And You Shall Call His Name Jesus

Matthew 1:18-25
December 13, 2020
Abraham Hong

Sermon Script

This month we are going through the first two chapters of the book of Matthew. And today’s passage is about the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

I’m sure that most of you have come across this story many times. And I’m sure that most of you have heard many sermons on it. But that is good. It’s good because the way that the birth of Jesus took place is extremely important. And it’s good because it never gets old.

Dear Highland, as you start this week anew, may you know and believe two things. The first is this. May you know and believe that the birth of Jesus was a miraculous and supernatural birth.

Mary and Joseph were betrothed, but they were not yet married. They did not yet know each other like a husband and a wife. They were not yet one flesh. There was no sexual union. They were not making a baby together. We know this to be absolutely true on Joseph’s end because Joseph resolved to divorce Mary when she was found to be with child. And we know this to be absolutely true on Mary’s end because Mary, in the book of Luke, asked the angel of the Lord how it was possible for her to have a child since she was a virgin. Joseph knew that the child did not come from him and Mary. Mary knew that the child did not come from her and Joseph. But above all, most importantly, we know this to be absolutely true on God’s end because the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and told him that the child conceived in Mary was from the Holy Spirit. Jesus’ birth was miraculous and supernatural.

Dear Highland, this is amazing and this is true. This is amazing because this is humanly impossible. This cannot be explained by human science or human reasoning. This never gets old. This is amazing. And this is true because God has revealed it to us in his word. This has been witnessed and written down as the Bible. This really happened. This is true.

Dear Highland, may you therefore believe in the way that the birth of Jesus Christ took place. Believe that Jesus was really born of a virgin. Believe that his conception in the virgin was from the Holy Spirit. Sadly, many people who call themselves Christians do not actually believe in these truths. Many deny the virgin birth. Many reject the work of the Holy Spirit. Many of you know that I am not the type of guy to throw it all down and draw hard lines in my sermons. But this morning I tell you with absolute certainty that if you do not believe in the virgin birth of Jesus Christ by the work of the Holy Spirit, then you are not a Christian. But if you do believe in the virgin birth of Jesus Christ by the work of the Holy Spirit, then may you therefore have wonder. The birth of Jesus Christ is amazing and impossible and unexplainable and wonderful. May your hearts be filled with awe. May your minds be blown away. May you consider the mystery and the majesty of the incarnation of Jesus Christ.

Dear Highland, the second thing for you to know and believe is this. The birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way for the sake of your salvation.

The angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. And the angel said, “… you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” The name of Jesus is derived from the Hebrew name of Joshua. And the Hebrew name of Joshua means “The Lord saves.” Our Lord saves us from our sins. And the way that he was born is crucial to how his salvation works for us.

Jesus, the Son of God, the second person of the one Triune God, Jesus, who is truly and eternally God, who is of one substance and equal with the Father, Jesus took upon himself a human nature. He had a divine nature, but then when the fullness of time had come, when he was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit in the womb of the virgin Mary, Jesus took upon himself a human nature as well. In the mind-blowing words of John, “the Word became flesh….” In this way, two whole natures, the divine and the human, perfect and distinct, were inseparably joined together in one person without being changed, mixed, or confused. This person is truly God and truly man. This person is one person. This person is Jesus Christ. This is what happened when Jesus was born. We call this the incarnation of Christ.

This was absolutely necessary for our salvation. Jesus had to take on a human nature so that he could save us from sin. He had to become the prophet, priest, and king for us.  He had to be born under the law so that he could perfectly fulfill the law… for our sake. He had to take on a human nature so that he could suffer and die… as our substitute. The Word had to become flesh so that he could bodily resurrect in power and in glory and provide for us bodily resurrection… in him. This is why today’s passage is so important for us.

It was absolutely necessary for Jesus to take on a human nature for our salvation. But it was also absolutely necessary that he be the one to do it, because Jesus is divine. Jesus is God. Jesus is without sin. And so when he was born of the virgin Mary, his divinity was not in any way changed. He remained without sin. When he was took on human nature, he did not take on human sinfulness. Because he was not born ordinarily or naturally from Mary, he was not born as a sinner. He was not born dead to sin. He was not born under Adam. He did not inherit original sin. Rather, Jesus was born the representative head of a new creation. He was born without sin. And only someone who is without sin can save us from sin. This is why today’s passage is so important for us.

And so… the tiny little hands of the little baby Jesus that clung to Mary were meant to be hands nailed to the cross. The cute little mouth of the little baby Jesus was meant for the for words of agony, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” The glowing little eyes of the little baby Jesus were meant to see Zacchaeus. The chubby little feet of the little baby Jesus were meant to crush the head of the serpent. Jesus did not take on body and blood in order to be a cute little baby. Jesus took on body and blood so that he could give up his body and shed his blood… so that he could save his people… from their sins.

Dear Highland, this is glorious and this is heartwarming. This is glorious because this is a part of how we are saved from our sins. The incarnation is the wisdom of God. It never gets old. This is glorious. And this is heartwarming because we do not deserve the love of Christ Jesus. He emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. Jesus - who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross - Jesus loved you. This is heartwarming.

Dear Highland, may you therefore know and believe that Jesus saves you from your sins. It’s in his name. Believe in his incarnation as you also believe in his life and his death and his resurrection and his ascension. Be thankful for Jesus and love him because of his salvation from sin. And look forward to seeing Jesus face to face. It is so cool that Jesus remains one person with two natures, a divine nature and a human nature. Seeing Jesus face to face will never get old.

Soli Deo Gloria