Love 2021
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Introduction
Introduction
How all we use the word “love.”
But, what does Scripture mean?
When it talks about “love” there are several words.
The one we think of most commonly is the Greek word “agape.”
Unconditional love. Not-conditional. You don’t have to do anything to earn it or keep it. It’s just freely given.
We might think about our own children. Before that baby or that child could ever do anything at all, you love them. In spite of the sleepless nights and endless diaper changes, you love them. In spite of the attitude and rebellion, you love them. And nothing can change that.
As we have walked through each of the four Sundays of Advent, each with their word: Hope, Preparation, and Joy, we finally get to the final word: Love.
Important because this is the last Sunday before Christmas!
Love makes all the difference at Christmas.
As we look today at how Joseph walked through the birth of Jesus, we can learn a lot about love.
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First, we want to notice how Matthew emphasizes the person of Jesus. Who was Jesus? Written after His death, burial, and resurrection, Matthew highlights the uniqueness of Jesus. He begins this by using the title of “Christ.” Not a last name!
The Christ was the Promised One who would bring about restoration between God and people.
A broken relationship between us and our Creator. Rebellion. Sin. To restore that relationship, there would need to be someone unique. From His birth to His resurrection, the life of Jesus was certainly unlike any other!
This uniqueness is part of His own conception.
Mary was betrothed to Joseph. Engagement Plus. Legal standing already attained, but no other aspect of marriage. This is why a little later it says that Joseph would have to divorce her, rather than just break it off like a modern day engagement.
And while in this stage of betrothal, Mary is found to be with child. And Matthew emphasizes that it was from the Holy Spirit. Why? Because Jesus was born apart from a human father.
We’ve all probably known instances of miracle babies. Children that had some illness or certain medical conditions that made a healthy birth unlikely. And those are incredible stories, and praise God for them!
Scripture records several instances of parents who had a difficult time conceiving and then God intervenes and allows them to have a baby.
However, Jesus was beyond this type of miracle birth. It was a miracle conception. A miracle is when the normal method of nature is circumvented.
Jesus is the only child to ever be born without the involvement of a father.
Jesus is unique.
Despite this fact, this puts Joseph in a difficult position. What will he do? He is a “just man.” This means that it would not be proper for him to marry a woman that everyone would assume has been unfaithful. Because of this and the fact that he is a good man, he doesn’t want to make a big deal about it. He could have had her tried in the court of public opinion and she would have carried not only a child but a ruined reputation. Instead, Joseph wanted to take care of it quietly and allow Mary as much dignity as possible. Why? Because Joseph loved Mary.
Again, here we see the love of Joseph for Mary. He had resolved to divorce her. Yet, in v. 20, he was still considering it. Joseph was in this tension between what he thought would be the right thing to do, and what would have been his right to do, yet, because of his love for Mary, he just couldn’t go through with it.
While Joseph was in this tension, an angel appeared to him. In this dream, the angel affirms to him what Mary has already told him. The child is not the result of infidelity but is a work of the Holy Spirit.
The angel goes on to describe what this child will do. First, by His name: Jesus. The importance of a name - it was to be the quality of the individual, his character. The Greek version of the Hebrew name Joshua. A name that means Yahweh saves! A common name at the time because of the expectations of this work of God. But rather than pointing to the hope of God’s salvation, this child would bring salvation!
Second, the angel specifically states what they will be saved from, “their sins.” The audience that Matthew was writing to would understand what forgiveness required: a sacrifice.
Jesus brought salvation by being the sacrifice.
Why? Because of God’s love for the world! Because of God’s love, He sent His Son.
16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
And, God’s love was not a new thing! From before the beginning of time, God loved His creation. This was God’s plan powered by love. God revealed His plan through a multitude of prophets.
14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
Because of God’s love, He wanted people to know what to be looking for to identify the Christ.
But notice what the name, or the quality, of this child would be: Immanuel.
Im = with / anu = us / el = God
“God with us.” Who is us? Broken people. Hurting people. Confused people. Rebellious people. Sinners.
Why would God choose to hang out with us?
Because He loves us. He is chose to be “God with us” because He loves us.
So, Joseph wakes up. And because of the revelation of this dream, he goes through with the marriage to Mary. He sets aside all of the rumors and accusations because of his love for Mary and his love for his God.
Love gives us the strength to face the impossible.
As I consider the death of Jesus, the reality of the crucifixion, the pain and humiliation that would be inflicted upon Him. Plus the crushing weight of sins being placed upon His shoulders. What would cause Jesus to go through this? After all, He is God. He had the power to stop time and just walk away. Yet, He didn’t.
Jesus saves because He loves.
And today, Jesus will save you.
Maybe, as you’ve sat there this morning, you have felt the weight of the truth from God’s Word. The reality of Jesus and His sacrifice. The weight of your own sin. And the freedom available by placing your faith in Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior.
Pray today to ask Him to forgive you.