(This sermon is part of Dr. Manuel's sermon series: "What is Foremost?" Links to
each of the sermons in the series will be found here as they are posted.)
Some things you hear are difficult to believe, no matter how long you ponder them.
Matthew's task in his gospel is to establish the case for Jesus' being the messiah, and he begins by detailing the rabbi's impressive pedigree, tracing his genealogy back countless generations, a thousand years to David, then two thousand years to Abraham. After that, Matthew takes a completely different tack, indicating that Jesus has another, even more impressive pedigree, that derives from...
* LIV. The Foremost Conception
...and that introduces him as...
As I mentioned, there were others who had a similarly impressive herald of their birth, both from mothers who supposedly were unable to have children.
While the angelic proclamation of Jesus' birth is certainly impressive, especially as it occurs several times, what makes this news particularly striking is the unique means of his birth.7 Like the three-fold announcement, this, too, is stated three times. Matthew mentions it twice:
People sometimes speak about the miracle of childbirth, but however amazing we might find the process, it is a natural occurrence not a supernatural one. Moreover, it is both predictable and repeatable by man, which a miracle is not. By definition...
Jesus performed many miracles during his ministry, and his life began with one. Your savior's birth was miraculous in its (very) pronouncement.
The angel goes on and describes the purpose this miracle holds in God's program.
Elsewhere, when God names a child, it is usually in response to something that has happened.
When the angel says, "he will save his people," Joseph rightly understands it to mean the people of Israel (also Nolland 2005:98). Given the nation's inconsistent devotion throughout history, that is a tall order. Yes, indeed...
Yes, it is. That is the testimony of Jesus himself, as he looks forward to completing his priestly mission. He says in...12
Is there anything in the Bible that you find difficult to believe? Certainly some things are difficult to grasp: the plagues against Egypt, Jonah's seafaring adventure, the raising of Lazarus. Christmas is a good opportunity to reaffirm your faith in God's ability to do any of those things and more because of the way He brought the messiah into the world. If you can accept the incarnation, the rest is easy.
Matthew explains Jesus' lineage, and the connection back countless generations to Abraham is certainly impressive. Even more impressive, though, is Jesus' other pedigree, the one that derives from The Foremost Conception. As you contemplate your savior's birth this season, you should be mindful of its miraculous pronouncement and grateful for its ambitious purpose, because you are the beneficiary of that event from two thousand years ago.
Having considered The Foremost Conception, we will look next at The Foremost Constellation, which sees the pointing of God, in Matt 2:2,9.
For the Bibliography and Endnotes, see the pdf here.
On a trip to Italy, the tour group stood inside St. Peter's Basilica, one of the largest churches in the world. The guide explained, "This church is so large that no man on earth could hit a baseball from one end to the other, not Babe Ruth, Hank Aaron or even Mark McGuire." The group stared in silence at the beautiful marble sculptures, intricate paintings, and glorious mosaics all around the enormous building. Then one tour member asked... "You mean, they actually let them hit baseballs in here?"Some things you hear are difficult to believe. Some people might find that to be so for The Foremost Conception.
Matthew's task in his gospel is to establish the case for Jesus' being the messiah, and he begins by detailing the rabbi's impressive pedigree, tracing his genealogy back countless generations, a thousand years to David, then two thousand years to Abraham. After that, Matthew takes a completely different tack, indicating that Jesus has another, even more impressive pedigree, that derives from...
* LIV. The Foremost Conception
...and that introduces him as...
- The priest of God (Matt 1:20-21)
Matt 1:20 ...an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.God uses angels, His official messengers, to mark and sometimes play a role in important events.1
- He sends an angel to Abraham, stopping him from sacrificing Isaac.
- He sends an angel to Peter, releasing him from prison.2
- He sends an angel to Manoah, announcing the birth of Samson.
- He sends an angel to Zechariah, announcing the birth of John the Baptist.
- He showed Joseph that he would rule his older brothers.
- He told Solomon that the king would receive wisdom and wealth.
- He sends an angel to Joseph in a dream, telling him not to divorce Mary, because the child she is carrying is uniquely conceived.5
1. Your savior's birth was miraculous in its pronouncement (v. 20)....and this message to Joseph was not the only angelic newscast of Jesus' advent. Luke records that...
a. Earlier, an angel also appeared to Mary.
b. Later, an angel also appeared to shepherds.The gospel writers do not say if it was the same angel on all three occasions, naming him only once (Gabriel). Whoever brought the information, any angel would have been an impressive figure.
As I mentioned, there were others who had a similarly impressive herald of their birth, both from mothers who supposedly were unable to have children.
- Manoah's (unnamed) wife (being "sterile and childless" Judg 13:3) gave birth to a son, Samson.
- Zacharius' wife, Elizabeth (being "barren and...too old"; Luke 1:7) gave birth to a son, John.
While the angelic proclamation of Jesus' birth is certainly impressive, especially as it occurs several times, what makes this news particularly striking is the unique means of his birth.7 Like the three-fold announcement, this, too, is stated three times. Matthew mentions it twice:
Matt 1:18c ...before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit... 20 ...an angel...said [to Joseph], "what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit."Luke mentions it once:
Luke 1:34 "How will this be," Mary asked the angel.... 35a The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you...This birth is unique because it represents the direct involvement of God.
People sometimes speak about the miracle of childbirth, but however amazing we might find the process, it is a natural occurrence not a supernatural one. Moreover, it is both predictable and repeatable by man, which a miracle is not. By definition...
A miracle is the exceptional, direct, and supernatural means
by which God controls the specific course of events,
in which His intervention is unmistakable.
The angel goes on and describes the purpose this miracle holds in God's program.
Matt 1:21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.While there is certainly no surprise that God could determine the gender of the child, it is unusual is that God would name the child, something He usually leaves to the parents.8 It is also unusual that the angel gives the same instruction to Mary about naming the child as he did to Joseph.
Luke 1:31 You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus.It is apparently important to God that both parents are in agreement on this matter.9
Elsewhere, when God names a child, it is usually in response to something that has happened.
- He named Hagar' s son Ishmael (= the Lord hears), because God heard her lament after she fled from Sarah's abuse.
- He named Sarah's son Isaac (= he laughs), because God heard her laugh in disbelief that He could give her a son.
- He names Mary's son Jesus (= The Lord will save), because God will accomplish salvation through him.10
When the angel says, "he will save his people," Joseph rightly understands it to mean the people of Israel (also Nolland 2005:98). Given the nation's inconsistent devotion throughout history, that is a tall order. Yes, indeed...
2. Your savior's birth was ambitious in its purpose (v. 21).Yet the apostle Paul says that, in the end, "all Israel will be saved" (Rom 11:26a). This group of the redeemed, though, is even larger than one nation, because in the course of Jesus' ministry, he expands it to include gentiles as well.11 That is an even taller order. Is it possible for one person to have such a positive affect on so many others?
Yes, it is. That is the testimony of Jesus himself, as he looks forward to completing his priestly mission. He says in...12
Mark 10:45 ...the Son of Man [came] to give his life as a ransom for many.Later, that is the testimony of others as they look back to his mission completed. Again, the apostle Paul says...
Rom 3:25a God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood.Likewise, the author of Hebrews says...
Heb 9:26b ...he...appeared...to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself.Saving people is a tall order, but that is what Jesus came to do, and that is what is what he did.
Is there anything in the Bible that you find difficult to believe? Certainly some things are difficult to grasp: the plagues against Egypt, Jonah's seafaring adventure, the raising of Lazarus. Christmas is a good opportunity to reaffirm your faith in God's ability to do any of those things and more because of the way He brought the messiah into the world. If you can accept the incarnation, the rest is easy.
Matthew explains Jesus' lineage, and the connection back countless generations to Abraham is certainly impressive. Even more impressive, though, is Jesus' other pedigree, the one that derives from The Foremost Conception. As you contemplate your savior's birth this season, you should be mindful of its miraculous pronouncement and grateful for its ambitious purpose, because you are the beneficiary of that event from two thousand years ago.
Having considered The Foremost Conception, we will look next at The Foremost Constellation, which sees the pointing of God, in Matt 2:2,9.
For the Bibliography and Endnotes, see the pdf here.
(This sermon is part of Dr. Manuel's sermon series: "What is Foremost?" Links to each of the sermons in the series will be found here as they are posted)
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