Xmas Message
Text: Matthew 1:1, 17-25
Theme: Reminders of Xmas
Greetings: The Lord is good and His love endures forever!
Introduction: The word Xmas is the combination of Christ + Mass = Xmas or Christmas. A mass or a service is conducted in view of the birth of Christ. So it is called Christmas. Mass, service, ministry are important and not what we have during Xmas season, the carols, music cantata, the star, the nativity and so on. In this Christmas, we will remember the Jesus the S/o David of S/o Abraham. We remember the Promise of God (Matthew 1:22-23), the Perfect Time of God (Matthew
1. The Promise of God (Matthew 1:1, 22-23)
“Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfil his promises to her!” Luke 1:45 (NIV)
Matthew’s genealogy announces that God is fulfilling promises to renew creation through Jesus Messiah (Jesus Christ) is a “king” in David’s lineage who has come to bless “all the families of the earth” as a son of Abraham. In Genesis 12:1-3, we read that all the families of the Earth shall be blessed. In 2 Samuel 7:4-17 expresses the Kingdom of Son of David Forever. Therefore, Jesus is not a king like David who used violence and ruled Israel against other nations. So, welcoming and blessing all people is a key aspect of God’s renewal of humanity and creation.
The promise for a saviour appears in hundreds of propheciesfrom Adam to Jesus Christ. The First Promise (Protoevangelium) is mentioned in Genesis 3:15, right after the fall of Adam and Eve. There are varying Counts of thenumber of specific verses pointing to a saviour can ranges. According to Alfred Edersheim the messianic promises are found 456 times in Old Testament whereas J. Barton Payne listed 574 times have a direct, personal reference to Christ. However, it is estimated that Jesus fulfilled at least 300 to 332 by most of the scholars.
The Key figures in the Old Testament receiving messianic promises are Adam and Eve (Genesis 3:15 - the seed of the woman), Abraham (Genesis 22, 28 - blessings through his offspring), Jacob (Genesis 49:10 - the sceptre from Judah), King David (2 Samuel 7 - an eternal dynasty and kingdom), and the Prophet Moses (Deuteronomy 18 - a prophet like him).
The Key Old Testament prophets who foretold messianic promises are Isaiah, Jeremiah, Micah, and Zechariah, thePsalms (David), Daniel, Ezekiel, Hosea.
Isaiah was Known as the "Messianic Prophet," foretold the virgin birth (Isaiah 7:14), the suffering servant (Isaiah 53), the Messiah's names (Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace - Isaiah 9:6), and His healing ministry (Isaiah 35:5-6). Jeremiah Prophesied the Messiah as a "Righteous Branch" from David's line, establishing a New Covenant and bringing justice (Jeremiah 23:5-6, 31:31-32). Ezekiel Spoke of a future Davidic King who would shepherd His people and establish an everlasting covenant (Ezekiel 37:24-28). Daniel Predicted the timing of the Messiah's coming and His ultimate kingdom (Daniel 9:24-27). Micah famously prophesied the Messiah's birth in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2). Zechariah Foretold the Messiah's humble entry into Jerusalem (Zechariah 9:9) and His betrayal (Zechariah 12:10). Hosea mentioned God calling His Son out of Egypt (Hosea 11:1). Psalms (David) contains numerous prophecies, including the Messiah as God's Son (Psalm 2), His crucifixion (Psalm 22), and His enthronement (Psalm 110). Balaam foretold a "star" and "scepter" rising from Israel (Numbers 24:17).
A star! And not just any star, but they refer to it as "HIS star." Now if their mention of a King did not get Herod's attention, imagine Herod's reaction when he finds out this King has His Own STAR! Numbers 24:17 “I see HIM, but not now; I behold HIM, but not near; A STAR shall come forth from Jacob, a SCEPTER shall rise from Israel, and shall crush through the forehead of Moab, and tear down all the sons of Sheth.” Most modern evangelicals take it as a special supernatural light that guided the wise men from Persia to Jerusalem. But the magi, expert astronomers would hardly call such a light a star. The star of Bethlehem appeared only to the magi in the East (most likely the area of Persia, or modern-day Iran).
2. The Perfect Time of God (Matthew 1:17-18)
Galatians 4:4-5, “But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.“
The perfect time of God is a time that is never early and never late, but precisely right and aligned with His divine Will and purpose. God’s timing is never too early. If anything comes early you wouldn’t be ready to handle it, your character isn’t ready or you’re not disciplined enough yet. He’s always right on time. God’s timing is worth waiting for because He can do more in His timing than we can do in our entire lives! Wait for the Lord (Psalm 27:14). He neither never late. Isaiah 55:8-9, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”
Matthew 2:7, exact time, Luke2:6 - 42 generations, Joseph Mary Engagement, Visit to Nazareth, Visit to Bethlehem. "Perfect time" is subjective, meaning the ideal moment for an action, event, or feeling. It could be an opportune time or a right time, just the right time or a best moment for a period of happiness. Its essence as a flawless instant for something to happen. Ecclesiastes 3:1 – ‘For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.’
The birth of Christ was a momentous event. There was a census during those days. Luke gives (Luke 2:1–3) the time of the first enrolment by Augustus and while Cyrenius was ruler of Syria. Herod (37BC - 4 BC) the great was the King of Jews. Mary was in Nazareth but now God moved the great Roman Kingdom to make a decree which leads Mary to Bethlehem. It was to fulfil the prophecy of Micha 5:2.
3. The Presence of God - Matthew 1:23 - Immanuel.
In Hebrew the word Immanuel means "God with us," formed from Immanu ("with us") and El ("God"). It appears in Isaiah 7:14. It signifies God's intimate presence and salvation for His people, a theme echoed from Garden of Eden through the Tabernacle, then Temple, culminating in Jesus’ incarnation and ongoing presence through the Holy Spirit. Deuteronomy 31:8 – ‘He goes before you’. Matthew 28:18-20 – ‘Always with you,’ Revelation 21:3-‘He dwells’. John 1:14 –‘He dwelt among us’.
"The Lord was with him" is a repeated phrase in the Bible, notably describing Life of Joseph in slavery/prison (Genesis 39:2, 21, 23) and in David’s life God's presence led him to his prosperity and wisdom (1 Samuel 18:12, 14, 28). Exodus 33:14 – ‘my presence shall go with you’. Joshua 1:5 – ‘I will be with you as I was with Moses’. God walked with Enoch, and Noah, the uninterrupted presence of God. Psalm 23:4 - ‘Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me’.
Conclusion
No matter what your season of waiting looks like, rest in the promise that Jesus is with you. He is protecting you, defending you, and loving you. You can trust him to deliver you at the right time. Isaiah 40:31 – ‘But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.’
