Bible Passage: Matthew 1:18-25
Pastor: Joel Jenswold
Sermon Date: December 18, 2022

Bulletin December 18, 2022

In the name of, and to the eternal glory of, Jesus,

Years ago when I was a pastor in Ohio, there was a man who used to come and visit me in my office from time to time.  He was not a member of our congregation.  In fact, he was not even Christian; he was Muslim.  He was a very short little man named Richard.  Always well-dressed.  He was a businessman from Chicago who would come to Columbus on business.

And when he was in town, he would come and visit me. I remember one of our visits when Richard wanted to talk about Isaiah 7:14 and whether that verse could really be understood as a prophecy that foretold the virgin birth of Jesus.  Richard was a very learned man, and he wanted to discuss the Hebrew word used in the text (Hebrew almah) translated as “virgin”  and we talked about the Greek word used in our text to describe Mary.  They were very good and cordial discussions.  I sometimes wonder what happened to Richard.

But Richard, and many people want to know the answer to this question:  did this child promised in Isaiah 7:14, this child named Immanuel, come?  Our text for today answers the question loudly and clearly.  He Came, He Came, Immanuel!

Perhaps we should remind ourselves what this name, Immanuel, means.  It is a Hebrew word.  “Immanu-” means “with us.”  “El” means “God.”  It is just short for “Elohim.”  So Immanuel means “God with us.”  Our text for today really gives us the “how” and “why” of Immanuel.

It starts with Joseph finding out the girl he’s engaged to is pregnant.  That doesn’t jolt us much when we hear it anymore because we know how the story ends.  But try to imagine Joseph hearing the news.  “Joseph, sit down, I have to tell you something about Mary.  This isn’t easy for me to tell you.”

Joseph knew the baby wasn’t his.  Our text clearly tells us they had not yet come together in that way.  The only explanation was that Mary had been unfaithful.  What we see next shows us what kind of a man Joseph was.  Joseph could have taken her to the synagog and made public her evident infidelity.  The Law prescribed that she could have been executed by stoning for this sin.  He could have demanded justice; instead, he showed mercy.  He would break off the engagement and she could go off and quietly have the baby.  It would not be easy for a young girl for Mary to have and raise a child out of wedlock, but Mary and the baby would be spared.

It is time for God to act.  He sends an angel to Joseph in a dream.  The angel tells Joseph that he doesn’t need to be afraid that Mary has been untrue.  The baby growing in Mary’s womb was conceived by the Holy Spirit!  Matthew then adds that all this was the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy of the virgin who has a baby!

Notice the emphasis on the fact Mary was a virgin.  Matthew records for us in verse 18 that Mary and Joseph had not yet come together.  In verse 20 we are told this pregnancy is from the Holy Spirit.  In verse 23, Mary is identified as the “virgin” in Isaiah’s famous prophecy.  Why is it so important that the virginity of Mary be without question?  So that we can be certain that Jesus is the Son of God!  So that we can know for certain he is Immanuel, “GOD with us.”

This is the Savior we need!  If a search had been made in all the land of Israel for the two most saintly people we can find, the holiest couple, the purest of the pure, and said, “Have a baby!  Surely your baby will be of such a quality that he can be our Savior!”  That plan would be a flop.  For even the baby of the saintliest of the saintly is “flesh born of flesh.”  Such a baby could not BE a Savior; such a baby NEEDS a Savior.  Mary’s baby was “God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God.”  He was Immanuel, “GOD with us.”

But he was “God WITH US.”  The name Immanuel implies this is a baby-on-a-mission.  And that mission is made clear by the name he is to receive.  In the dream, Joseph is told to name the child Jesus.  When the baby is born, we are told, …he gave him the name Jesus. (v. 25)  Why did heaven choose the name of this baby?  Why wasn’t it left up to Mary and Joseph?  Name him “Levi” or “Samuel” or “Jeff”?  Because God wanted his name to tell us why the Son of God is “with us.”  [G]ive him the name Jesus because he will save his people from their sins. (v. 21)

God is with us, to save us!  Once again, that statement doesn’t jolt us, but it should.  I don’t need “fixing,” as if my problem is a timing belt.  I don’t need “rehabilitation”, as if my problem is no worse than a tweaked hamstring.  I don’t need “therapy,” as if I am just a little quirky, that’s all.  I need SAVING!  You need saving.  Rescue!  It’s a matter of life and death!  It’s all or nothing.  As the one hymn puts it, “Wash me, Savior, or I die!” (CW 389)

And he does.  Breathless, we confess: “I believe that Jesus Christ, true God, begotten from the Father from eternity, and also true man, born of the virgin Mary, is my Lord.  He has redeemed me, a lost and condemned creature, purchased and won me from all sins, from death, and from the power of the devil.  Not with gold or silver, but with his holy, precious blood, and with his innocent sufferings and death.  All this he did that I should be his own and live under him in his kingdom, and serve him in everlasting righteousness, innocence, and blessedness, just as he is risen from death, and lives and rules eternally!  This is most certainly true!”

That is why it is important for my little friend Richard, and for us all to know the truth of our text today.  Your salvation, your rescue, is sure and certain, because it was accomplished by Jesus!  He came, he came, Immanuel!

Amen.