Matthew 1:18–25 – Joseph, the Virgin Birth, and God With Us

In this episode of the Sermon Notes Podcast, Jay Strother and Brian Ball slow down over Matthew 1:18–25 to trace Joseph’s journey from disappointment to obedience. They unpack the honor–shame culture Joseph lived in, the cost of his decision to protect Mary, and how his choice to marry her would have invited whispers, judgment, and lifelong questions. Instead of the flattened, sentimental version of Joseph we often imagine, they show us a real man who quietly does what needs to be done because he trusts God more than his own reputation.

Jay and Brian then turn to the heart of the passage: Joseph and the Virgin Birth, Isaiah’s prophecy of Emmanuel, and the astonishing mystery of the Incarnation—Jesus as fully God and fully man. They discuss double fulfillment in Isaiah 7, why the virgin conception is significant for the historic Christian faith, and how the church has described the two natures of Christ throughout the centuries. In a world that craves instant answers, they invite listeners to return to wonder, worship, and meditate on Scripture, allowing it to shape what we see and what we desire.

Finally, they bring Joseph’s story into our everyday lives. What does it look like to wake up, like Joseph, and simply do the next right thing God has put in front of us—even when it’s costly or unclear? Jay and Brian explore how Emmanuel—God with us—anchors our identity, frees us from the pressure to define ourselves, and calls us to ordinary faithfulness in a busy Christmas season. This conversation is an invitation to trade hurry for wonder and to follow the King who stepped into our world with authority, compassion, and hope.