Peter's teaching on growing in grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ, setting the stage for an exploration of Jesus's birth and life.
The Virgin Birth and Its Significance [1:40]
The speaker transitions to the Gospel of Matthew, noting the 42 generations traced back to Abraham and the unique interest in Jesus's birth even after 2,000 years. He contrasts natural birth with the supernatural virgin birth of Jesus, a singular event predicted by Isaiah. Despite widespread acknowledgment of Christmas, the speaker laments that many who identify as Christians do not consider Jesus's birth the most important aspect of the holiday. The virgin birth is defended against attempts to explain it away through natural phenomena like parthenogenesis, emphasizing its uniqueness in the human realm.
Genealogies of Jesus: Matthew and Luke [11:16]
The speaker addresses the two genealogies of Christ in Matthew and Luke, explaining that Matthew's genealogy traces Joseph's lineage, providing Jesus's legal right to the throne of David. Luke's genealogy, on the other hand, traces Mary's lineage, showcasing the racial purity of Jesus's bloodline. This distinction is crucial because of a curse on the bloodline of Jeconiah, a king of Judah, which would disqualify any of his descendants from sitting on David's throne. The virgin birth bypasses this curse through Mary's lineage, ensuring Jesus's eligibility as the Messiah.
Joseph's Dilemma and the Angel's Message [19:22]
The speaker discusses Joseph's initial plan to divorce Mary quietly upon discovering her pregnancy, highlighting his righteousness and desire to protect her. An angel appears to Joseph in a dream, reassuring him that Mary's child is conceived by the Holy Spirit and instructing him to name the child Jesus, meaning "God is salvation," for He will save His people from their sins. This fulfills the prophecy of Isaiah, where a virgin will conceive and bear a son, to be named Emmanuel, meaning "God with us," emphasizing that Emmanuel is a title or description, not a personal name.
The Prophecy of Isaiah and Its Context [21:11]
The speaker explains the historical context of Isaiah's prophecy, detailing the situation with King Ahaz and the alliance with Assyria. Isaiah rebukes Ahaz for trusting a king rather than the Lord and offers a sign: a virgin will conceive and bear a son, Emmanuel. This sign is not just for Ahaz but for the entire nation, assuring them of God's protection and the fulfillment of His promise in the lineage of King David. The speaker also addresses the liberal scholars' interpretation of the Hebrew word "alma," arguing that the Septuagint's translation to "Parthenos" confirms its meaning as "virgin."
Further Prophecies and the Virgin Birth [28:57]
The speaker suggests that the virgin birth is also predicted in Genesis 3:15, referring to the "seed of the woman" as an oxymoron, since seed typically comes from the man. Mary is the only woman to have the seed within her that produced a child not from a human being but from the Holy Spirit. He clarifies that Mary did not remain a virgin after Jesus's birth, citing Matthew 13 to show that Jesus had brothers and sisters.
The Visit of the Wise Men [32:09]
The speaker transitions to Matthew chapter 2, recounting the arrival of the wise men from the east in Jerusalem, seeking the newborn King of the Jews. He clarifies that much of the tradition surrounding the wise men is embellished, including their number and names. The speaker identifies the wise men as Magi from Mesopotamia, possibly influenced by Daniel and the prophecies of the Messiah. Herod's paranoia and consultation with the chief priests and scribes are described, highlighting their knowledge of the prophecy that the Christ would be born in Bethlehem.
Bethlehem and the Chief Priests' Indifference [40:34]
The speaker explains the significance of Bethlehem as the City of David and the "house of bread," noting the irony that the bread of life would be born there. He expresses astonishment that the chief priests, despite knowing the prophecy, did not bother to investigate whether it was being fulfilled, contrasting their indifference with the Magi's long journey. The speaker warns against being like those who know the Bible but fail to put it into practice, becoming "inoculated with a mild form of Christianity."
The Star and the Gifts of the Magi [44:38]
The speaker discusses the nature of the star that guided the wise men, dismissing various theories and suggesting it may have been the glory of God, similar to the pillar of fire that led the Israelites. He emphasizes that the star stopped over where the young child was, leading the wise men to rejoice and worship Him. The gifts they presented—gold, frankincense, and myrrh—are interpreted as symbols of Jesus's kingship, priesthood, and future death.
Flight to Egypt and Herod's Massacre [52:45]
The speaker recounts the angel's warning to Joseph to flee to Egypt with the young child and his mother, fulfilling the prophecy, "Out of Egypt I have called my son." He suggests they went to Alexandria, where a large Jewish community would have provided refuge. Herod, upon realizing he had been deceived by the wise men, orders the massacre of all male children in Bethlehem two years old and under, fulfilling Jeremiah's prophecy of Rachel weeping for her children.
Return from Egypt and Settlement in Nazareth [55:02]
The speaker concludes with the return of Joseph, Mary, and Jesus from Egypt after Herod's death. Warned in a dream, Joseph avoids Judea and settles in Nazareth, fulfilling the prophecy that Jesus would be called a Nazarene. The speaker notes that Matthew's quotation of Jeremiah's prophecy about Rachel weeping prefigures the events in Bethlehem, with the Babylonian captivity serving as a type of what would happen when Jesus was born.
Closing Prayer [57:23]
The sermon concludes with a prayer, expressing love for Jesus as the one who saves from sin and gratitude for Emmanuel, God with us. The speaker emphasizes Jesus's ability to understand human experiences and His role as the sinless atonement. He prays that churchgoers and Bible students would seek a living relationship with God and not just knowledge about Him, avoiding the trap of becoming merely a school rather than a body of Christ.
