It’s Christmas Eve 2021 as I write this column.  Naturally, the Nativity is on my mind.  Let’s read together the brief account in Matthew’s Gospel, chapter 1, verses 18-25.  I’ll share a few thoughts as we go.

¹⁸ “Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.”

Mary was “found [to be] with child.”  The child was not Joseph’s.  He and Mary were formally betrothed to one another, but the child was conceived “before they came together” (a fact reemphasized in verse 25).  The child’s conception occurred supernaturally (Mary’s pregnancy was “of the Holy Ghost,” a.k.a. the Holy Spirit).

Joseph did not know this crucial bit of information and pondered how to handle the situation.  He was leaning toward quietly sending Mary out of town until after her baby was born:

¹⁹ “Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily.”  Joseph not only had no wish to see Mary punished for what amounted to adultery, he was “not willing” to make an example of her (a much stronger term, reflecting resolve and determination), by publicly denouncing and shaming Mary.

²⁰ “But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.”  Ah! That little fact cast events in a whole new light.  This bulletin changed everything.

²¹ “And she shall bring forth a son…” [No ultrasounds in those days, no 4-D imaging, no genetic testing, etc. so, the revelation that the child would be a boy was yet another news flash] “…and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.”  What was this?  Could this angelic announcement be more startling?

²² “Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet saying, [note that God watches over His word to ensure that it comes true and, that His holy prophets are never ashamed or embarrassed by anything that He has given them to speak on His behalf]  ²³ Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.”

Wait, what? First, it’s “Thou shalt call his name JESUS” and then, “they shall call his name Emmanuel?”  Which is it?  Why two names?

The boy’s parents, Mary and Joseph, were to name their son JESUS, a name that marks out who He is and calls out what He would do one day.  “They” (meaning others) will call Him Emmanuel, attesting to His uniqueness and identity as God in the flesh. “For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily” (Colossians 2:9).

As true God, JESUS could actually help us.  Because of the unique way in which He was conceived and joined the human race, JESUS did not inherit a sin nature.  He could do what we cannot— perfectly keep the perfect law of God.  As true man, JESUS could both truly identify and truly empathize with us.  He was exposed to temptation, yet without yielding to it: “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin”  (Hebrews 4:15).

JESUS knows our hurts, troubles, disappointments and struggles.  Though He was God’s Son, He was not privileged or exempt.  On the contrary—in His days on earth, JESUS was “…despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not” (Isaiah 53:3).  He suffered, died for our sins and was buried, according to the scriptures.  But because He himself was innocent, God raised Him from the dead on the third day, according to the scriptures (I Corinthians 15:3-4).

²⁴ “Then Joseph being raised from sleep [who could sleep after a dream like this?] did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: ²⁵ And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.”

JESUS not only invaded history, He forever changed the destiny of those who put their faith and trust in Him.  The Son of God laid aside His divine glory, lowered Himself to take on human form, was born in humility, obscurity and weakness, and experienced life, suffering and death as a flesh-and-blood person.

JESUS did not just permit Himself to endure temptation, He became sin for us, that He might pay the penalty for our transgressions: “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him” (II Corinthians 5:21).  God the Father laid on JESUS’ guiltless shoulders, the iniquity of us all (Isaiah 53:6).

But Emmanuel, God with us, didn’t end with JESUS’ ascension back to heaven.  He’s present with every believer daily and He’s coming again for His own (John 14:1-4):

¹“Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.  ² In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.  ³ And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.  ⁴ And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.”

Will you be ready on that day?  Will you be among the jubilant throng?  Do you know the way there?  If not, JESUS can save you today. You can enjoy His gracious presence every hour and be by His side for eternity.

What could possibly be better than God down here with us?  Us up there, with Him!  It’s Emmanuel in reverse—no longer God with us, but us with God!  I pray if you have not already repented of your sins, trusted in JESUS as your savior and confessed Him as Lord of your life, that you will read on and follow through right now, this very minute. May Christ’s presence become for you, a living, breathing and permanent reality.

HOW TO BE SAVED:

• Admit to God that you are a sinner (that you have not kept His moral law to perfection; in your thoughts, words and actions you have done what His law forbids and have failed to do what His love demands). This is seeing yourself from God’s point of view and agreeing that He is right about you.  Be as specific as you can.
• Believe in your heart that Jesus died for your sins and that God raised Him from the dead.
• Sincerely repent (turn away) from your sins, asking God to forgive you and to use His power to help you resist temptation, no matter how strong the pull of sin may be, at first.
• Acknowledge Jesus as the Lord of your life.  Invite Him to move into your heart and take up residence there, so that He can change you from the inside out.
• Trust His promise to save you and give you a new spiritual birth and a new nature (thoughts, desires, priorities, hopes, dreams and character).

SOME KEY TRUTHS:

• “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”  (Romans 3:23)
• “As it is written, there is none righteous, no, not one.”  (Romans 3:10)
• “For the wages of sin is death: but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”  (Romans 6:23)
• “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”  (John 3:16)
• “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”  (Romans 5:8)
• “For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.”  (I Corinthians 15:3,4)
• “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.” (John 1:12)
• “Behold, I stand at the door and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him…”  (Revelation 3:20)
• “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”  (Romans 10:13)
• “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”  (Romans 10:9)
• “Verily, verily, I say unto you; He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life; and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.”  (John 5:24)
• “But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing, ye might have life through his name.”  (John 20:31)