His Name is Jesus - His Birth and His Mother

His Name is Jesus Philippians 2:5-11

Today we begin a new series to consider who Jesus is. We will look at Him Biblically and historically. We will consider His natures, His words, His work on earth, where He was before He was born in Bethlehem, and where He is now. Today is Mothers’ Day, so we will look at the woman who was highly favored in that she was chosen to be the mother of Jesus, Emmanuel - God with us (Matthew 1:23),

But first we want to look at Jesus. Jesus was born of a woman, a virgin. He had a mother like you did. He fulfilled all righteousness so we know that he honored his mother, Mary, and his earthly father, Joseph. He even went to the extreme of seeing to Mary’s care after His death, speaking from the cross to John, His beloved disciple.

WHAT THE WORD OF GOD TEACHES ABOUT THE BIRTH OF JESUS

Ø Mary, His mother was a virgin when Jesus was born.

o The prophesy – Isaiah 7:14 “virgin” alma ( vs bethulah) see Genesis 24:16 re. Rebekah (bethulah) – note extra clarification. The writers of the New Testament understood alma to be a woman who had never “known a man physically.”

o The announcement by the Messenger of God (angel) Luke 1:26-38 ²⁶ And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,; Matthew 1:18-25 But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. V.20

o The importance – Is the Word of God trustworthy?

Ø Jesus’ Birth was miraculous. Luke 1:37 “with God, nothing is impossible”; Matthew 1:20 (above)

Ø That being the God-man allowed Him to be our:

o Perfect example 1Peter 2:21-23 ²¹ For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:

o Perfect high priest Hebrews 2:17-18; 4:14-17

o Perfect sacrifice for sin Mark 10:45 …came to give his life a ransom for many; Roman 4:25 ²⁵ Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.

WHAT GOD’S WORD DOES NOT TEACH ABOUT JESUS’ BIRTH

Ø That His delivery was by some odd method … other than natural childbirth

Ø The Mary remained a virgin for the rest of her life… “ever virgin” – Second Council of Constantinople –533 semper virgo According to Mark Driskoll if Mary was simper virgin then Joseph would have been simper bummo. (Vintage Jesus)

§ God’s design for marriage Gen.2:24; 1Corinthians 7:4-5 (KJV defraud); Exodus 21:10 (marital duty KJV) (food, clothes, or sex GW)

§ “Until after Jesus was born” Matthew 1:25

§ other kids Mat.12:46-50; 13:55-57; Mark 3:31-35; 6:3-4;

Luke 8:19-21; John 2:12; 7:3,5,10; Acts 1:14; 1Cor. 9:5; Gal. 1:19

Ø The belief in His virgin birth is equal to believing in His deity - JW, Muslim

Ø That our sin nature is passed on only through the male line… \women are less depraved … sin offering – Lev.12:6-7

Ø That Mary and God the Father had physical sexual contact… Mormon

Ø That Mary, because she was chosen as Jesus’ mother was/is:

Mother of the Church

Immaculately conceived (did not need a savior)

Assumed body and soul into heaven

Co-redemptrix & mediatrix

Queen of Heaven/Mother of God

WHAT KIND OF MOTHER WAS MARY? A BONDSERVANT Luke 1:38

Ø Trusting the Promises of her Lord

o Genesis 3:15; 22:17-18; 2Samuel 7:12,13,16 (and every book of the Bible)

o His promise to Mary Luke 1:31-37

Ø Trusting in the Places He Leads (Theos = God – root –theo = to put in place) God is the Placer Acts 17:26 hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;

o 3 months in Jerusalem w/ Elizabeth, then home

o to Bethlehem for census/birth Micah 5:2

o 40^th day to the temple – Simeon Luke 2:34-35

o to Egypt – Matthew 2:1-11, 13-15, then Nazareth 19-23 Bondservant must be flexible … trusting the path God chooses.

Ø Trusting the Purposes of her Lord

o At Passover when Jesus is twelve – Luke 2:41-46,48,50 Their perception did not match their observation.

o Jesus’ submission V.51 --- Mary’s treasure

o The wedding John 2:1-5 “Whatever He says to you, do.”

o A busy day in Capernaum – Mark 3:19-21 She too must learn to submit.

Ø Trusting the Power of her Lord

o At home in Nazareth – Mark 6:1-6 …and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him.⁴ But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house. No indication that Mary was different.

o At the foot of the cross – John 19:26-27

o Waiting for the Holy Spirit – Acts 1:8,12-14

This mother had to learn to trust the Lord:

His purposes though not easy to discern;

His will, done His way, by His power;

His leading from place to place;

His power to change the hearts of her sons (Acts 1:13-14);

His purpose and power in going to the cross to pay for her sin as well as the sin of all who would come to Him in faith…

That is what bondservants do. Mary is not our object of faith but rather

an example of faith in Jesus

The impossible happens when you surrender to Jesus.

The Word of God in History

The Word of God as History; The Word of God in History; The Word of God and History May 4, 2008

Romans 15:4; 1Corinthians 10:1-12;

1Thessalonians 2:13; Revelation 22:18-19; Deuteronomy 4:2

We have seen that the Word of God has been spoken and preached since the beginning creation. God was the first to write His Word. He wrote His Commands on tablets of stone for Moses to deliver to the people who were to bear his name (character) and the message of hope that was promised in the Messiah who would take away the sin of man (his rebellion against God), and its penalty (death and separation from God).

We saw that God’s Word was inspired specifically to communicate who Jesus is, the way to follow Him as personal Savior, and the way that the church of Jesus Christ is to carry out the work and works that He began to do. All that speaks of the authority of God’s Word. Today I want us to consider the reliability of God’s Word, the resilience of God’s Word, and the result of God’s Word in history. Deuteronomy 4:2 and Revelation 22:18-19 God made it clear that we are to believe the Bible and respect the Bible, but there has been many a battle over the Bible, and those continue today. It is denied. It is dissected. It is distorted, And, it is disregarded. But there are still some who believe it, who know that it is the God-breathed, inerrant, infallible, authentic Word of God that is trustworthy for daily inspiration, for salvation (1Peter 1:23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever) and for sanctification (John 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth. Thy Word is truth).

THE RELIABILITY OF THE BIBLE, THE WORD OF GOD

Ø Science – mainly written to teach us about a relationship with God, but the God of salvation is also the God of creation.

To judge, need to know Bible and science.

o French academy of science pamphlet 1861 – 51 undeniable truths that prove the Bible in error. Today none of those irrefutable contradiction to science are still seen as contradictions.

o Earth suspended in space – Job 26:7

o "God sits upon the circle of the earth" (Isaiah 40:22). The word translated here as "circle" was more commonly translated "sphere."

o Ptolemy counted 1026 stars versus Jeremiah 33:22

o Black plague – Leviticus 13:46 The Old Testament command to quarantine people with a plague was put into action to stem the tide of the plaque.

Ø History - not primarily a history book, but records history

Secular historians contested the account of the Bible saying there were inaccuracies. However, archeology has proven the Bible Word of God true rather than men.

o Historians said that Moses could not have written the Pentateuch because there was not written language at the time it was supposed to have been written – then archeologists discovered the Tel Elarmona tablets.

o Historians said there was no evidence of a king named Belshazzar who is told of in the book of Daniel – then archeologists discovered an ancient inscription the described Belshazzar as co-regent with King Nabinitus.

RESILIANCE (DURABILITY) OF THE BIBLE, THE WORD OF GOD

Ø 1,400 BC – Ten Commandments

Ø 500 BC – all Hebrew manuscripts of 39 books of Old Testament

Ø 200 BC – Septuagint, Greek Old Testaments, 39 books + 14 apocryphal books complete

Ø 100 AD- Greek manuscripts of 27 books of New Testament complete

Ø 382 AD – Jerome’s Latin Vulgate

Ø 500 AD – Scripture in over 500 languages

Ø 600 AD – Scripture only allowed in Latin The Roman Catholic church sought to destroy any copies or copiers of scripture in the languages of common people.

Ø 1384 Wycliffe – whole in English Bible from Vulgate (40 years after death, bones crushed, burned, and thrown in river).

Ø 1415 John Hus – burned using Wycliffe’s manuscripts for kindling

Ø 1450 – Gutenberg printing press – first book – Latin Bible

Ø 1496 – John Colet – began to read English NT (translated from Greek) in St Paul’s Cathedral in London to 20,000 hearers

Ø 1516 – Erasmus – published Greek-Latin parallel; versus Vulgate

Ø 1522 – Martin Luther – German New Testament (from Erasmus)

Ø 1526 – Tyndale – English New Testament – printed – strangled and burned at stake 1536 by Henry VIII

Ø 1539 – Great Bible at bequest of Henry VIII

Ø 1560 – The Geneva Bible – Bible of the reformers and Puritans

Ø 1589 – Rheims NT and Douay OT by Roman Church from Vulgate

Ø 1611 (1769) – King James English Bible

This was a very saddening study as I found out many of those who sought the freedom of common man to have access to God’s Word -- those who were severely persecuted -- once they had the scripture in the language of common man, became persecutor of any who disagreed with their doctrines (which were often unbiblical, such as infant baptism, transubstanciation, and the “ever virgin” status of Mary).

RESULT OF GOD WORD IN HISTORY

Ø A people with a promise - Jews

Ø A Savior on whom time pivots - Jesus

Ø Nations conquered and ruled according to their trust in God’s Word.

Ø A “New World” with freedom to read and believe

Ø A Nation founded on free access to God’s Word

Ø Missions and Benevolence around the world

66 Books, 40 Authors, 1600 years, 13 countries, with a unique unity.

Men have preached its funeral. But the corpse has outlived its pallbearers. The Bible has survived. Despite all the attempts to bury the Bible, it has continued to endure.

Finally, the Bible is not a book of the month, but the Book of the ages. (Adrian Rogers)

1 Peter 1:25 “But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the Word which by the gospel is preached unto you.”