Mat 1:18-25 NKJV – [18] Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. [19] Then Joseph her husband, being a just [man], and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly. [20] But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. [21] “And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins.” [22] So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: [23] “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.” [24] Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife, [25] and did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son. And he called His name JESUS.

Why did Jesus come into the world?
To die for our sins? To set the captives free? To heal the sick, and feed the hungry? Though all these He did, and the cross was his set destination for his earthly life, the writer of John defines this mission more clear (John 18:37). To bear witness to the truth.

The reason Jesus came to this earth as a baby is to bear witness to the truth. Man has a lot of weird concepts of God, and when the revelation of God is ignored, people will tends to fall into all sorts of idolatry. No one has seen the Father at anytime (John 6:46), but through nature one can realize that there is a God (Psalm 19:1). Though this is not a full revelation for nature is fallen. Jesus came to clarify miss conceptions that man creates in his own head of who God is.

He also came to identify with man. He was temped just as we are, yet without sin (Hebrews 4:15). Up in heaven He was not tired, but Jesus identified with us as he experience what we do, like being tired.

Jesus = Joshua = Yashua (Matthew 1:21)(Acts 4:12)
A little word study here. Check out this link: http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=G2424&t=NKJV

Mat 1:25 Show us Joseph did not know her TILL… This gives you obvious conclusion that Mary and Joseph did if fact have relations as normal married couples do, after “she had brought forth her firstborn Son.”

Immanuel = God with us

This shows his deity, as well as his nearness to man. I don’t know how to get any clearer then that on the deity of Christ.
Jesus was not only the Son of God, but God the Son. Here are a few more verses the show the deity of Christ:
Acts 20:28
John 1:1-3 & John 1:14
1 John 1:1-2
Heb 1:6 (Only God is worth of worship)
Heb 1:8 (The Father speaking to the Son calls Him God)

Until next time…blessings!

In Christ,

Mike

Mat 1:1-17 NKJV – [1] The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham: [2] Abraham begot Isaac, Isaac begot Jacob, and Jacob begot Judah and his brothers. [3] Judah begot Perez and Zerah by Tamar, Perez begot Hezron, and Hezron begot Ram. [4] Ram begot Amminadab, Amminadab begot Nahshon, and Nahshon begot Salmon. [5] Salmon begot Boaz by Rahab, Boaz begot Obed by Ruth, Obed begot Jesse, [6] and Jesse begot David the king. David the king begot Solomon by her [who had been the wife] of Uriah. [7] Solomon begot Rehoboam, Rehoboam begot Abijah, and Abijah begot Asa. [8] Asa begot Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat begot Joram, and Joram begot Uzziah. [9] Uzziah begot Jotham, Jotham begot Ahaz, and Ahaz begot Hezekiah. [10] Hezekiah begot Manasseh, Manasseh begot Amon, and Amon begot Josiah. [11] Josiah begot Jeconiah and his brothers about the time they were carried away to Babylon. [12] And after they were brought to Babylon, Jeconiah begot Shealtiel, and Shealtiel begot Zerubbabel. [13] Zerubbabel begot Abiud, Abiud begot Eliakim, and Eliakim begot Azor. [14] Azor begot Zadok, Zadok begot Achim, and Achim begot Eliud. [15] Eliud begot Eleazar, Eleazar begot Matthan, and Matthan begot Jacob. [16] And Jacob begot Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus who is called Christ. [17] So all the generations from Abraham to David [are] fourteen generations, from David until the captivity in Babylon [are] fourteen generations, and from the captivity in Babylon until the Christ [are] fourteen generations.

“Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me…”
The lyrics of a song that has moved the hearts of believers for over 200 years, stands as a reminder that God can forgive the most darkest sins, and save the most wretched of sinners. In the verses provided (Matt. 1:1-17) we might overlook an important lesson between who begot who. If this was mentioned in the Word of God, then it must be important.

Matthew, also known as Levi, showed an emphases in this first Gospel of the Bible of: Jesus, King and Messiah. Even in the first verse (Matt. 1:1), Matthew emphasizes that Jesus has the credentials to be the Messiah as he is a descendant of King David, and of Abraham. God’s promises will always come to pass, as He promised to David (2 Sam 7:12-16), and Abraham (Genesis 12:3). Interesting today, the their is no longer any accurate genealogy records for the Jews, and their was never any other second runner up for the position of “Messiah” nor will their ever will be again. Jesus is King and Messiah.

As you read down the list of names, some will be familiar, others are not as popular, but one interesting thing is that their are four women mentioned. Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, and her whom had been the wife of Uriah (Bathsheba). What is interesting is two things: 1) Women are not mentioned much in genealogies at that time. 2) The women mentioned did not have a great reputation in their past. Rahab was a gentile prostitute, Tamar played the harlot, Ruth from Moab and not a Hebrew, and Bathsheba became the wife of King David only after an adulterous relationship, and the murder of her current husband, Uriah.

The writer of “Amazing Grace” (John Newton), understood the grace of God and Him giving us what we do not deserve. Just as He gave these four women mentioned what they did not deserve: Forgiveness, and even recognizing them as women of faith who had the privilege to be an ancestor of King Jesus (“the salvation of Yahweh”), Yeshua Messiah, Immanuel (“God with us”).

If you do not believe God can ever forgive you and save you from your sins, know this: God has forgiven the vilest of sinners in times past, and has changed the lives of many that the world might look at as scum. Though, If you think your a pretty good person, and think your own efforts will get you to heaven, they won’t. According to God’s Word, and not just my own opinion, your heart is evil (Jer 17:9). But He loves you anyway. (John 3:16-17). Jesus is the only person that can save you. (John 14:6)

Until next time. Have a blessed week.