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. 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. 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. 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.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”). When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus. -Luke 1:18-25
The people of God had great hope and expectation for the promised prophecy for a Savior. For God to come and redeem mankind back to Himself. However, in all of their expectation, I can’t help but think that they didn’t expect this promise to be fulfilled in and through the baby Jesus.
God sent an Angel to speak to Mary, the virgin who was engaged to Joseph. She surrendered to the words of the messenger without hesitation, but she still had very little understanding on how this would all be accomplished. Nonetheless, her obedience accomplished God’s plan. The seed form the Holy Spirit was planted and her womb was now alive with the promised possibilities of God and His love for His creation.
Joseph was a righteous man who honored Mary and trusted God. He took in to consideration what would be best for his fiancé, while being obedient to the words of the angel who had appeared to him. The angel told him that what was conceived in Mary was of the Holy Spirit. He told Joseph, “Do not be afraid to take Mary to be your wife.” Joseph named the baby as the angel of the Lord instructed him to do.
Jesus would be His name and He would save His people from their sin. Jesus, born of a virgin would be the Savoir of the world and fulfill God’s redemptive plans for mankind. He is also Emanuel, which is translated, “God with us.” God’s promise was fulfilled. Angels sang, shepherds saw and a Savior was born. God became flesh and we beheld His glory full of grace and truth!
| Merry Christmas, Rob – Kelly – Megan – Madison |
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