Who Is This?

Who Is He in Yonder Stall

Intro: Matthew 1: 18-25

An old hymn asks" Who is he in yonder stall—at whose feet the shepherds fall?"

• • Have been asking this question for centuries

• • Get it right you win heaven, get it wrong, well---
  • This is an essential
  • Can get other things wrong and still get in heaven
  • Not this one cant be wrong about the baby in the manager
  • He is God---He is Man both at the same time in one body
  • Both human------and divine
  • What do you do when someone calls or knocks at your door? Will come back that later

• • The coming to earth of Jesus (Yeshuea) is to be adored not simply inquired of.

• • He is the nature of God as well as the nature of humans
  • Matthew explains his deity
  • Jesus deity important based on His purpose

Lets look at what Mat. Has to say about Jesus diety and the Christmas story!

• • Virgin birth reveals His diety Mat 1:18

• • Mary betrothed to Joseph
  • Not married yet
  • Was a contract marriage, pre-arranged
  • "before they came together" no sex
  • but Mary was found pregnant
  • so was she a virgin or not was she unfaithful to Joseph
  • no such indication on Mary’s part & Joseph was a just man
  • Therefore how can a virgin be with child , pregnant?
  • Mary asked that Luke 1:34 "the Holy Spirit will come upon you. Divine intervention
  • He will be called Son of God, means having the nature of God
  • No deity there is no reason for the virgin conception and birth

• • The angels announce Jesus diety Mat. 1:19-20

• • Joseph was going to put her away Deut 24:1
  • The shame or disgrace was her being pregnant before marriage. Cant have sex till after marriage
  • Break the engagement in secret
  • Would bring no shame on anyone
  • Angel of the Lord said no her baby is of the Holy Spirit

• • Or out of the Holy Spirit
  • Denotes source and substance from God and of God

• • His mission demands deity Math 1:22

• • Call His name Jesus
  • Means God saves
  • Same name as Joshua Joshua succeeded Moses
  • Joshua delivered the people to Cannan
  • Just as Jesus delivers His people
  • Moses same as John Baptist
  • Could only take the people so far, needed a deliverer
  • Joshua was it
  • John Baptist could not deliver from sins
  • Jesus can--his name means God saves.
  • Only God can save from sin. Jesus saves from sin therefore Jesus is God
  • Important due to penalty from sin total separation from God spiritual death and is eternal
  • Need a savior who can pay an eternal debt/ penalty
  • Without taking eternity to do so if he were only mere man

 

• • Isaiah Predicts Jesus deity Mat 1:22-23

• • Isaiah 7:14 Judah was attacked
  • Judah led by King Ahaz, he was afraid made a treaty with his enemies
  • Isaiah told Ahaz ask God for a sign
  • Ahaz said no---he would not test God self righteous?
  • Promise was that when afraid look on the child
  • His name was Immanuel God is with you (us)

• • Joseph’s faith embraced Jesus deity Mat 1:24-25

• • Given the same prophecy as Isaiah
  • Was asleep and awoke and did as angel told him
  • Kept Mary a virgin till after Jesus born
  • He was the firstborn not just of Mary
  • • but of God himself Heb 1:6 God never said to the angels You are my Son this day I have begotten you?
    • The angels are His servents
    • To do His will to deliver His people
    • over all creation Col 1:15 He is the firstborn of every creature since He created them
    • firstborn from the Dead Col 1:18 the first to be resurrected into heaven with a heavenly body
    • firstborn among many brethern Rom 8:29 that we might be conformed to his image and therefore his brothers & sisters
    • then we too can say with Issac Watts: God thine own God has richley shed/ his oil of gladness on thy head/ and with his sacred Spirit blest/ His firstborn Son above the rest.

• • Joseph’s Faith:

• • Overcame his emotions
  • He wanted to put Mary away
  • Wanted to safe face in family
  • Faith overcame physical desires
  • How? He knew this to be no ordinary conception
  • This was from God, This was God himself!

• • Mary’s faith & response Luke 1:26-38

• • Was told she would give birth
  • She asked how can this be
  • V. 35 and the Holy Spirit will come upon you
  • The power of the Highest will overshadow you , this is God Himself
  • Mary was committed totally to Gods word and His will
  • Endured social pressure due to being pregnant without being married
  • Willingness is a model to us all

• • Can you come to Him knowing He is God

• • The shepherds in the fields did
  • When the angel announced Luke 2:10-14 I bring you good tidings of great joy
  • Can you answer to the hymn "What Child is this"
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Concl: So what do you do when someone knocks on your door?

• • You ask who is it?
  • They tell you they identify themselves
  • Then open up and talk
  • Here we have to answer who is it
  • Then we can have conversation/ fellowship
  • Then we can come and be delivered
  • Who is that in the stall you have to identify Him
  • My God is in that stall
  • Have to take that one on faith of what the Bible teaches
  • Then we can come to him to be saved from toils and troubles
  • To be sealed by the Holy Spirit as one of His
  • To have fellowship with our God our creator
  • To be restored to our rightful place
  • To be with Christ for all eternity and to serve Him and Minister to Him to worship Him and adore Him, come let us adore Him!

Salvation Invitation:

• • Without recognizing His virgin birth, His death is meaningless
  • Could have never paid the penalty for our sin/ disobedience to God
  • The Blood would have been powerless to clean us up no more than goats, lambs, doves the other sacrifices.