The Christmas Scandal
December 21 & 22, 2019
Matthew 1:18 This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. New International Version
Matthew 1:19 Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. New International Version
Matthew 1:20 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. New International Version
Matthew 1:21 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.” New International Version
Matthew 1:22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23 “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”). New International Version
Matthew 1:24 When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. 25 But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus. New International Version
Jesus Exchanged Our Scandal For His Status
2 Corinthians 5:21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. New International Version
2 Corinthians 5:21 For God took the sinless Christ and poured into him our sins. Then, inexchange, he poured God’s goodness into us! Living Bible
Jesus Four Scandalous Female Relatives
Matthew 1:1 This is a record of the ancestors of Jesus the Messiah, a descendant of David and of Abraham: 2 Abraham was the father of Isaac. Isaac was the father of Jacob. Jacob was the father of Judah and his brothers. New Living Translation
Matthew 1:3 Judah was the father of Perez and Zerah (whose mother was Tamar). Perez was the father of Hezron. Hezron was the father of Ram. 4 Ram was the father of Amminadab. Amminadab was the father of Nahshon. Nahshon was the father of Salmon. New Living Translation
Matthew 1:5 Salmon was the father of Boaz (whose mother was Rahab). Boaz was the father of Obed (whose mother was Ruth).Obed was the father of Jesse. 6 Jesse was the father of King David. David was the father of Solomon (whose mother was Bathsheba, the widow of Uriah). New Living Translation
Tamar Represents A Person Who Sins To Right A Wrong
Genesis 38:24 About three months later Judah was told, “Your daughter-in-law Tamar is guilty of prostitution, and as a result she is now pregnant.” Judah said, “Bring her out and have her burned to death!” New International Version
Genesis 38:25 As she was being brought out, she sent a message to her father-in-law. “I am pregnant by the man who owns these,” she said. And she added, “See if you recognize whose seal and cord and staff these are.” New International Version
Genesis 38:26 Judah recognized them and said, “She is more righteous than I, since I wouldn’t give her to my son Shelah.” And he did not sleep with her again. New International Version
Rahab Represents A Bad Person Living A Sinful Lifestyle
Hebrews 11:31 By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient. New International Version
Ruth Represents A Good Person Disgraced By A Bad Family
Deuteronomy 23:3 No Ammonite or Moabite orany of their descendants for ten generations may be admitted to the assembly of the LORD. New Living Translation
Bathsheba Represents A Good Person Being Pressured To Do A Bad Thing
Galatians 3:26 So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, 27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. New International Version
Galatians 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise. New International Version