December
22, 2013
Advent
4
Matthew
1:18-25
The
High Cost of Christmas
Introduction:
Christmas is a costly even for many Americans. To buy gifts, they go into debt
with is not paid off for months. Though Christmas may be costly to us, think of
the cost to God. Jesus was a precious gift. It cost God His all while for us it
only costs money!
Consider the high cost of
Christmas –
I. Cost Himself
– “Emmanuel, God who is with us” V.
23 Throughout the course of his Gospel Matthew will quote the Old Testament.
This is the first of 47 times Matthew will consult the Old Testament to tell us
about the Savior. This quotation is from the prophet Isaiah (7:14)
At the time this prophecy was
given originally it was spoken to king Ahaz as a sign not only that the Lord
was with him but as a testimony that the Lord Himself would rescue king Ahaz
from all of his enemies – even those who threatened to take his life.
The Lord who directed all of
the affairs of His people sent His own Son into the world as the final fulfillment
of all prophecy, for it was “God with us” in the fullest sense who came to be
our substitute, to bear our sin, to die a death that we deserved.
God is very much involved in
your salvation. He is not an absentee, runaway, Father. He does not abandon His
people. To the contrary He has your well-being at stake. He involves Himself in
your salvation. He orders your days and directs your path. He is very much
involved in the lives of His children.
Says the Psalmist, “O LORD, you have searched me and you know
me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar.
You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways.
Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O LORD. My frame was not hidden from you when I was
made in the secret place. When I was woven together…your eyes saw my unformed
body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them
came to be.”[1]
Even before your parents knew
you existed your heavenly Father knew all about you. Your life is like a novel and the Father’s
handwriting is on every page. The Lord knows your yesterdays and is planning
your tomorrows. That’s how concerned He is with you.
Transition:
How much did cost the Father at Christmas? It cost Him Himself. It cost Him
humility.
II. Cost humility – born of a virgin
–V. 18 “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.”
There was no physical union
during the Jewish period of engagement but it was a much more binding
relationship then a modern engagement and could be broken only by a certificate
of divorce. Although they were “pledged
to be married” Matthew uses the terms “husband”
and “wife” of Mary and Joseph before
they were married. Finding his fiancée pregnant, Joseph, being a righteous man,
planned to divorce Mary quietly. However, in a dream an angel explained to
Joseph that Mary’s child was conceived by the Holy Spirit.
Before her marriage to Joseph,
Mary was “found” to be with child. In
Mary’s day, it was a bombshell! It meant a divorce by the betrothed resulting
in public shame and disgrace. The family of the girl would lose face in the
community. The adulteress could have been stoned to death. It took an angel’s visit
to get Joseph to accept a pregnant bride. In light of this, we must appreciate
and admire the courage and devotion of Mary in consenting to be the mother of
Christ. She took God at His word. He didn’t hesitate in becoming the Lord’s
handmaiden. In humble obedience she submitted to the Father’s will.
Transition: What was this divine cost at Christmas? How
much did cost the Father at Christmas? It cost Him Himself. It cost Him
humility. It came at the cost of a cross.
III. Cost the cross –
“He will save His people from their sin”
– V. 21 The name Jesus (“Joshua”) means "God is Savior" The son of Mary was rightfully called that,
because "He will save His people from their sins" - Matthew 1:21
This Jesus would do by saving
them... From the GUILT of sin.
By offering His blood as the
atonement for their sins - But God demonstrates his own love for us in this:
While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since we have now been justified by his
blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! Romans 5:8-9
When one is washed by the blood
of Jesus, He truly is their Savior. All of their sins, all of their
transgressions, all of the faults and failings are forgiven and gone.
From
the POWER of sin -
By sending His sanctifying
Spirit to help His people break sin's dominion. Without the Holy Spirit in your
life it is impossible to please Him. But with His Spirit active and alive in
you He is able to accomplish all that He desires for your. You, dear children, are from God and have overcome
them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the
world. 1 John 4:4
Paul writes of this in Romans
8. “Therefore,
there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, Therefore,
brothers, we have an obligation—but it is not to the sinful nature, to live
according to it. For if you live
according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to
death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, because those who are led by the
Spirit of God are sons of God.”
Vv.1,12-14
From
the CONSEQUENCE of sin -
From
the wrath of God to come on the last day.
Since we have now been
justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath
through him! - Romans 5:9;
“Wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who
rescues us from the coming wrath.” 1
Thessalonians 1:9-10
Ultimately,
from the PRESENCE of sin -
When we depart to "be with the Lord" whether it is on
the last day when He comes in glory or when He takes us by the hand and calls
us individually to be with Him in glory.
“After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no
one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before
the throne and in front of the Lamb.
They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they
cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation
belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.” Revelation 7:9-10
Conclusion:
How much did it cost the Father at Christmas? It cost Him everything – yet it
was priceless. For in doing so He has
won the world and redeemed everything in it.
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