Matthew 1:18-25 – The Biggest Miracles of Christmas – Bible study

Matthew 1:18-25 The Biggest Miracle of Christmas What is the biggest miracle of Christmas? That is a hard one. Christmas is filled with miracles. There is the star that lead the wise men to the Baby Jesus. I have never figured that one out. How could a star direct travelers to a specific location? Stars have been used for hundredsperhaps thousands of yearsto help in navigation, but to direct men to a specific person living in a specific house? Friend, that is a miracle of epic proportions. What about the angels appearances? How many have longed and desired to see an angel? Yet angels appeared to no less than four timesand maybe more. If every communication from God to mankind during the birth of Christ was done by an angeland some believe it wasthere were more than 20 angelic visits. Bethlehem would have been the angelic crossroad of the world! http://www.biblestudy.org/question/angels-in-new-testament.html But then, there is the whole miracle message of Christmas itself the virgin birth of Jesus, the Messiah into the world. How would we begin to top that miracle? But when we think of the miracles of Christmas, we typically start around Christmas. Im thinking that is a little late. There are some pretty BIG miracles that happened both before and after the birth of Jesus. This morning, what are biggest miracles of Christmas? I. One of the biggest miracles is the miracle that God would care. A. There is no debating that the virgin birth of the Son of God is one of the biggest miracles of Christmas. Yet, if God had not cared, that miracle would have never come to pass. B. The Bible is very clear on the condition mans relationship with God sank down to because of sin. Romans 5:10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. 1. Paul did not use that word just once. Colossians 1:21 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled. 2. Jesus Himself said of us: Matt 12:30 He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad. 3. Yet in that state, God not only cares about us, He loves us. C. Some do not think much of Gods love. 1. To be honest: a. Some think God just created a crisis so that He could save us from it. b. They think Gods judgment on sin was way too harsh. 2. I would tell them they are wrong: a. God is just argument. If it were not just, God would not have degreed it. b. The logical argument. (1) When we sin we are rebelling against God. (2) We are telling God that we do not want Him. (3) So God created a place where He is not, HELL, and sends those who do not want Him there. (a) God is love so love is not there. (b) God is mercy so mercy is not there. (c) God is forgiving so forgiveness is not there. (4) God is kind so kindness is not there. (4) Then the rebels criticize God for giving them what they wanted. 3. Friend, you cant have it both ways. a. You either want God or you dont. b. If you do want God, you must take Him as Lord and Master. c. If you do not want God, you cant get His goodness either. d. Make up your mind, but do it quickly. D. However, whether you want God or not, God wants you. 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. Romans 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. E. Get this: Just like Gods justice may seem extreme so Gods love and forgiveness is also extreme. 1. Gods care is universal. That means it includes everyone. 2. Gods care is unconditional. That means it does not matter what you have done so far, God still cares. 3. Gods care is unending. That means if you accept Jesus Christ as your Savior, you will be His forever. II. One of the biggest miracles is the miracle that Jesus would come. A. I am speaking of the biggest miracles of Christmas this morning. B. Yes, how Jesus got here is a miracle, a big miracle; but perhaps an even bigger miracle is that Jesus would come. C. I do not mean to confuse you (or myself) but sometimes we forget that while the Father, the Son, and the Spirit are one, they are not the same. 1. Each member of the Trinity is "unique." They are One, but they are not the same. 2. By that we mean: a. The Father is not the Son. They are unique. b. The Son is not the Spirit. They are unique. c. The Spirit is not the Father. They are unique. 3. The Bible makes it clear that the Father, the Son, and the Spirit are One. Deut 6:4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: Isaiah 44:8 Is there a God beside me? yea, there is no God; I know not any. Isaiah 45:5 I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me. 4. But the Bible also makes it clear that each member of the Godhead is unique, with different roles to play in mans existence and redemption. 1John 5:7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. Matthew 3:16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: 17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. D. In the plan of God for mans redemption, the Son had a most difficult role. 1. He was to give up His state (spirit), lay aside all of His power, be placed into a human body, live among sinners as a human, be brutally murdered physically, be separated from God spiritually, and then trust the Father and the Spirit to raise Him in a glorified form. 2. Yet, Jesus came. And even more, Jesus wanted to come. a. Jesus wanted to lay aside who He was. b. Jesus wanted to be robed in weak flesh. c. Jesus wanted to walk among us. d. Jesus wanted to be a like a human. e. Jesus wanted to know our weaknesses. f. Jesus wanted to feel our pains. g. Jesus wanted to take our place. h. Jesus wanted to die on that cross. i. Jesus wanted to be our sacrifice. j. Jesus wanted to die on the cross for us. k. Jesus wanted to take our place in hell. E. Friend, that is one of the greatest miracles of Christmas! III. One of the biggest miracles is that Mary and Joseph would obey. A. We know the story of Mary. 1. Mary was just a young lady, a virgin. 2. Although some have attempted to deify Mary, she was and is just a very blessed woman, a woman who chose to obey. 3. \#Luke 1:26-38\ give the account of this young lady being visited by the angel, Gabriel. 4. Gabriel words are familiar to most of us: Luke 1:31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. 5. As is his explanation as to how this would be accomplished. Luke 1:35 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. 6. But it is Marys reply to which I would draw your attention: Luke 1:38 And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her. 7. Did Mary comprehend what she was saying? a. Did she understand that those of her day would ridicule her and think of her as a loose woman the remainder of her life? b. Did she realize that her own fiance would think this of her? Would consider have her "put away" as a loose or unfaithful woman? c. Did she comprehend at all the sword that would pierce her own soul? d. I do not know for certain, but I think perhaps she did. e. Then why do it? Why put yourself in such a position? f. She did it to obey God. g. We do not know anything of this womans upbringing and really very little about her at all, but she made a decision in a few minutes to do what most men do not decided to do in their entire life. h. She decided to obey God. B. But lets not forget Joseph. 1. He made a similar decision. 2. We seldom think about it, but who did the people think violated Mary? a. Was Mary betrothed to another? b. No one had ever seen Mary with another man, had they? c. And Joseph did not do what a man would do if his intended were unfaithful to him, did he? d. Would not a man whose intended had "stepped out on him" put her away? e. He certainly would not marry her and take the Child as his own, would he? 3. The answer to all these questions is NO. 4. To what conclusion would this conclusion jumping people jump to? a. They would jump to the conclusion that Mary AND Joseph had been too eager and were both had both behaved badly. b. By taking Mary to be his wife, Joseph soiled his own reputation as well. 5. Then why do it? a. Because, like Mary, Joseph made the decision to obey God. b. I dont know if you know it or not, but mankind is not know as a people that obey God. c. One of the greatest miracles was that Mary and Joseph obeyed God. IV. One of the biggest miracles of Christmas is that mankind does not care. A. I know there are other big miracles and they all need to be addressed, but my time is gone so I will jump to this one. 1. And what a big miracle it is. 2. That after all God has done, mankind by and large just does not care. a. Man does not care about his sin. b. Man does not care about God. c. Man does not care what Jesus did. d. And at this point, man does not care about life after death. 3. I made a statement about God a few weeks ago that needs to be repeated, "Never has anyone given so much and received so little." B. Sadly, sometimes we Christians do not care much more than the unsaved. 1. Obviously, we care some. 2. We were at least selfishly sane enough to care about our own sin and salvation, but what about the rest of the world? a. What about our friends? our family? our own children? b. Do we not care enough about what Jesus did for them to tell them all at least once? c. To make it a habit to invite them to a place where they at least hear the good news? d. Have we ourselves been pulled so far into the web of blindness that we do not care that God cares for them too? C. No, my friend, I believe one of the biggest miracles of Christmas is how little it really affects lives, even the lives of the Christians. I dont know about you, but that is one miracle I would like to see stopped.