Matthew1:17
"¹⁷So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; from David to the deportation to Babylon, fourteen generations; and from the deportation to Babylon to the Messiah, fourteen generations."

"David fathered Solomon by her who had been the wife of Uriah."

1. Abraham to David (vv. 2-6).

Matthew 1:2-6
"²Abraham fathered Isaac, Isaac fathered Jacob, and Jacob fathered Judah and his brothers. ³Judah fathered Perez and Zerah by Tamar, Perez fathered Hezron, and Hezron fathered Ram. ⁴Ram fathered Amminadab, Amminadab fathered Nahshon, and Nahshon fathered Salmon. ⁵Salmon fathered Boaz by Rahab, Boaz fathered Obed by Ruth, and Obed fathered Jesse. ⁶Jesse fathered David the king. David fathered Solomon by ^[her who had been the wife of Uriah.

2. David to Babylonian captivity (vv. 7-11).

Matthew 1:7-11
"⁷Solomon fathered Rehoboam, Rehoboam fathered Abijah, and Abijah fathered Asa. ⁸Asa fathered Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat fathered Joram, and Joram fathered Uzziah. ⁹Uzziah fathered Jotham, Jotham fathered Ahaz, and Ahaz fathered Hezekiah. ¹⁰Hezekiah fathered Manasseh, Manasseh fathered Amon, and Amon fathered Josiah. ¹¹Josiah fathered Jeconiah and his brothers, at the time of the deportation to Babylon."

3. Babylonian captivity to the time of Christ (vv. 12-16).

Matthew 1:12-16
"¹²After the deportation to Babylon: Jeconiah fathered Shealtiel, and Shealtiel fathered Zerubbabel. ¹³Zerubbabel fathered Abihud, Abihud fathered Eliakim, and Eliakim fathered Azor. ¹⁴Azor fathered Zadok, Zadok fathered Achim, and Achim fathered Eliud. ¹⁵Eliud fathered Eleazar, Eleazar fathered Matthan, and Matthan fathered Jacob. ¹⁶Jacob fathered Joseph the husband of Mary, by whom Jesus was born, who is called the Messiah."

Matthew traces Christ’s genealogy from Abraham, through David’s son Solomon (cf. Matthew 1:6), to Jacob (cf. Matthew 1:16), “the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, by whom Jesus was born, who is called the Messiah.” The synonym “by whom,” is in the feminine singular, indicating that Jesus was born of Mary, not Joseph and Mary, thus proclaiming the virgin birth.

cf. Matthew 1:6
"David fathered Solomon by her who had been the wife of Uriah."

cf. Matthew 1:16
"¹⁶Jacob fathered Joseph the husband of Mary, by whom Jesus was born, who is called the Messiah."

Joseph, who would be the legal father of Jesus, was from the bloodline of David, but Mary must also be a descendant of David, in order to that Jesus be of the royal bloodline, giving Him the right to sit on the throne of David,

(Luke 3:23)
“When He began His ministry, Jesus Himself was about thirty years of age, being, as was supposed, the son of Joseph, the son of Eli [Heli].”

Joseph was the son-in-law of Eli, Mary’s father, meaning that Mary was also from the bloodline of David, but through David’s son Nathan (cf. Luke 3:31). Long before the birth of Jesus, some Rabbis wrote, “The Messiah is to have no earthy father; His birth will be like that of no other man.” And that is exactly how Jesus was conceived--apart from any human action, or will; this was done by God.

cf. Luke 3:31
"³¹the son of Melea, the son of Menna, the son of Mattatha, the son of Nathan, the son of David,"

Read Matthew 1:18-21…
"¹⁸Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah was as follows: when His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be pregnant by the Holy Spirit. ¹⁹And her husband Joseph, since he was a righteous man and did not want to disgrace her, planned to send her away secretly. ²⁰But when he had thought this over, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. ²¹She will give birth to a Son; and you shall name Him Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”"

Mary’s conception by the Holy Spirit is a great mystery.
She was a virgin yet she was pregnant.

Isaiah 7:14
"¹⁴Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and she will name Him Immanuel."

Joseph and Mary were pledged to be married at the time of the angel’s announcement, and therefore Joseph, an honorable man, had a big problem, Mary was pregnant and it wasn’t his child.

Jesus is never directly called the son of Joseph, and Joseph is never directly called His father; and yet, there is no evidence that Joseph ever felt anger or bitterness toward Mary (Matthew 1:19) “not wanting to disgrace her, [Joseph] planned to send her away secretly; i.e., he didn’t want to shame her publicly by exposing her condition, but instead would give her a decree of divorce, so she could go away quietly.

Matthew 1:19
"¹⁹And her husband Joseph, since he was a righteous man and did not want to disgrace her, planned to send her away secretly."

An angel announces to Joseph, that Mary’s pregnancy is from God, and will be a son. Joseph (although not the biological father) will have the responsibility to name the baby (Matthew 1:21), “you shall call His name Jesus [God’s Salvation], for He will save His people from their sins.” Jesus will be the only source of salvation for the whole world, for all of eternity, and Joseph will raise Him as his own son.

Read Matthew 1:22-23…
"²²Now all this took place so that what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet would be fulfilled: ²³“Behold, the virgin will conceive and give birth to a Son, and they shall name Him Immanuel,” which translated means, “God with us.”"

The virgin birth was predicted in the OT. “All this” refers to specific facts about the birth of Jesus, as foretold by Isaiah and Micah (700 B.C.); the greatest sign from God to all men is that Jesus was, “God with us: God in the flesh" (Colossians 2:9), “the fullness of God in bodily form.”

Colossians 2:9
"⁹For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form,"

Matthew 1:24-25…
"²⁴And Joseph awoke from his sleep and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took Mary as his wife, ²⁵but kept her a virgin until she gave birth to a Son; and he named Him Jesus."

Joseph was awakened from his sleep and did just as the angel told him. Joseph took Mary home as his wife, and kept her a virgin until the birth of Jesus. However, Mary did not remain a virgin, for Jesus had other brothers and sisters who were conceived naturally through Joseph (Matthew 13:54-56).

Matthew 13:54-56
"⁵⁴And He came to His hometown and began teaching them in their synagogue, with the result that they were astonished, and said, “Where did this man acquire this wisdom and these miraculous powers? ⁵⁵Is this not the carpenter’s son? Is His mother not called Mary, and His brothers, James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas? ⁵⁶And His sisters, are they not all with us? Where then did this man acquire all these things?”"

The Supernatural Birth of Jesus Validates His divinity

Christ the Savior was conceived in the womb of a virgin by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus was born to a virgin in a place where animals were sheltered; He grew up in an average home, learning the trade of carpentry; when He was about 33 years old, He was arrested and crucified, because He claimed to be God (John 10:30; 14:7, 9).

John 10:30
"³⁰I and the Father are one.”"

John 14:7
"⁷If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; from now on you know Him, and have seen Him.”"

John 14:9
"⁹Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you for so long a time, and yet you have not come to know Me, Philip? The one who has seen Me has seen the Father; how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?"

On the third day after His burial, eyewitnesses (soldiers guarding His tomb) reported that He came out of the grave, alive. All this happened just as Jesus had repeatedly told His followers it would (cf. Matthew 16:21; Mark 8:31; Luke 18:31-34).

cf. Matthew 16:21
"²¹From that time Jesus began to point out to His disciples that it was necessary for Him to go to Jerusalem and to suffer many things from the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and to be killed, and to be raised up on the third day."

cf. Mark 8:31
"³¹And He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise from the dead."

cf. Luke 18:31-34
"³¹Now He took the twelve aside and said to them, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and all the things that have been written through the prophets about the Son of Man will be accomplished. ³²For He will be handed over to the Gentiles, and will be ridiculed, and abused, and spit upon, ³³and after they have flogged Him, they will kill Him; and on the third day He will rise.” ³⁴The disciples understood none of these things, and the meaning of this statement was hidden from them, and they did not comprehend the things that were said."

Christmas is not just another holiday!

Jesus Christ is not just another Jewish male baby born in Bethlehem, He is the Savior. He alone was the fullness of God in human flesh: He came to us, because we could not go to Him.

Christmas is in celebration of Christ’s birth; Easter is in celebration of His death and resurrection; Sunday is set apart each week specifically for the worship and honor of Jesus Christ, God’s Son.

Our calendar designates all history before His coming as B.C. [before Christ] and all history after His coming as A.D. [Anno Domini = "in the year of the Lord"].

This child, born to a virgin through the divine plan and power of God, is God’s One and Only Son. His birth was a sign from Almighty God! To misread/reject this sign will bring eternal consequences: (John 3:16), (John 3:36).

John 3:16
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life,”

John 3:36
“He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”

Jesus is the Reason for the Season

You cannot celebrate Christmas appropriately without knowing God’s One and Only Plan, Provision, and Promise by which we receive forgiveness for sins and eternal life.

Read Luke 2:1-7…
"Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth. ²This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. ³And all the people were on their way to register for the census, each to his own city. ⁴Now Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, ⁵in order to register along with Mary, who was betrothed to him, and was pregnant. ⁶While they were there, the time came for her to give birth. ⁷And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn."

Joseph took Mary from Nazareth to Bethlehem, to register in the town of his ancestors, according to the census being taken. While they were there, it came time for the baby to be born, since they could find no place to stay, Mary gave birth to her firstborn, a son, and placed Him in a manger.

Read Luke 2:8-20…
"⁸In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock at night. ⁹And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood near them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. ¹⁰And so the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; ¹¹for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. ¹²And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” ¹³And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly army of angels praising God and saying, ¹⁴“Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among people with whom He is pleased.” ¹⁵When the angels had departed from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, “Let’s go straight to Bethlehem, then, and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” ¹⁶And they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger. ¹⁷When they had seen Him, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child. ¹⁸And all who heard it were amazed about the things which were told them by the shepherds. ¹⁹But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart. ²⁰And the shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as had been told them."

An angel of the Lord appeared to some shepherds, announcing the birth of the Savior, Christ the Lord. The angel said God would validate this marvelous event with a sign (Luke 2:12), the baby would be wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.

Luke 2:12
"Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth. ²This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. ³And all the people were on their way to register for the census, each to his own city. ⁴Now Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, ⁵in order to register along with Mary, who was betrothed to him, and was pregnant. ⁶While they were there, the time came for her to give birth. ⁷And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn."

A large number of angels appeared praising God, the shepherds then went to Bethlehem to see all God had done, and there they found Mary, Joseph, and the baby Jesus who was lying in a manger, just as they were told.

Shepherds were near the bottom of the Jewish social order, for they couldn't keep the religious rituals and ceremonies. Isn’t it amazing, that out of all the people in and around Jerusalem, God chose a small band of shepherds to be the ones to witness the birth of His Son, who would be (John 10:11), “the Good Shepherd, who lays down His life for His sheep,”

John 10:11
"¹¹“I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep."

and (1Peter 5:4), “the Chief Shepherd, to whom we all will give an account.”

1Peter 5:4
"⁴And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory."

After looking upon the baby Jesus, Luke 2:18 says the shepherds went out into the streets, sharing the good news that the Savior had indeed been born.

Luke 2:18
"¹⁸And all who heard it were amazed about the things which were told them by the shepherds."

Luke 2:19 says,
“Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her
heart," all these things meaning: the angel’s announcement about her Holy
conception, Joseph's response to this news, Elizabeth's marvelous greeting, and
the very special names “Jesus” and “Immanuel,” to be given to her baby boy!

Luke 2:20
tells us the shepherds, “returned (most likely to their flocks), glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.”

First and Second Coming of Jesus

Jesus came to earth the first time, in the flesh of a helpless baby boy; the next time, He will come as a Warrior, the Eternal King, Sovereign Lord, and Righteous Judge over All (cf Revelation 19:11-16).

cf Revelation 19:11-16
"¹¹And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war. ¹²His eyes are a flame of fire, and on His head are many crowns; and He has a name written on Him which no one knows except Himself. ¹³He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. ¹⁴And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses. ¹⁵From His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron; and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty. ¹⁶And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written: “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.”"

When Jesus came to earth the first time, there was no available room for Him to be born in; and yet, He told His disciples (John 14:1-3).

John 14:1-3
"“Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. ²In My Father’s house are many rooms; if that were not so, I would have told you, because I am going there to prepare a place for you. ³And if I go and prepare a place for you, I am coming again and will take you to Myself, so that where I am, there you also will be."

Revelation 21:1-5
"Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea. ²And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. ³And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among the people, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, ⁴and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.” ⁵And He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” And He *said, “Write, for these words are faithful and true.”"

Only a few shepherds witnessed the first coming of Jesus; but when He returns to earth again, everyone in the world will see Him (cf. Revelation 1:7).

cf. Revelation 1:7
"⁷Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him. So it is to be. Amen."

More books and song lyrics have been written about, and more paintings have been done of, Jesus, than any other person in history. The world’s calendar dating system (B.C., A.D.), two major holidays (Christmas, Easter), the first day of every week (Sunday), and the praise and worship of 2.2 billion followers (out of the world’s 7.8 billion people) declares that this Jesus is indeed very, very, special.

Galatians 4:4-5
"⁴But when the fullness of the time came, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, ⁵so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons and daughters."

At just the right time, according to God’s plan, purpose, provision, and power, God put on the flesh of a son of man, in order to provide payment for our sins by the sacrifice of Himself, in order that we might become the children of God.

1John 3:1
"See how great a love the Father has given us, that we would be called children of God; and in fact we are. For this reason the world does not know us: because it did not know Him."

If you have never trusted in Jesus Christ to save you, do it now, He turns no one away. Jesus Christ, the Savior, came to earth in the flesh of a baby; grew up in obscurity, and at abut 30 years of age began to heal the sick, set prisoners free, and raise the dead; about three years later He was put to death on a cross, because He claimed to be God; He was then placed in a tomb, but on the third day after His death, eye witnesses said He came out of the grave alive (just like He had said that He would), victorious over sin, death and judgement, forever,

2Corinthians 9:15
"¹⁵Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!"

Christmas is about Jesus:
He is the Reason for the Season!

Christmas is in honor and worship of
the Holy One from God,
who has already come and is coming again
for those who belong to Him,
those on whom His favor rests,
those whose hope is in God’s Son
for the forgiveness of sins and eternal life,
to all of you I want to wish a very

Merry Christmas!

Pastor Mike
>’(((><

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Topics: Christmas