“No One Expected” Matthew 1:18-25
• Well I never expected that to be the case
• Well I never expected that to happen
• I never expected this, these are common sayings for us
1. In the Gospel the folks never expected
• They never expected the sign to come through a women they receive. The prophet Isaiah had explained that “the Lord himself will give you a sign. Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:14).
• They never dreamed the Gift would come by a woman or really a girl 12-13 years of age
• They never dreamed that the gift would be Immanuel “God with us”
2. What Israel expected in their Messiah
• They expected a conquering Messiah (Warrior King) One who would defeat the powers to be
• They expected a Militant(Revolutionary, combative, and aggressive) type Messiah
• They expected a Restoration Type Messiah Temple will be rebuilt, the Land cleansed, the Torah kept perfectly by a new covenant people with renewed hearts.”[21] Hope was placed in this “age to come”, sometimes described as “the messianic age.
3. Note No one expected Messiah to come the way he did
• No one expected a miraculous Birth 8 Now the birth took place this way. Mary was engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was with child by and from the Holy Spirit
• No One expected Messiah to be born in a lowly manger in a barn The text says the shepherds, “And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. Luke 2:15-20 He was not born in a manger but laid lying in a manger.
• No One expected Messiah to be born out of wedlock
• No One expected someone to conceive never knowing a man This becomes known as “The Immaculate Conception”
4. No One Expected Joseph to Respond with such kindness
• 19Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly.
• Joseph never expected to hear words from an Angel but He did, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.’
• No One really expected Joseph to Believe but He did The bible says, , he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; and he named him Jesus.
5. No One expected such great Power in a Name.
• His name will be called Emmanuel “God With Us” God is with us in every time and place and situation. He is with us when our friends desert us. When our marriage is falling apart. When our jobs are unsatisfying, unstable or unexpectedly taken away from us.
• In all experiences, Jesus is Immanuel, present with us in surprising and life-giving ways.
• His Name will be called “Jesus” Born this day in the City of David is a Savior who is Christ the Lord” Savior means that God is with us to help us, save us and transform us
• Jesus literally means “God helps” or “God saves,”
• The Power in the name of Jesus is that when we are overwhelmed Jesus helps
• There is Power in the name of Jesus to forgive us of our sins when were overcome by sin
• There is power in the name of Jesus when we are defeated or powerless “He Saves”
