Matthew 1:18-25

Order of Service

• Call to Worship — Isaiah 9:2-7
• Hymn — Angels from the Realms of Glory
• Scripture Reading — Isaiah 7:10-17
• Hymn — Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
• Confession of Faith — Luther's Small Catechism
• Pastoral Prayer
• Offering
• Prayer
• Hymn — O Come, All Ye Faithful
• Sermon
• Hymn — Of the Father's Love Begotten
• Benediction — 2 Corinthians 13:14

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Sermon Title: Savoring the Savior — The Faithful Fulfillment of God's Promise

Scripture: Matthew 1:18-25

I. Slow Down and Consider the Way God Brings Fulfillment Through the Quiet Faithfulness of an Adopted Father

A. The way and the scandal of the conception of Jesus (Matthew 1:18-19)

1. Mary was betrothed to Joseph — a legal and covenantal bond so binding that separation required divorce
2. Matthew twice clarifies that Mary and Joseph had not come together; the conception was by the Holy Spirit
3. The Holy Spirit's work here mirrors the creation of Adam (Genesis 2:7) — an act of New Creation in response to the Fall

B. Joseph's predicament: just and gentle (Matthew 1:19)

1. As a just man, Joseph believed Mary had violated God's law and that the law demanded a response
2. Being unwilling to shame her, he resolved to divorce her quietly
3. He is both faithful to God's law and merciful toward Mary

C. Joseph's patient, prayerful reflection (Matthew 1:20)

1. The Greek word for "considered" implies slow, careful deliberation — not a hasty, impulsive reaction
2. In contrast to our microwave culture of instant decisions, Joseph slows down before acting
3. The angel's words speak directly to Joseph's fear and call him to specific, obedient action

D. Joseph's quiet, obedient response (Matthew 1:24-25)

1. He woke and did exactly as the angel commanded — took Mary as his wife and named the child
2. Matthew's focus is not merely on Joseph as a moral example, but on Joseph's unique, God-ordained role
3. By naming the child, Joseph legally adopts him into the Davidic line, answering the question left hanging from Matthew 1:1: how can Jesus be Son of David if Joseph is not his biological father?

II. Savor the Savior Through the Threefold Naming of the Child

A. Son of David — the human nature of Christ

1. God promised David in 2 Samuel 7 that a descendant would sit on an everlasting throne over an everlasting kingdom
2. Joseph, a man in the Davidic royal line, adopts Jesus and confers that lineage upon him
3. Jesus is fully human: as an infant he cried, needed nursing, needed warmth; throughout his ministry he faced trials, temptation, weakness, and pain
4. His full humanity means he not only relates to us but represents us — as human representatives stand for their people, Christ as the fully human Son of David stands for his people before the Father, ever interceding with his wounds still present in his resurrected body

B. Emmanuel — the divine nature of Christ (Matthew 1:23, fulfilling Isaiah 7:14)

1. Matthew quotes Isaiah and then interprets the name: "God with us"
2. Solomon asked at the dedication of the Temple whether God would truly dwell on earth (1 Kings 8:27); in Christ the answer is yes — God has come to tent among his people (cf. John 1:14)
3. Only one who is perfect, holy, and infinite could satisfy divine justice and atone for sins — the Incarnation is not incidental but essential to salvation

C. Jesus — the office of Savior (Matthew 1:21)

1. The name Jesus means "Yahweh saves" — the Lord saves
2. This is the very purpose of the Incarnation: "the Son of Man came to give his life as a ransom for many" (Matthew 20:28)
3. The name Jesus functions as a mirror, exposing our real and deep problem: we are sinners self-helplessly guilty before a holy God
4. The same name is also a bonfire on a cold dark night — drawing sinners into the warmth and love of the One who came to save, who does save, who will not let his people perish but gives them eternal life
5. Application: What is the temperature of your heart toward the name of Jesus? If cold and dull, go to the Lord in prayer and ask him to restore adoration for the Savior

III. Conclusion — See Afresh the Faithful Fulfillment of God's Promise

A. All three names together declare the fullness of Christ's person and work

1. Son of David: fully human, representing his people
2. Emmanuel: fully God, able to satisfy divine justice
3. Jesus: Savior, accomplishing what his people could never do for themselves

B. Do not rush through the Christmas story — slow down and savor who the Lord Jesus Christ is, why he came, and what he has done for you

C. God made the promise centuries before through the prophet (Isaiah 7:14); he brought it to fulfillment through the quiet faithfulness of an adopted father and the miraculous working of the Holy Spirit — all to send the Savior his people needed