The Birth Of Christ

CELEBRATING THE BIRTH OF CHRIST

Text: Matthew 1:18-25 W. Max Alderman

INTRODUCTION: Christmas should serve as a reminder to every believer that the birth of Christ should be celebrated. It certainly does not mean that Christmas is the only time to rejoice in the fact of His birth, but it should be the emphasis of December the twenty-fifth. In this study, it is my desire that we again celebrate the birth of Christ and do it in such a way that the heavenly Father will be pleased. Volumes could be expounded upon, as it pertains to Christ and His birth; in this study, we will only catch a small glimpse of His profound beauty as we consider Him, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. May we begin this celebration by considering these three thoughts:

I. THE PROPHECY OF THE BIRTH OF CHRIST

A. The Accuracy of the Prophecy Being Fulfilled

• He would come from the line of King David (Isaiah 11:1-5; Matthew 1:1, 6).

Prediction

1 And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots:

2 And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD;

3 And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the LORD: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears:

4 But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.

5 And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins. (Isaiah 11:1-5)

Fulfillment

1 The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. (Matthew 1:1)

6 And Jesse begat David the king; and David the king begat Solomon of her that had been the wife of Urias; (Matthew 1:6)

• He would be preceded by one who would announce His coming (Isaiah 40:3, 5; Malachi 3:1; Matthew 3:1-3).

Prediction

3 The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. (Isaiah 40:3)

5 And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it. (Isaiah 40:5)

1 Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts. (Malachi 3:1)

Fulfillment

1 In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea,

2 And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

3 For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. (Matthew 3:1-3)

• He would be born of a virgin (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:18-20).

Prediction

14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. (Isaiah 7:14)

Fulfillment

18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.

19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily.

20 But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. (Matthew 1:18-20)

• His birth would occur in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2; Matthew 2:1).

Prediction

2 But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting. (Micah 5:2)

Fulfillment

1 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, (Matthew 2:1)

B. The Anticipation of the Prophecy Being Fulfilled

1. There was great anticipation as it applied to John’s birth (Luke 1:12-17)