“Christmas Is… Jesus”
Matthew 1:1-17

INTRODUCTION

• When I sat down this year and prayed about what God would have me prepare in a sermon for this Christmas season, I had to stop and ask His forgiveness of my oversight.
• Meaning…For Christmas past I have brought messages from the perspective of the shepherds, the inn, the wise men, Joseph, Mary, the season, and the gifts.
• My oversight, and please forgive me LORD, is failing to bring a message from the perspective of Jesus Christ the son of God for whom we celebrate this wonderful season.
• What an oversight! How could I do such a thing. Well, I’ll tell you why. I am human just like everyone else, and we get caught up in the hoopla and carnal-like festivities of this season that we fail to really see the season from our Lord’s perspective. God forgive me.

 I. The Book Of Generations of Our Lord

A) Son of …

• When we read (as we just did) here in these verses (1-11) listed by Matthew in chapter one, we can’t help but notice the beginning of Christ’s lineage.
• Abraham- you remember was an idol worshiper from Ur. He was 99 years old when he was circumcised.
• We also note that Jesus is the “son of Abraham” but also called …

1. Mark 5:7…A man with an unclean spirit calls Him…“Son of the most high God”
2. John 6:69… Peter called Him “Son of the living God”
3. Luke 6:5 (many other places in the N.T.)… “the Son of man” (Jesus in the flesh)
4. John 10:36 Jesus calls Himself… “the Son of God.” (Jesus in the Spirit)
5. II John 1:3… John called Him “The Son of the Father”
6. John 1:45…Philip called Jesus “the son of Joseph”
7. Mark 10:47, 48… Bartimaeus called Jesus “the son of David”
8. And in Mark 6:3 Jesus is called “the son of Mary” by His disciples.

II. Jesus Fulfilled Prophecy

A) Mathematically speaking

• Mathematically speaking, the odds of anyone fulfilling this amount of prophecy are staggering. Mathematicians put it this way:

1. 1 person fulfilling 8 prophecies: 1 in 100,000,000,000,000,000 (100 billion)
2. 1 person fulfilling 48 prophecies: 1 chance in 10 to the 157^th power
3. 1 person fulfilling 300+ prophecies: Only Jesus!
   • There may be some of you who don’t understand the term “fulfill prophecy.” It means… to complete or carry out the foretelling/prophecy given by another.
   • In other words, biblically speaking… God had given a few of His people in the Old Testament the events that were going to take place in the future concerning Jesus. Then when Jesus was born it would be fulfilled or completed.

B) Looking at some of the prophecies..

1. Prophecy- He would be born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2)

Prophecy fulfilled- in (Matthew 2:1-6)

2. Prophecy- He would be born of a virgin (Isaiah 7:14; Isa. 9:6,7)

Prophecy fulfilled- in Matthew 1:20-23

3. Prophecy- The Messiah will be a prophet like Moses (Deut. 18:15)

Prophecy fulfilled- in John 7:40-42 and Acts 3:20-23

4. Prophecy- He will enter Jerusalem riding on a donkey (Zech. 9:9)

Prophecy fulfilled- in John 12:12-15

5. Prophecy- He would be rejected by His own people (Isaiah 53:1,3)

Prophecy fulfilled- in John 1:10,11

6. Prophecy- The Messiah will be betrayed by a friend (Psalms 41:9)

Prophecy fulfilled- in Luke 22:21,22

7. Prophecy- He will be betrayed for 30 pieces of silver (Zech. 11:12, 13)

Prophecy fulfilled- in Matthew 26:14-26

8. Prophecy- The Messiah will be tried, and condemned (Isiah 53;8)

Prophecy fulfilled- in Matthew 27:1,2

9. Prophecy- His death by crucifixion (Psalms 22:14-16 and Zech. 12:10)

Prophecy fulfilled- in Matthew 27:31

10. Prophecy- He will be buried in a rich man’s tomb (Isiah 53:9)

Prophecy fulfilled- in Matthew 27:57-60

• May I remind you these are only 10 prophecies of over 300 that Jesus (1 person) And no one will ever do that again.
• The best thing about Jesus prophecies… He still not finished fulfilling them until we are redeemed, this world is burned up in a purifying process and a New Heaven and earth will be established. WOW, I can’t wait. Can you?

II. Jesus is Named

A) Before Birth by God

• Look at Luke 1:26-35…
• Note verse 31…And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.
• Now he is given another name in verse 32) He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:
• He is to be called by another name in verse 35) And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.
• Now back in Matthew 1, Joseph was told by the angel in verse 21…And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.
• Then we can see that Joseph was told in a dream in verse 23… Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.
• So I wonder was there any confusion in this matter of His name calling. Because when I read the scriptures and God said He is not the author of confusion and now we have these names floating around… I mean come on folks which is it… Jesus, Son of the Highest, Son of God, or Emmanuel?
• What we must understand is that like our name, it takes on the characteristics of the person who holds that name. Jesus was his name but he is also called “the Son of God” because His Father is truly God.
• He is called “Emmanuel” because He is actually God walking among us here on earth. And may I add that THIS is the “Spirit of Christmas.” It’s not Santa Claus, it’s not the giving of gifts, it’s not the candy canes, the mistletoe, nor even the carols we sing. But hello folks, the TRUE “Spirit of Christmas” is God among us, Jesus in our hearts.
• When our hearts are right with God we can actually have the spirit within us year around. It’s in His precious name… “Jesus.”

III. Jesus Is Cared For

A) By His parents

• Can you possibly imagine what it must’ve been like to raise and care for Jesus?
• Do you wonder if Mary and Joseph may have been very paranoid trying to secure Him from Herod who was out to kill Him.
• Or do you think maybe they were more passive like… “Naw, we don’t need to watch out for Him, God’s going to take care of Him. He’s His Son.”
• Let us go to the Birth account of Jesus mentioned in Luke 2:1-7… and I want us to note verse 7…And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
• Note “the swaddling clothes.” As was the practice of many Jews then and now, with new born babies, to wrap them in swaddling clothes. They are strips of cloth bound tightly around the child’s arms and body to prevent their fingers from poking out an eye or scratching them deeply on their face. Only those in poverty (poor) would not use swaddling clothes. If swaddling clothes were not used it was also a sign of careless parents. (Note Ezekiel 16:4… used as a metaphor concerning Jerusalem’s state)
• Knowing this, I believe that Mary and Joseph were well prepared for the birth of Christ and gave Him the best clothing possible.
• Then you look at verse 7b… “and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.”
• They wanted Him to be born in an Inn. Probably much like the Marriott today. It was full. If God wanted His son to be born in the Inn, the availability would have been there.
• Again, Jesus is cared for by his earthly parents to do the best thing possible. The manger. It was a feeding trough, carved from stone.
• The Bible is not detailed in how the trough was lined by Joseph or Mary. It quite possibly could’ve been lined with the blanket of the donkey for which Mary rode. Or maybe lined with straw from the barn. The Bible does not say.    

B) By His Disciples/Apostles

• When Jesus grew and began His ministry He was cared for by His disciples. Whenever Jesus needed anything, His disciples fell all over themselves trying to please Him or cater to His needs. This is why Christ rebuked them when he wanted to wash their feet. The couldn’t understand why Christ would stoop so low as to be a servant to them.
• Christ Jesus was used to getting what He wanted in heaven and on earth. He was not spoiled, just reverence and honored because He was sinless.

C) By Us?

• Do we really care for Jesus? Really? I believe that we need to ask ourselves… Do I Love Jesus as I should?
• Jesus said in John 14:15… ”If ye love me, Keep my commandments.” Well if we truly love Jesus then we would do all that He has asked us to do.
• And then Jesus told the Jews in the treasury of the Temple in John 8:42… If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent
• If we really love Jesus then why do we treat His followers, His children so badly? Look at what Jesus said in Matthew 25:40… Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least (those who have humbled themselves as children) of these my brethren, ye have done it unto
• Did you get that? “..ye have done it unto me.” This means… that when we get angry, get upset, get riled up, cause them to feel bad… we are doing it to Jesus.
• Let me ask you again.. “Do you really care for Jesus as He cares for us?”
• I love that song… “No one ever cared for me like Jesus.” Oh what a song, and what truth. My mother, wife nor son doesn’t even care for me like Jesus.
• Listen folks… This Christmas, why don’t you share the “love of Jesus” to those around you, as this is the true meaning of Christmas.
• Jesus our Lord, and Saviour, Redeemer and friend who has a name above all names and a love that is unconditional, and eternal.

Have a Merry CHRISTmas