Matthew 1:21-23
This week I was talking with some of my
colleagues at work discussing Christmas traditions,
from food to when and how the gifts are opened. It
was interesting to see their view of Christmas from
a worldly perspective. Some shared with
excitement, while others expressed their
frustration with the pressures of Christmas and the
obligations that come with it. Still others
approached it with a minimalistic view. What was
missing was the truth that Christmas is all about
the birth of Jesus, who alone can save us from our
sins.
The last two weeks we have talked about the miracle of
Christmas. Our focus was on the virgin birth and how
God did something that had never been done before or
since. We should always remember that nothing is
impossible with God.
This week we are going to talk about finding meaning in
Christmas.
Matthew 1:21-23
We find meaning in Christmas when we understand:
Jesus fulfills God’s Prophecy
God told Isaiah to write about the virgin birth 700 years
before it happened. Matthew mentions that all this takes
place to fulfill what the prophet wrote, but doesn’t
mention his name. The quote comes from Isaiah 7:14.
The virgin will give birth to a son and they will call His
name Jesus.
God also told the angel to share the good news with both
Joseph and Mary. The angel assured them both that
everything that was happening was according to God’s
plan.
God promised that Mary would bear a son and that is
exactly what is going to happen.
As we keep reading the Christmas story we see in Luke 2
that the promised child is born.
Luke 2:6-7 “And while they were there, the time
came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to
her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling
cloths and laid him in a manager, because there
was no place for them in the inn.”
Matthew also writes that they would give the Son the
name Jesus.
We see that prophecy fulfilled in
Luke 2:21 “And at the end of eight days, when he
was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name
given by the angel before he was conceived in the
womb.”
That leads us to the next way we find meaning in
Christmas:
Jesus accomplishes God’s Purpose
God’s purpose from since before the foundation of the
world has been the redemption of man.
This purpose was completed by the death and
resurrection of Christ on the cross at Calvary.
Matthew writes in verse 21, “and you shall call his name
Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”
It makes sense for God to name His Son Jesus, and that
He will save His people from their sins, because the name
Jesus means Yahweh saves.
“For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the
lost.” Luke 19:10
“but emptied himself, by taking the form of a
servant, being born in the likeness of men.
And being found in human form, he humbled
himself by becoming obedient to the point of death,
even death on a cross.
Therefore God has highly exalted him and
bestowed on him the name that is above every
name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee
should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the
earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is
Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
Philippians 2:7-11
“And there is salvation in no one else, for there is
no other name under heaven given among men by
which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12
Jesus is the only One who can save us!
But why do we need salvation?
Simply put, because of our sin.
Sin means to miss the mark or to miss the way.
Martin Luther wrote “Sin is essentially a departure
from God.”
Sin separates us from God and sin deserves punishment.
Since we have all sinned, we all need a savior.
Jesus being born in that stable in Bethlehem was the
beginning of the accomplishment of God’s plan.
But God doesn’t force salvation on anyone.
But forgiveness is only a prayer away.
I John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and
just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all
unrighteousness.”
And now for the final way we find meaning in Christmas:
Jesus Confers God’s Presence
The name Emmanuel means God with us.
The birth of Christ helps us understand the incarnation of
Christ. Incarnation means God in flesh.
John 1:14 “And the Word became flesh and dwelt
among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of
the only Son from the Father, full of grace and
truth.”
Spurgeon says in this great Name IMMANUEL “is
eternity’s sonnet,
heaven’s hallelujah,
the shout of the glorified,
the song of the redeemed,
the chorus of angels,
the everlasting oratorio of the great orchestra of the sky.”
Christmas reminds us that Jesus came down from heaven
to be near to us.
And Jesus made two promises while He was on earth.
Matthew 28:20 “And behold, I am with you always,
to the end of the age.”
John 16:7 “ Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is
to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go
away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I
will send him to you.”
Jesus represents God’s presence.
He is the most wonderful present this and every
Christmas.
APPLICATION
Believe the Prophecies
God is faithful and we can trust His promises.
There is nothing that God has said that has not or will not
come true. He is truth.
The prophecies help us understand God’s plan.
We can have confidence that all the prophecies are true.
Receive the Gift
God’s gift for us is eternal life.
He gives it through the death and resurrection of His only
Son.
We deserve death because of our sin, but instead God
forgives us. This is what salvation is all about.
Forgiveness of sin.
Enjoy His Presence
This Christmas we should carve out time from our
schedules to seek God through prayer, Bible study and
worship.
These are some of the ways we can experience God and
know that He is with us.
The more we enjoy His presence, the more we will want
to share the good news with others.