An Ordinary Couple
Lessons of the Nativity – Part I
Matthew 1:18 – 25
Matthew 1:18-25
Now this is how Jesus the Messiah was born. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. But while she was still a virgin, she became pregnant by the Holy Spirit. [19] Joseph, her fiancé, being a just man, decided to break the engagement quietly, so as not to disgrace her publicly.
[20] As he considered this, he fell asleep, and an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. "Joseph, son of David," the angel said, "do not be afraid to go ahead with your marriage to Mary. For the child within her has been 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." [22] All of this happened 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 he will be called Immanuel (meaning, God is with us).“
[24] When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord commanded. He brought Mary home to be his wife, [25] but she remained a virgin until her son was born. And Joseph named him Jesus.
A Divine Announcement
• A Birth Announcement – Luke 1:26-31
Luke 1:26-31
In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village in Galilee, [27] to a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of King David. [28] Gabriel appeared to her and said, "Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you!"
[29] Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean. [30] "Don’t be frightened, Mary," the angel told her, "for God has decided to bless you! [31] You will become pregnant and have a son, and you are to name him Jesus.
That’s Great….But…..
• Mary was a virgin – Luke 1:34
Luke 1:34
Mary asked the angel, "But how can I have a baby? I am a virgin."
That’s Great….But…..
• Mary was a virgin – Luke 1:34
– Physically impossible
• Mary was pledged to be married – Luke 1:27
– Questions of character – Matthew 1:19
Matthew 1:19
Joseph, her fiancé, being a just man, decided to break the engagement quietly, so as not to disgrace her publicly.
God At Work
• The impossible made possible – Luke 1:35-37
Luke 1:35
The angel replied, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby born to you will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God.
Luke 1:37
For nothing is impossible with God."
God At Work
• The impossible made possible – Luke 1:35-37
• A divine revelation – Matthew 1:20-21
Matthew 1:20-21
As he considered this, he fell asleep, and an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. "Joseph, son of David," the angel said, "do not be afraid to go ahead with your marriage to Mary. For the child within her has been 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."
God At Work
• The impossible made possible – Luke 1:35-37
• A divine revelation – Matthew 1:20-21
• A promise kept – Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:22-23
Isaiah 7:14
All right then, the Lord himself will choose the sign. Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel—’God is with us.’
Matthew 1:22-23
All of this happened 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 he will be called Immanuel
(meaning, God is with us)."
Faithful Obedience
• In spite of their confusion and mixed emotions, Joseph and Mary were faithfully obedient – Matthew 1:24-25; Luke 1:38
Matthew 1:24-25
When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord commanded. He brought Mary home to be his wife, [25] but she remained a virgin until her son was born. And Joseph named him Jesus.
Luke 1:38
Mary responded, "I am the Lord’s servant, and I am willing to accept whatever he wants. May everything you have said come true." And then the angel left.
**Powerpoint available on request
