Showing posts with label Matthew 01. Show all posts

God with Us, God Saves

What was Jesus’ birth really like? Let’s understand the circumstances of Jesus' birth. Let’s look at Joseph's dilemma, the meanings of Jesus' names and whether or not Mary remained a perpetual virgin in Matthew 1:18-25.

Joseph’s Dilemma

Matthew 1:18 This is how Jesus the Messiah was born. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. But before the marriage took place, while she was still a virgin, she became pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Joseph, betrothed to Mary, found her pregnant. At that time, a groom typically prepared a home for his bride, which could take a year. When all was prepared, he came to collect his bride, like Christ comes for the Church. Joseph decided to cancel the wedding privately for Mary’s sake.

Joseph’s Mercy

Matthew 1:19 Joseph, to whom she was engaged, was a righteous man and did not want to disgrace her publicly, so he decided to break the engagement quietly.

Imagine being engaged, feeling betrayed, yet loving her and not wanting to disgrace nor punish her. An angel says, it’s of God and her son would bring salvation. You marry her knowing there will be gossip. You also know the child’s name, Jesus (God saves) and Immanuel (God with us).

Name Him Jesus

Matthew 1:20-21 As he considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. “Joseph, son of David,” the angel said, “do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. 21 And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”

Jesus’ name means “YHWH (the Lord) saves.” His name is the hope of the whole world (Matthew 12:15-21). Jesus’ name heals (Mark 9:38-40). We should take Jesus name seriously and pray for blasphemers. His Greek name is abbreviated ΙΗΣ[1], IHS in English, a sign seen in churches everywhere.

[1] Greek capital letters Iota-Eta-Sigma, biblestudytools.com, newadvent.org/cathen, christogenea.org

God with Us

Matthew 1:22-23 All of this occurred to fulfill the Lord’s message through his prophet: 23 “Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us.’”

Jesus is the cornerstone of Christianity, His birth, resurrection, salvation, divinity and humanity. In 451 AD, the last Ecumenical Council recognized by most Protestants, came to the greatest historical consensus on Christ, affirming the Trinity, Christ's virgin birth, his humanity and his deity, and his two natures in one person.

Jesus means Joshua. Two Joshuas were forerunners of Jesus. Joshua the son of Nun conquered 31 cities in Canaan beginning around 1400 BC. Joshua and the promised land symbolize Jesus and eternal life. Joshua the son of Jozadak was a high priest (Haggai 1). Jesus is our high priest (Hebrews 8:3-5).[2]

[2] newadvent.org/cathen; The Oxford History of the Biblical World. 1998. Oxford University Press; biblearchaeology.org; orthodoxytoday.org)

Perpetual Virginity?

Matthew 1:24-25 When Joseph woke up, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded and took Mary as his wife. 25 But he did not have sexual relations with her until her son was born. And Joseph named him Jesus.

Was Mary a Perpetual Virgin? Jesus had siblings (Mark 6:3, Matthew 13:55, John 7:3, Acts 1:14, 1 Corinthians 9:5). The Greek word for cousins was not used. In John 19:26-27 Mary is a spiritual mother, not without her own children to look after her.

Psalm 69, quoted several times, refers to not only David, but also Jesus (John 2:13–17, John 15:24–25, John 19:28–30, Romans 15:3). It states plainly that “my brothers” are “my mother’s children” (vs 8). Let’s not hide doctrinal errors behind infallibility, but repent and admit the truth.

Jesus was God with us, is God with us every hour of every day and will be God with us forever.

Readings

Isaiah 7:10-16

10 Later, the Lord sent this message to King Ahaz: 11 “Ask the Lord your God for a sign of confirmation, Ahaz. Make it as difficult as you want—as high as heaven or as deep as the place of the dead.” 12 But the king refused. “No,” he said, “I will not test the Lord like that.”

13 Then Isaiah said, “Listen well, you royal family of David! Isn’t it enough to exhaust human patience? Must you exhaust the patience of my God as well? 14 All right then, the Lord himself will give you the sign. Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel (which means ‘God is with us’). 15 By the time this child is old enough to choose what is right and reject what is wrong, he will be eating yogurt and honey. 16 For before the child is that old, the lands of the two kings you fear so much will both be deserted.

The word of the Lord.

In the virgin’s child lies the hidden mystery of God becoming fully human in Jesus Christ. In the name Immanuel lies the mystery of redemption for all humanity.

Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19

For the choir director: A psalm of Asaph, to be sung to the tune “Lilies of the Covenant.” 1 Please listen, O Shepherd of Israel, you who lead Joseph’s descendants like a flock. O God, enthroned above the cherubim, display your radiant glory 2 to Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasseh. Show us your mighty power. Come to rescue us! 3 Turn us again to yourself, O God. Make your face shine down upon us. Only then will we be saved. 4 O Lord God of Heaven’s Armies, how long will you be angry with our prayers? 5 You have fed us with sorrow and made us drink tears by the bucketful. 6 You have made us the scorn of neighboring nations. Our enemies treat us as a joke. 7 Turn us again to yourself, O God of Heaven’s Armies. Make your face shine down upon us. Only then will we be saved.

17 Strengthen the man you love, the son of your choice. 18 Then we will never abandon you again. Revive us so we can call on your name once more. 19 Turn us again to yourself, O Lord God of Heaven’s Armies. Make your face shine down upon us. Only then will we be saved.

Thus ends the reading from the Psalms.

God is so far above us, and our sins have separated us from him, that glimpses of heaven can seem science fiction. Yet, we can return to God and be saved. Let’s pray to turn our lives to God, and for His strength to help us make the journey home.

Romans 1:1-7

1 This letter is from Paul, a slave of Christ Jesus, chosen by God to be an apostle and sent out to preach his Good News. 2 God promised this Good News long ago through his prophets in the holy Scriptures. 3 The Good News is about his Son. In his earthly life he was born into King David’s family line, 4 and he was shown to be the Son of God when he was raised from the dead by the power of the Holy Spirit. He is Jesus Christ our Lord. 5 Through Christ, God has given us the privilege and authority as apostles to tell Gentiles everywhere what God has done for them, so that they will believe and obey him, bringing glory to his name.

6 And you are included among those Gentiles who have been called to belong to Jesus Christ. 7 I am writing to all of you in Rome who are loved by God and are called to be his own holy people. May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.

The word of God for the people of God.

Paul’s titles were not grandiose or bragging when he wrote them. Servant or slave is a humble title. Apostle simply means a messenger.

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Matthew 1:18-25 in Rhyme

Now the birth of Jesus Christ was this way
Mary was to marry Joseph some day
But before the marriage even took place
She’s with child by the Holy Spirit’s grace

Righteous Joseph caused no anxiety
Chose to break the engagement quietly
But, an angel came to him in a dream
Don’t fear, the Holy Spirit’s in this scheme

She’ll have a son, and you’ll name him Jesus
He’ll save his people from their sins grievous
The Lord’s message through his prophet compiled
“Behold! The virgin will conceive a child!

She’ll give birth to a son, Emmanuel,
Which means ‘God is with us.’ as all will soon tell”
Joseph awoke and took Mary his wife
Then after the birth came marital life

And Joseph named him Jesus
[And Jesus means, God saves (us)]
And Joseph named him Jesus
[Emmanuel, God with us]

God with Us

Intro

What was Jesus’ birth really like?

Goal

Let us understand the circumstances of Jesus' birth.

Sermon Plan

Let’s look at Matthew 1:18-25, Joseph's dilemma, the meanings of Jesus' names and whether or not Mary remained a perpetual virgin.

Matthew 1:18 This is how Jesus the Messiah was born. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. But before the marriage took place, while she was still a virgin, she became pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit. 19 Joseph, to whom she was engaged, was a righteous man and did not want to disgrace her publicly, so he decided to break the engagement quietly.

20 As he considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. “Joseph, son of David,” the angel said, “do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. 21 And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”

22 All of this occurred to fulfill the Lord’s message through his prophet: 23 “Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us.’” 24 When Joseph woke up, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded and took Mary as his wife. 25 But he did not have sexual relations with her until her son was born. And Joseph named him Jesus.

Joseph’s Dilemma (vs 18)

Joseph, betrothed to Mary, found her pregnant. A groom typically prepared a home for his bride. That could take a year. When all was prepared, he came to collect his bride, like Christ comes for the Church. Joseph decided to cancel the wedding privately for Mary’s sake. An angel said this was a sign of a new age of peace.

Joseph’s Mercy (vs 19)

Imagine being Joseph, engaged to Mary. You feel betrayed. You don’t want to disgrace her, nor have her punished. An angel says to marry her. Her pregnancy is of the Holy Spirit and her son would bring salvation. You marry her knowing there will be gossip. You also know the child’s name, Jesus (God saves) and Immanuel (God with us).

Jesus’ Name (vs 20-21)

False gods and idols cannot save, and insulting the name of the one who can is foolish. Not taking a rest day causes stress and early death. Dishonoring parents causes broken families, poverty and crime. Murder and adultery destroy families, and theft destroys neighborhood security. False witnesses fill the land with distrust. Coveting causes crime and war.

Jesus means “YHWH (the Lord) saves.” Only he can rescue us from damnation. His name is the hope of the whole world (Matthew 12:15-21). Jesus’ name heals (Mark 9:38-40). Catholics take Jesus name seriously. The Society of the Holy Name prays for blasphemers. His Greek name is abbreviated ΙΗΣ1, IHS in English, a sign seen in churches everywhere.

1 Iota, Eta, Sigma

References: biblestudytools.com, newadvent.org/cathen, christogenea.org

Central Christianity (vs 22-23)

Jesus is the center of Christianity, his birth, resurrection, salvation, his divinity and humanity. Controversies over Jesus still exist. In 451 AD, the last Ecumenical Council widely recognized by Protestants, contributed perhaps the greatest consensus of opinions on Christ in Christian history, affirming the Trinity, Christ's virgin birth, his humanity and his deity, and his two natures in one person.

Science tells us that Earth is only a temporary home and is trying to find another planet far, far away. Humanity sees our salvation as a species in “technology with us.” The Bible also tells us that Earth is only a temporary home and that our long-term answer is found not in “technology with us” but in “God with us.”

Jesus means Joshua. Two Joshuas were forerunners of Jesus. Joshua the son of Nun conquered 31 cities in Canaan beginning around 1400 BC. Jesus was born to save each one of us. We cannot save ourselves from death, but Jesus can. Joshua and the promised land symbolize Jesus and eternal life. Joshua the son of Jozadak was a high priest (Haggai 1). Jesus is our high priest (Hebrews 8:3-5).

(References: newadvent.org/cathen; The Oxford History of the Biblical World. 1998. Oxford University Press; biblearchaeology.org; orthodoxytoday.org)

Perpetual Virginity? (verse 25)

Was Mary a Perpetual Virgin? Verse 25 says Joseph did not have relations with Mary until her son was born. Elsewhere we read of Jesus’ siblings (Mark 6:3, Matthew 13:55, John 7:3, Acts 1:14, 1 Corinthians 9:5). Contrary to perpetual virgin dogma, the Greek word for cousins was not used. John 19:26-27 only indicates that Mary was a spiritual mother and does not prove she had no children of her own to look after her.

Psalm 69 is quoted several times in the New Testament as referring to not only David, but also Jesus (John 2:13–17, John 15:24–25, John 19:28–30, Romans 15:3). It states plainly that “my brothers” are “my mother’s children” (vs 8). We ought not to hide our doctrinal errors behind infallibility, but repent and admit truth.

Outro/Take Home

Jesus was God with us, is God with us every hour of every day and will be God with us forever.

God with us

Intro

What was it really like when Jesus was born?

Goal

Let us understand the circumstances of Jesus' birth.

Sermon Plan

We will look at Joseph's dilemma, the meanings of Jesus' names and whether or not Mary remained a perpetual virgin.

Joseph’s dilemma

Joseph had a dilemma (Matthew 1:18). He was betrothed to Mary but found her pregnant. A betrothal in those days was as binding as a marriage contract. The groom typically prepared a home, either as an addition to his parent’s home or a free-standing one depending on his financial ability. That could take a year. Then when all was prepared, the bridegroom would come to collect his bride. Hence the biblical pictures of Christ as the bridegroom who comes for his bride the Church. Finding Mary pregnant, Joseph had a dilemma. He was mindful to cancel the whole deal privately rather than put Mary to public disgrace and possible stoning by the more self-righteous in the community. Joseph was encouraged by an angel that this was a prophesied sign of a new age of peace and security for Israel.

Imagine you are Joseph

Imagine you are Joseph, engaged to Mary. You are busy preparing a home to receive her. Then you discover that she is pregnant. You feel betrayed, deeply hurt. You are a righteous man who believes in faithfulness before marriage. That means that the both of you are to be virgins on your wedding night. But, you also believe in mercy because righteousness demands it. You contemplate breaking the engagement quietly, because you really love this woman and don’t want to disgrace her, nor have her punished. But you were not fully decided when you had a dream in which an angel said not to hesitate marrying Mary. Her pregnancy was of the Holy Spirit and would bring salvation. You marry her knowing you will be gossiped about, but that the child’s name would be “God saves” and “God with us”.

An awkward start

Marriage ideally begins with a savings account, a house already built and a good job. But, many of us did not begin with any of those things. Joseph and Mary also did not begin their married life with the ideal start. They had an awkward and embarrassing pregnancy and a birth in a stable. The embarrassment was caused by knowing that many would not believe Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit. Even Joseph must have thought that Mary had betrayed him at first. There was also stress and anxiety and poverty. Today we would call them homeless. Yet this awkward, itinerant, not quite official couple on the edge of society was to give birth to the One who would save his people from their sins. “God with us” was born into human poverty to bring peace to the world.

Saved from Terrible Consequences

Jesus (Luke 2:15-21) was so named because he would save people from sin (Matthew 1:21). Wrongdoing has consequences both now and forever. Having false gods causes us to rely on things that cannot rescue us from calamity. Idolatry causes people to look in the wrong direction for help. Misusing the name of the Lord causes us to take the only one who can help lightly. Not taking a day of rest causes stress and early death. Dishonoring our parents causes broken families, poverty and crime. Murder destroys families and neighborhoods. Adultery breaks marriages and families, and spreads distrust and disease. Theft takes away the peace and security of our neighborhoods. Bearing false witness fills the land with false advertising and distrust. Coveting causes crime and war. Only Jesus can rescue us from the consequences of our bad decisions.

Holy Name of Jesus

Jesus was so named when he was circumcised (Luke 2:15-21). It means “Jehovah [God] is salvation.” Salvation is liberation or help from God. Jesus would save his people from their sins (Matthew 1:21). His name would be the hope of the whole world (Matthew 12:15-21). The disciples complained about those who healed in Jesus’ name without authority, but Jesus said not to stop them. Anyone doing a miracle in his powerful name is on our side (Mark 9:38-40). The Catholic Society of the Holy Name is a fraternity that prays for those who blaspheme the name Jesus. In Greek Jesus’ name is Ἰησοῦς [capitalized ΙΗΣΟΥΣ] pronounced yay-soos. The first three letters capitalized in Greek were a common abbreviation for Jesus ΙΗΣ. In our English alphabet, those letters are written IHS, letters used to decorate churches everywhere.

(References: http://www.biblestudytools.com | http://www.newadvent.org/cathen | http://christogenea.org)

Christology

The study of Jesus is central to Christianity. Christology studies Christ, his birth as "God with us" (Matthew 1:23), his resurrection, salvation in him and his two natures. Theologians see Jesus as both divine and human. Controversies over who Jesus was are not just modern news, but raged in the early centuries too. The Council of Chalcedon took place in 451 AD. It was the 4th Ecumenical Council and the last one that is widely recognized by Protestants. Its contributions to the Christian Church are perhaps the greatest consensus of opinions on Christology from church history. These are summarized in the 3rd great creed, the Chalcedonian Creed. In regard to Christ and Christology, the Chalcedonian Creed affirms the Trinity, Christ's virgin birth, his humanity and his deity, and the hypostatic union of his two natures in one person.

Technology or God with us

As we look down into the future of our planet, we see possible devastation by an asteroid and eventual certain death of the planet as our solar system collapses and life on earth becomes impossible. Science tells us that Earth is only a temporary home. So we look to a long term solution of eventually having to abandon our solar system and find another earth-like planet far, far away. In short, we see our salvation as a species in “technology with us.” Whether or not we could eventually find a far away home planet is not quite certain. However, there is another solution to our dilemma, God. The Bible also tells us that Earth is only a temporary home and that our real long-term solution is found not in “technology with us” but in “God with us” (Matthew 1:23).

Jesus & Joshua

Jesus (Iesous) is from Greek for Joshua (Jeshua, Jehoshua). There were two men named Joshua whose lives were forerunners of Jesus Christ. It was under Joshua the son of Nun that Israel conquered 31 cities in the land of Canaan beginning around 1400 BC. Jesus (Luke 2:15-21) was given a name which means “God saves” because he was born to save each one of us (Matthew 1:21). We cannot save ourselves from death, but Jesus can if we let him. Joshua leading Israel into the promised land is symbolic of Jesus leading the saved into eternal life. A lesser known Joshua in the Bible, Joshua the son of Jozadak was the first person named as high priest after Israel returned from national captivity in Babylon (Haggai 1). Jesus is our high priest who offered himself (Hebrews 8:3-5).

(References: http://www.newadvent.org/cathen; The Oxford History of the Biblical World. 1998. Oxford University Press; http://www.biblearchaeology.org; http://www.orthodoxytoday.org)

IHS and Xmas

What are those funny “IHS” signs we see everywhere from communion tables to pulpits? Is it some kind of secret code for “in his service” or is it Latin, Greek or Hebrew? Some have thought that the letters stood for the Latin words “Jesus Hominum Salvator” meaning “Jesus Savior of Men” but that is not the case. Many original New Testaments were written in Greek capital letters and thus Jesus was written ΙΗΣΟΥΣ and the first three letters in English letters would be transliterated as IHS. That just happens to also be an ancient abbreviation for Jesus. What about Xmas? Is it x-ing Christ out of Christmas? In Greek Christ is Χριστός and the first letter in Greek, X is also an abbreviation for Christ. Xmas does not X Christ out of Christmas; it is an ancient abbreviation for Christmas.

Outro/Take Home

Jesus was God with us, is God with us every hour of every day and will be God with us forever.