“Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: ‘Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel’ (which means, God with us)” (Matthew 1:18-23, ESV).
Jesus’ birth narrative in Matthew is presented from Joseph’s perspective. The incredible faith and obedience of Joseph is often lost in the Christmas narrative. He was a just man who was unwilling to put Mary to shame.
- Mary and Joseph were legally engaged. They had entered into a covenant relationship, agreeing to live apart in sexual purity until their wedding. Sexual purity has been largely lost in our culture, but the expectations of the Lord in his Word are clear. Job made a covenant with his eyes not to lust for a woman (Job 31:1). 1 Thessalonians 4:3-5 states, “For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each one of you knows how to control his own body in holiness and honor, not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God” (ESV). Some recent research indicates that many students do not hear God’s instruction on sexuality in the church. Sexual relations outside of the covenant commitment of a God-ordained marriage leave people with temporary satisfaction that leads to emptiness, loneliness, and regret. We must teach the truth in love. God’s Word is not intended to hold us back, but rather to hold us in. His Word provides for us, guides us, and protects us. It is for our good. It really comes down to do we believe that God’s way is better than our way?
- Before Mary and Joseph came together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. Joseph was an honorable man who cared for Mary. He assumed (as we would) that Mary had been unfaithful to him. A virgin birth was no more plausible for Joseph than it is for us. Joseph could only see two options. He could marry Mary in an attempt to cover the alleged sin or he could divorce her privately. If he divorced her publicly, he would submit her to shame and perhaps to death by stoning (as stated in the Old Testament law). He did not want to disgrace Mary.
- An angel of the Lord intervened. Many people in our culture, including believers, reject the idea of the existence of angels. Yet the reality of the spirit beings is clearly grounded in the Scriptures. They are messengers from God. The angel reminded Joseph of who he was, the son of David, the king who had a heart for God. The angel disarmed Joseph’s fear of taking Mary to be his wife. She had not been unfaithful to him but was chosen to bear the son of God who was conceived by the work of the Holy Spirit. The angel told Joseph that Mary would bear a son. Joseph responded to this impossible situation with faith and obedience, setting an example for us.
- The child was named Jesus. The name has its roots in Hebrew (Yeshua)and means “Yahweh is salvation” or “the Lord saves.” Jesus stated that his mission was to seek and save the lost (Luke 19:10). The angel revealed that Jesus would save His people from their sins. John affirmed this truth. Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29). Jesus bore our sin burden on the cross, dying in our place as our substitute so that we can be forgiven of our sins and restored in relation to God.
- Immanuel. As Isaiah predicted, “Behold a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call His name Immanuel (which means God with us)” (Matthew 1:23; Isaiah 7:14). Jesus was the child’s name. Immanuel was his title. Of all the titles for Jesus recorded in the Scriptures, this one is the most special to me. God is with us. No matter what you are going through in the Christmas season, you do not face it alone. God is with you.
Check out a fresh arrangement of a Christmas song by Brent Brunson NGU graduate who sang and played piano with Joyful Sound at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zn9-b16yMzg&feature=share&fbclid=IwAR0YEK28_Adu6ZjVssOtyOTxgGRtn9lUoqnfbdqk6hb-pCBXZZDDpNsSs-s.
Merry Christmas indeed!