Christmas 2015LHemphill What If God Were One of Us? Matthew 1:18-25

“One of Us” sung by Joan Osborn. “If God had a name what would it be? And would you call it to His face? If God had a face what would it look like? And would you want to see if seeing meant that you would have to believe? What if God was one of us? Just a slob like one of us Just a stranger on the bus Trying to make his way home What if God was one of us?”

James Irwin Apollo 15 in 1971

James Irwin Apollo 15 “There’s something more important than man walking on the moon and that is God walking on the earth.”

I. Jesus Is Unexpected (vv18-20) “This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. 19 Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.”

I. Jesus Is Unexpected (vv18-20) II. Jesus Is Miraculous (v. 20) But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.”

I. Jesus Is Unexpected (vv18-20) II. Jesus Is Miraculous (v. 20) There were messages from God brought by angels. There were messages from God brought by angels. Jesus was born of a virgin. Jesus was born of a virgin.

I. Jesus Is Unexpected (vv18-20) II. Jesus Is Miraculous (v. 20) The virgin birth is important for at least three reasons: o First, the virgin birth shows that the human race cannot redeem itself.

I. Jesus Is Unexpected (vv18-20) II. Jesus Is Miraculous (v. 20) The virgin birth is important for at least three reasons: o First, the virgin birth shows that the human race cannot redeem itself. o Second, the virgin birth made it possible for Jesus to be born without a sin nature.

I. Jesus Is Unexpected (vv18-20) II. Jesus Is Miraculous (v. 20) The virgin birth is important for at least three reasons: o First, the virgin birth shows that the human race cannot redeem itself. o Second, the virgin birth made it possible for Jesus to be born without a sin nature. o Third, the virgin birth made it possible for Jesus to be both fully human and fully divine.

I. Jesus Is Unexpected (vv18-20) II. Jesus Is Miraculous (v. 20) 1 Timothy 2: 5-6 “For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all men…”

I. Jesus Is Unexpected (vv18-20) II. Jesus Is Miraculous (v. 20) In his book The Person of Christ, Donald Macleod writes: “The virgin birth is posted on guard at the door of the mystery of Christmas; and none of us must think of hurrying past it. It stands on the threshold of the New Testament, blatantly supernatural, defying our rationalism, informing us that all that follows belongs to the same order as itself and that if we find it offensive there is no point in proceeding further.”

I. Jesus Is Unexpected (vv18-20) II. Jesus Is Miraculous (v. 20) III. Jesus Saves Us From Our Sins (v 21) “She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins."

I. Jesus Is Unexpected (vv18-20) II. Jesus Is Miraculous (v. 20) III. Jesus Saves Us From Our Sins (v 21) The name Jesus is closely connected to the Hebrew verb “yasha” meaning “to save.”The name Jesus is closely connected to the Hebrew verb “yasha” meaning “to save.”

I. Jesus Is Unexpected (vv18-20) II. Jesus Is Miraculous (v. 20) III. Jesus Saves Us From Our Sins (v 21) IV. Jesus Is The “With-Us-God” (vv 22-23) “All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: "The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel"--which means, "God with us." “All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: "The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel"--which means, "God with us."

I. Jesus Is Unexpected (vv18-20) II. Jesus Is Miraculous (v. 20) III. Jesus Saves Us From Our Sins (v 21) IV. Jesus Is The “With-Us-God” (vv 22-23) Immanu - el with us - God

IV. Jesus Is The “With-Us-God” (vv 22-23) 1 Timothy 3:16 says, “Beyond all question, the mystery of godliness is great: He appeared in a body ….” Colossians 2:9 says, “For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form.…” Hebrews 2:17 says, “Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.”

Conclusion Jesus is the unexpected. Jesus is the unexpected. Jesus is the miraculous. Jesus is the miraculous. Jesus is the savior. Jesus is the savior. Jesus is Immanuel, the “with-us God.” Jesus is Immanuel, the “with-us God.”