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 ??S[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]
