I. Why Jesus Came

A. Save People From Their Sins Verse 21

1. Jesus- Joshua-Jehovah Shua- Jehovah saves
2. Save- sozo- deliver, protect, heal, preserve, save, make whole.
3. Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…
4. Romans 6:23a For the wages of sin is death…
5. Death-

a. Personal- emotional, mental, psychological, physical
b. Situational- marriage, family, job
c. Spiritual- eternal separation from God: Hell

6. His purpose is to save us from our sins

a. From the penalty of sin
b. From the power of sin
c. From the presence of sin

7. Jesus Came To Save
Luke 19:10 for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”
8. How Salvation Comes
Matthew 20:28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

B. To Be With Us Verse 23

John 1:1-3, 14 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was in the beginning with God. 3All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. 14And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory,…
1 Timothy 3:16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh,…
Matthew 28:20 I am with you always, even to the end of the age.
God With Us, Immanuel- Companionship, friendship, comfort, intimacy
Continual, unbroken and perfect communion with God.

II. How Jesus Came

A. By God’s Power And Design Verses 18, 20, 23a

1. God’s Salvation Comes Not By Human Ability

a. Man Prone To Try To Save Self
b. Salvation Is Apart From Man’s Efforts
c. Only Through Jesus
d. Isaiah 7:14 says that a virgin shall conceive.

i. Some versions of the Bible call her a “young woman” but every time this Hebrew word was used in the O. T., it referred to a virgin.
ii. In 200 BC, 70 Jewish scholars translated the Old Testament into Greek and used a Greek word here that could only mean virgin.
iii. It would not be a sign of any miracle if a young woman conceived and bore a son, but a virgin bearing a son is a miracle.

2. God’s Salvation Comes Not By Human Design

a. Man Prone Tries To Save Self
b. Salvation Apart From Man’s Design

B. In An Uncomfortable Way Verse 19

1. Betrothal As Binding As Marriage

a. Marriages often arranged when children are three or four years of age.
b. A year before the marriage ceremony, the couple entered a period of espousal where they were betrothed to each other, but not allowed to consummate the marriage.
c. If the couple chose to break up during this time, they had to sign a bill of divorce; if the groom died, the bride was considered a widowed virgin.

2. Joseph Suffered Social Humiliation: he Had A So Called “Adulterous Wife”

a. “A Just man” means he was compassionate, wanting to do the right thing
b. If Mary was guilty of adultery, Jewish Law commanded death by stoning
c. Joseph sought away to be merciful to Mary

3. Regarding Jesus, it was supposed and presumed that He had a dishonorable birth

a. John 8:41 Then they said to Him, “We were not born of fornication…
b. Luke 9:26 For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His own glory, and in His Father’s, and of the holy angels.

III. How Should We Respond Verse 20a

A. Consider God’s Words

1. Joseph Considered It, “Slept On It”
2. Thought- to bring to mind, revolve in mind, ponder, to think, to deliberate

a. As when Peter considered the vision of the sheet filled with unclean animals. (Acts 10)

3. John 7:24 Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.”
4. Courson- Joseph: “logical, yet mystical.” He thought it thru, & received a dream.

B. Be Open To God’s Words Verse 20b
C. Obey God’s Words Verse 24,25

1. Kept Mary as his wife
2. Named the child “Jesus”: Bold move for Joseph, considering the controversy
3. Ignored Internal Fear- rejection, the future, age, remarriage.
4. Ignored External Fear- social, cultural, religious.
5. Joseph Accepted And Obeyed God’s Word