Is His Name ‘immanuel’ Or ‘jesus’? Series

Matthew 1: 18 – 25

Is His Name ‘Immanuel’ Or ‘Jesus’?

18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. 19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly. 20 But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. 21 And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins.” 22 So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: 23 “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.” 24 Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife, 25 and did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son. And he called His name JESUS.

Most of you know that Matthew was the first to put down on paper all the things he heard and saw the Lord Jesus Christ do. A little over 5 years later the disciple Mark wrote down all that the apostle Peter remembered about the Lord. Then approximately 10 years after this the disciple Luke, who was a companion and fellow traveler with the apostle Paul had returned with him to Jerusalem and personally interviewed all the eyewitnesses. This is his recording of what happened. We read in chapter 2 this, “And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. 3 So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city. 4 Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. 6 So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. 7 And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. 19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly.

I am going to give you some information that I want you to consider and check out for yourselves. In the book of Acts chapter 17 we read this, “10 Then the brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea. When they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. 11 These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so. 12 Therefore many of them believed, and also not a few of the Greeks, prominent women as well as men.’ So, I want you to be like these Christians and not only check out whatever things I tell you but also whatever anyone else teaches you no matter how smooth and persuasive they are.

Have you ever heard the term ‘Bo Mitzvah’? The Jewish culture recognizes boys with their entry into manhood with a big celebration. Girls are recognized as women when they turn 12. Their celebration is called a ‘Bot Mitzvah’.

So, what am I getting at? Well, I am suggesting that Mary was around 12 years old when she was engaged to Joseph. This suggestion may be a shock to you but listen to my reasoning. People did not live then as long as we can today. Usually the end of one’s life was in the 40’s. How someone in their twenty’s being in mid-life hit you? You can still see it

in their culture of the mid-east and eastern Europe today. Young girls under 25 are attractive. After they hit their late 20’s they seem to age significantly in their whole physical outlook.

Most of the attractive girls are taken early in marriage. Well, you can say that she wasn’t that attractive so it wasn’t until she was older then she blossomed and was desired by Joseph. That’s a possibility but by the way Joseph hungered to be with her physically and to his apparent death, leads me to believe otherwise. You see as we read in this portion of Scripture – ‘25 and did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son.