The Mystery of Jesus Christ

December 16, 2012
The Mystery of Jesus Christ
Matthew 1:18-25
Scott Howard

There are quite a few things that are mysterious about God, such as:
He is 1 God, but 3 persons (Father, Son, Holy Spirit)
He is high above us, but also near to us
He is powerful, but also patient
He is wrathful, but also merciful
He is just, but also forgiving

Truths to remember...

1. God's Nature can be mysterious.
2. Jesus is Both God and Man. (Philippians 2)
3. In light of God's sovereign Mercy, man's responsibility can't be ignored--(you must recognize your sin and then receive His mercy.  Then worship Him humbly, and walk with Him in purity).
4. God's Word can be Trusted.

God's Word, and our text this week:
"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.  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.  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.  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.'  All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 'The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel' --which means, 'God with us.'  When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife.  But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son.  And he gave him the name Jesus."   ---Matthew 1:18-25

The Incarnation is...

• The most extraordinary miracle in all the Bible
• The most profound mystery in all the universe.

Incarnation literally means "embodied in flesh, or taking on flesh."  God took on flesh by Jesus being born human.  Jesus is fully God and fully human.  So, knowing that helps all the other miracles make sense.  Since Jesus (GOD) created the water, it makes sense that He can walk on it!

What Jesus Confirms...

1. God is the Creator and the Re-Creator of all things.

• The word "birth", in the first part of our Bible text above, in Greek means "Genesis" or "the beginning."
• In the book of Genesis, The Spirit brings life to men....In the book of Matthew, The Spirit is who is giving life to the Messiah.
• In the book of Genesis, God promises a seed from a woman....In the book of Matthew, God delivers that seed through a woman
• In the book of Genesis, a man is born who would succumb to sin....In the book of Matthew, a Man is born who will save from sin.

    2.   God is Always Faithful to His Word.

• Whenever God makes a promise in His Word, He fulfills it in the world. 

    3.   God is Transcendent over us, yet He is present with us.

• in His Glory, God is far above us, but in His Grace, God is near to us.

God has come to heal the sick (Matthew 4 & 8)
God has come to feed the hungry (Matthew 14 & 15)
God has come to bless the poor (Matthew 5)
God has come to bind the broken heart (Matthew 6 & 11)
God has come to deliver the demon-possessed (Matthew 8)
Ultimately, God has come to rescue the lost!

He came to take the penalty of sin in our place.  He conquered the enemy that we could not conquer on our own.  What a Glorious Mystery!