As we are in the month of December and Christmas celebration is all around. I was just looking at what we need to do / preach this morning. While going through different resources and asking God what our Church needs. This morning I felt two things the holy spirit was leading us to hear today.
Let us read from the book of Matthew 1:1-17. Let’s do a small group study. Tell me your learnings from these scripture portion.
The Genealogy of Jesus the Messiah
1 This is the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah the son of David, the son of Abraham:
2 Abraham was the father of Isaac,
Isaac the father of Jacob,
Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers,
3 Judah the father of Perez and Zerah, whose mother was Tamar,
Perez the father of Hezron,
Hezron the father of Ram,
4 Ram the father of Amminadab,
Amminadab the father of Nahshon,
Nahshon the father of Salmon,
5 Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab,
Boaz the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth,
Obed the father of Jesse,
6 and Jesse the father of King David.
David was the father of Solomon, whose mother had been Uriah’s wife,
7 Solomon the father of Rehoboam,
Rehoboam the father of Abijah,
Abijah the father of Asa,
8 Asa the father of Jehoshaphat,
Jehoshaphat the father of Jehoram,
Jehoram the father of Uzziah,
9 Uzziah the father of Jotham,
Jotham the father of Ahaz,
Ahaz the father of Hezekiah,
10 Hezekiah the father of Manasseh,
Manasseh the father of Amon,
Amon the father of Josiah,
11 and Josiah the father of Jeconiah and his brothers at the time of the exile to Babylon.
12 After the exile to Babylon:
Jeconiah was the father of Shealtiel,
Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel,
13 Zerubbabel the father of Abihud,
Abihud the father of Eliakim,
Eliakim the father of Azor,
14 Azor the father of Zadok,
Zadok the father of Akim,
Akim the father of Elihud,
15 Elihud the father of Eleazar,
Eleazar the father of Matthan,
Matthan the father of Jacob,
16 and Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, and Mary was the mother of Jesus who is called the Messiah.
17 Thus there were fourteen generations in all from Abraham to David, fourteen from David to the exile to Babylon, and fourteen from the exile to the Messiah.
You might be wondering, why did we just read all those names? Actually most people when they begin reading the New Testament wonder the same thing. Why did Matthew begin with all these names?
Verse one reads: “A record of the genealogy of Jesus Christ the son of David, the son of Abraham …” (Matthew 1:1) The gospel of Matthew was written in Greek. The opening words in Greek are literally “the book of genesis of Jesus Christ.” Now these words can mean a record of genealogy in introducing the genealogy to follow, but they also serve as an introduction to the whole gospel of Matthew and in God’s providence to the whole New Testament itself. Just as the Old Testament begins with the book of Genesis, so the New Testament begins with “the book of genesis of Jesus Christ.” Here then begins the story of Jesus, and Matthew’s genealogy provides the perfect bridge from the Old Testament to the New.
Before we move on , lets check few things, what is the difference between verse 1-15 and verse 16.
Matthew does not say that Joseph was the father of Jesus but only that he was a husband of Mary and was born of her. In this genealogy Matthew shows that although Jesus is not the physical son of Joseph, he is the legal son and therefore a descendant of David.
Let’s think for a few moments about the One who was Born 2000 years ago, and take a closer look at this Birth that changed the world. There is great discussion about this Child that we are told that was born around this time of the year.
One religion believes that Jesus was born of a virgin just like Christians do. But they see Him as a great prophet.
Many Jewish people now see Jesus as “a great teacher, and a political performer, but nothing more.”
Other religion come to revere Jesus as a self-realized saint who reached the highest level of “God- consciousness.”
Other religion saw him perfectly enlightened being, full of compassion who helps other people. But none of these world religions see Him as Christians see Him.
So the question was; What Child Is This? Who Was This Baby That Was Born? 700 years ago before Jesus Christ was born, a Prophet of God explained Christmas before anyone had even experienced Christmas.
Seven Hundred years before that cradled rocked; before the stars shone; before the Wise men gave their gifts; before the Angels sung their song – Isaiah dipped his prophetic pen into inspired ink and wrote what has become the centerpiece and cornerstone of Christmas Prophecy. Isaiah wrote about the greatest single event in all of human history; the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ. Isaiah tells us, while under the leadership of the Holy Spirit that no one should misunderstand from this moment forward “Who” this Child was. I would like to take a closer look through the eyes of Isaiah and learn something about the Birth that changed the world.
He was a Child & Son
Isaiah 9:6-7
6 For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 Of the greatness of his government and peace
there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne
and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
with justice and righteousness
from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the Lord Almighty
will accomplish this.
- For unto us a child is born – Child, Humanity of Jesus (Fully Man)
Jesus was born the Son of Man. Jesus was born of an earthly mother; put on human flesh, and lived 33 years on earth as a human being.
Let me tell you what this means. Jesus walked like a man – Jesus talked like a man – Jesus thought like a man – Jesus had feelings like a man – Jesus ate like a man – Jesus had emotions like a man – Jesus hurt like a man – Jesus was tempted like a man – Jesus hungered like a man – Jesus thirsted like a man – Jesus got tired like a man – Jesus suffered like a man – Jesus died like a man – Jesus was buried like a man.
When Jesus was born in the flesh, it revealed His gentleness. You see, when He put on human flesh, He knew from that moment on what you and I would feel and go through.
Every feeling that you could ever have, He had. Everything that you could ever face, He faced.
This is what the writer of Hebrews said in {Hebrews 4:15}- “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, Yet Without Sin.”
(1) Jesus could reach out to those who suffered and full of pain . He himself went through the pain and suffering.
(2)- Jesus could relate to the [poor] because He did not have His own earthly home.
(3)- Jesus could reach out and help those who felt [lonely] because so many times He was left alone because so many turned their backs on Him.
(4)- Jesus could reach out to those who were devastated by death because death had taken someone He loved, who was Lazarus.
For to us a child was born , for you and me. He could say with those that He came in contact with; “I know how you feel.”
- A Son Is Given – Deity of Jesus. (Fully God)
The phrase “A Son Is Given” speaks of the Deity Of Jesus.
- As a Child He is the Son of Man; As a Son He is the Son of God.
- As a Child He helps us to understand His earthly beginning; As a Son He helps us to understand His Eternal being.
- As a Child this tells us that He was the Babe of Bethlehem; As a Son this tells us He was the God of Glory.
- As a child He was born to live with us; as a Son He was given to die for us.
- Luke: 4:41,Mark 3:11 – when Jesus casts out demons, they fall down before him, and declare: “You are the Son of God.“
- John 1:34 – John the Baptist bears witness that Jesus is the Son of God
- John 11:27- Martha calls him the Messiah and the Son of God.
- Matthew 16:13-17: 13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”
14 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
“He said to them, ‘But who do you say I am?’ Simon Peter replied, ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God. 17 Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven.
Yes, Jesus was born of an earthly mother, but He was given by a Heavenly Father. Jesus has Royal Blood; the blood of His Heavenly Father flowing through His veins. {Isaiah 7:14}- “Therefore the Lord Himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.”
One Bible teacher once said; “The great mystery of the manger is that God could translate deity into humanity, without discarding the deity or distorting the humanity.”
There are those that try to bring doubt about the fact that Jesus was born of a virgin. They believe that it is impossible.
There was a pastor I heard about who was preaching on Jesus and His virgin birth. A man came up to him after the message was over and said, “I don’t believe that story. If an unwed mother were to come to you and tell you a story like Mary said, that that which was conceived in her was conceived by the Holy Spirit, would you believe her?”
This wise preacher said, “Yes, I would believe her if she had a son and the angels sang at his birth; if it was foretold thousands of years before it happened; if a star stood over his birthplace in fulfilment of prophecy;
if her son had power over the wind, and the waves, and disease, I would believe it. If he were crucified and raised again from the dead, I would believe it; if he ascended from the earth I would believe it; if his disciples through the centuries were numbered by the millions, yes, I would believe it.” The man looked at the Pastor and said; “So would I, and so I do.”
More over this Child , this Son has changed our lives and we are a witness of that.
CHRIST: MAN & GOD
Let us look at the facts about the Lord Jesus.
Jesus was so human that He could be born in a stable to the Virgin Mary – but He is so divine that angels came to announce His birth.
Jesus was so human that He could get tired and lay down in a boat while crossing the Sea of Galilee – but He is so divine that He could speak to a storm and hush the winds.
Jesus was so human that He could go up into a mountain and pray all night – but He is so divine that He was the One through whom God created the mountains.
Jesus was so human He could weep at the grave of Lazarus – but He is so divine He could raise Lazarus from the dead.
Jesus was so human He could die on a cross – but He is so divine He could come back to life and conquer death never to die again.
This Child Was Human – But This Child Was God! (Fully Man & Fully God)
- A Son Is Given – Gift
As a child (the Son of Man) Jesus was born, but as (the Son of God) Jesus was given.
Now we are not told that the Son was born; we are told the Son was given.
*That’s exactly what the greatest verse in the Bible says in John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”
God’s Christmas gift to the world was a Person of Deity (God) wrapped up in the package of humanity.
- He will be called – Name
Isaiah said, “and His Name Shall Be Called.” Now, Isaiah didn’t say “And His ‘Names’ shall be called…” Isaiah said “His Name shall be called.”
A Single Name Cannot Describe Him! It is simply because it was impossible to reveal Himself in one single name.
He is Wonderful:
He is called “Wonderful”. It is a name that speaks of One who is out of the ordinary. It speaks of God as being unique and different. He is the Marvellous One, the Astonishing One.
If you are looking for someone ordinary , Marvellous, Jesus is the one.
If you feel that you are bored with your life, then look to the Lord Jesus Christ. There is no one like Him; there is none besides Him. The Lord puts the “Wonder of it all” back into your life.
He is Counselor:
He is called “Counselor”. This Name speaks of One who can give you guidance and direction. A counselor is someone you can turn to for help and advice.
He is Everlasting Father:
He Is Always Where You Need Him To Be When You Need Him The Most!
He is The Prince Of Peace:
He is the One who will fill your life with peace and assurance. The Prince of Peace will not leave you comfortless; He will not leave you all by yourself; He will come to you; He will help you; He will comfort you. He will love on you.
The Peace that Jesus gives to you may not keep you out of a storm, but it will help you stay calm in the midst of the storm that you are going through.
Isaiah said that you can call this Child “Wonderful” because He is Wonderful. Isaiah said that you can call this Child a “Counselor” because He is the One that can guide you. Isaiah said that you can call this Child “Mighty God” because there is nothing this Child cannot do. Isaiah said that you can call this Child “Everlasting Father” because He is the only One who has no beginning and no ending. Isaiah said that you can call this Child “Prince Of Peace” because He comes to you to give you peace.
Christ was born in a manger and died on the cross for you and me.
John 3:16
16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
Virjil Selvan is Pastoring the Renewed Hope Community. The Renewed Hope Community is situated in the heart of the city between Old and New Panvel. We can confidently share that Renewed Hope Community is a Church in Kamothe, Church in Khandeshwar, Church in Khanda Colony, Church in Karanjade, Church in Panvel, Church in New Panvel, Church in Karanjade because we are centrally located and these places surround our church Venue.
0 Comment