Lessons from Matthew 1: Jesus Our Savior
Today’s lesson from Matthew 1 examines scripture related to Jesus our savior. You are invited to join us in part 1 and part 2 of this series.
Like Mary you may feel that you ability, experience or education makes you an unlikely candidate for God’s service. But you must not limit God’s choices. He can use whom He chooses. Our responsibility is to be willing and obedient!
Are you like Mary, responding to God’s call by saying, “I am the Lord’s servant, may it be unto me as God desires!”
Are you willing to believe and obey God for the impossible?
Well, what about Joseph? Mary must have told Joseph about the pregnancy, and Joseph knew it was not his child but what was he to believe that this was the work of God. Matthew 1:19 tells us Joseph her husband was a righteous man and because he respected Mary he didn’t want to expose her to public disgrace, so he had in mind to divorce her quietly.
After he considered this, God sent another angel, this time to Joseph and the angel said to Joseph while he was sleeping, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because it is true…what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.” “She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.” God’s confirmation to Joseph that what he had been told by Mary was true!
This was to fulfill the words of Isaiah 7:14 prophesied so many years before that; “The Lord Himself will give you a sign: the virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call Him Immanuel”, meaning God with us!!!
Let’s go back for a moment to Genesis and the Garden of Eden. After all creation was complete and everything was filled, God handed over the title deed if you will of all creation, earth and all that was in it to Adam and Eve. God told them to rule over it for Him. When Adam and Eve fell prey to Satan’s lies and sinned against God it was as if they took that title deed and handed it over to Satan.
In order that God redeem what man had given away God sent His Son in the form of a man to buy back what had been given away. Jesus was God in the flesh and what man had given away, the God man bought back with His own life. God sent His own Son, fully God and fully man that He might live and die and overcome death in the resurrection that God might take back what is rightfully His.
Jesus Our Savior
The infinite, unlimited God took on limitations of humanity so He could live and die for the salvation of all who would believe in Him.
Jesus was God in the flesh; and so God literally lived among us, “with us.” And He still does so today through the person of the Holy Spirit. So Christ is present today (He lives among us) in the life of every believer.
Jesus came to earth to save us because we couldn’t save ourselves from sin and its consequences. No matter how good we think we are, we are all marred by our sinful nature and only King Jesus can save us from our sins of disobedience!
Jesus came not to help us save ourselves, but rather that He might become our Savior and save us from the power and penalty of sin.
Jesus came as a man to become our Savior and save us from the power and penalty of sin.
What in life are you trying to save yourself from? You cannot do it on your own! Won’t you turn to Jesus and look Him full in his wonderful face and the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.
Where are you struggling with? Take it to the Lord in prayer!
He has experienced it all and has done so without sin. Seek Him and He will show you the way, His way!
That’s exactly what Joseph did. Matthew 1:24 tells us that when he awoke, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and he took Mary home as his wife. But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son. And he gave Him the name Jesus.
Jesus Christ the fulfillment of the OT prophecy, proving once again God is true to His Word, He is and always will be the ultimate Promise Keeper!
How will you live out your faith and trust in Him this next week?
Terri Hamman
Faith & Fitness Coach