Jesus is King: Royal Birth
Matthew 1:18-25
I. King Jesus is the son of God; 1:18-21.
18 This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. 19 Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. 20 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."
As was the custom for young people who were looking to get married, Joseph and Mary were pledged to each other for a period of betrothal. In a formal prenuptial agreement before witnesses, the young man and woman entered the official state of betrothal. The terminology “husband and wife” were used during this stage. Sexual relations between the betrothed partners were not tolerated, and the girl did not leave her own family. Unfaithfulness with
another person during this stage was considered adultery. Therefore, Joseph was considered Mary's husband in the betrothal sense.
By this time Mary is about four months pregnant. It is not yet public knowledge, because Joseph can still divorce her privately. Matthew states simply that the child was conceived through the Holy Spirit. Without knowing of the supernatural origin of the conception, Joseph naturally thinks that Mary has committed adultery.
Joseph has a personal crisis. As a law-abiding Jewish man Joseph would be expected to renounce his fiancée publicly in a trial for adultery. Then she would be subject to community disgrace as an adulteress, or he could divorce her privately. The latter was the only option that would allow Joseph to maintain his personal righteousness according to the law and yet save Mary from public disgrace.
Into this crisis comes the angel of the Lord, who announces in a dream to Joseph the miraculous conception of the child. Joseph is addressed by the angel as "son of David," which reminds us that Joseph is in the line of King David. The angel gives Joseph the shocking news that what has been conceived in Mary is by the Holy Spirit. The command “do not be afraid” implies that he is not to fear the consequences and stigma that will be attached to him when he completes the wedding stage of the marital relationship.
The name "Jesus" was popular and given to sons as a symbolic hope for God's anticipated sending of salvation. A widely held expression of this hope was the expectation of a Messiah who would save Israel from Roman oppression and purify His people. However, the angel draws on a less popular, although perhaps more important theme: salvation from sin as the basic need of Israel.
Jesus is son of David and son of Abraham, but now we’re told He is also the Son of God. The virgin birth points to the divine nature of Jesus. It also points to one person who is fully divine and fully human.
II. The birth of King Jesus is the promised Immanuel; 1:22-23.
22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23 "The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel"--which means, "God with us."
At the time of Ahaz, Isaiah prophesied that a woman who was a virgin would bear a son named Immanuel. The woman would marry, conceive a child, and, when he was born, give him the name Immanuel, the symbolic hope of God's presence in the dark times of national difficulty. Before the child was old enough to know the difference between right and wrong, Judah would be delivered from the threat of invasion from the two northern kings. Matthew declares that the birth of the child Jesus, who would save His people from their sins, ultimately fulfills the prophecy of Isaiah 7:14.
Many within Israel were looking for physical salvation from the hardships they had suffered under various conquering forces, including the current oppression of Rome. King Jesus offers so much more than political and economic salvation. He offers freedom from guilt and sin that not only transforms our lives now but also our eternity. The virgin birth of the King is one of many proofs of God’s offer of salvation.
III. Jesus is King and demands immediate obedience; 1:24-25.
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 had no union with her until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.
When Joseph awakes from his sleep, he is obedient and carries out the second phase of the marital process with a formal wedding ceremony. Joseph then takes Mary home to live with him as a fully married couple, except that he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son. Abstinence ensured that all knew Jesus was virgin-born.
Joseph’s obedience to the message of the angel of the Lord over-rules his own suspicions of Mary's faithlessness as well as fear for the ruin of his own reputation and honor. Joseph is an example for us. His purpose for his life and relationships stays focused on maintaining his righteous standing before the Lord by his obedience. Each of us will encounter unexpected circumstances and risks as we attempt to carry out Gods will for our lives.
Jesus has a human lineage through King David and Abraham, but the child is also divine through the Holy Spirit. He is Immanuel which means, “God with us." He fulfills the old covenants of Abraham and David and now initiates the beginning of a new covenant or relationship with God in His virgin birth to save people from their sins. In Jesus, God is now with His people personally as their Savior.
God, in His perfect wisdom, ordained a virgin birth to be the avenue through which Christ would come into the world to fulfill the Old Testament promises and makes new promises including salvation from the consequence of sin. God still demands our obedience to what He has done for us in Jesus Christ.
