Matthew 1:18-25 English Standard Version
The Birth of Jesus Christ
18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ[a] took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed[b] to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. 19 And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. 20 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. 21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:
23 “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
and they shall call his name Immanuel”
(which means, God with us). 24 When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, 25 but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.
The Word of God for the Children of God.
Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.
Christmas Greetings, beloved family of Christ.
As we gather together in His name, let us cast our minds back to that humble stable in Bethlehem, where the world first met its Savior.
A night of profound significance, a night when the divine intersected with the ordinary, a night when the heavens echoed with angelic voices singing, “Glory to God in the highest.” This is the night we celebrate at Christmas, the night when all of God’s love was made manifest in the form of a tiny, vulnerable baby.
The great theologian J.I. Packer once wrote, “The Christmas message is that there is hope for a ruined humanity–hope of pardon, hope of peace with God, hope of glory–because at the Father’s will Jesus became poor, and was born in a stable so that thirty years later He might hang on a cross.”
This, dear friends, is the hope we cling so tightly to, the hope we mightily celebrate, the hope we so eagerly share with a world in desperate need of it.
Let us now turn our hearts and minds to the Scripture passage that tells us of this miraculous event from Matthew 1:18-23 Amplified Bible .
Conception and Birth of Jesus
18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: when His mother Mary had been [a]betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child by [the power of] the Holy Spirit. 19 And Joseph her [promised] husband, being a just and righteous man and not wanting to expose her publicly to shame, planned to send her away and divorce her quietly. 20 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, descendant of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the Child who has been [b]conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a Son, and you shall name Him Jesus (The Lord is salvation), for He will [c]save His people from their sins.” 22 All this happened in order to fulfill what the Lord had spoken through the [d]prophet [Isaiah]: 23 “Behold, the [e]virgin shall be with child and give birth to a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel”—which, when translated, means, “God with us.” 24 Then Joseph awoke from his sleep and did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him, and he took Mary [to his home] as his wife, 25 but he kept her a virgin until she had given birth to a Son [her firstborn child]; and he named Him Jesus (The Lord is salvation).
This passage from Matthew’s narrative, dear friends, is the cornerstone of our faith, the foundation upon which we build our lives. It tells us not only of the long promised coming birth of our Savior, but also of the extraordinary love of our God, who would send His only Son to save a world that did not know Him.
Let us pray. Loving Heavenly Father, we thank You as much as our lungs allow for the gift of Your Son, Jesus Christ, who came as a baby in a manger to save us from our sins. As we reflect on the significance of His birth, fill our hearts with Your love, and may the joy of this season inspire us to serve You with renewed passion and commitment. We ask this in the name of Jesus, Alleluia! amen.
Now, let us consider this wondrous manifestation of God’s love through Christmas, the motivation behind our celebration, our mission to serve God.
May the Holy Spirit lead, guide and direct our thoughts and our steps and open unto and into our hearts the most profound truths contained in these themes.
Manifestation of God’s Love through Christmas
The birth of Jesus Christ, our Savior, is a profound demonstration of God’s love for us. This love is nothing which can be classed as ordinary, but extraordinary, transcending human comprehension. It’s a love that chose to leave the glory of heaven, sent of God to be born in a cold humble stable, to live among us, and ultimately to die for us. This is the love that Christmas brings into sharp focus.
God’s love is manifested in the very act of Jesus’ incarnation.
The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.
This was no ordinary birth. It was the birth of the King of Kings in the most humble of circumstances possible. This act of highest humility is a powerful demonstration of God’s immeasurable love. It shows us God is not a distant, detached deity, but a loving Father who is intimately involved in all our lives.
The birth of Immanuel, God with us, God within us also reveals God’s boundless love in its sacrificial nature. Jesus was born to save us from our sins. His birth set in motion a series of events that would lead all mankind to the cross. Even as we celebrate His birth with the most expensive of gifts, we dare not forget the shadow of the cross which looms in the background.
This is love in its purest form – love that is willing to sacrifice everything, even life itself, for the sake of God’s beloved children, save each of us from our sins.
Motivation behind Our Celebration – EXHORT His Humility
As we reflect on the birth of Jesus, we are reminded of the motivation behind our celebration, we look to Paul’s own words from his prison letter to Philippi.
Philippians 2:1-2 Amplified Bible
Be Like Christ
2 Therefore if there is any encouragement and comfort in Christ [as there certainly is in abundance], if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship [that we share] in the Spirit, if [there is] any [great depth of] affection and compassion, 2 make my joy complete by being of the same mind, having the same [a]love [toward one another], knit together in spirit, intent on one purpose [and living a life that reflects your faith and spreads the gospel—the good news regarding salvation through faith in Christ].
Our passage begins with an emphatic linking word, “Therefore”, tying these verses to those preceding them. In brief, Paul calls for Christians to meet the various needs of others rather than obsessing over their own. The energy and source for this encouragement is what we have received in Christ (2:1-2). We, in unity of purpose, to emulate him by putting others ahead of ourselves (2:3-4).
The added dimension of this exhortation is that the original recipients of this epistle were suffering for their faith (1:28-29).
They were locked in conflict not dissimilar from Paul’s own experiences (1:30; also see 1:12-18). This context of greatest hardship makes Paul’s challenge to value others above ourselves and be concerned for their interests even more astonishing. For Christians, whatever the season, are called to always look out for others, even when we feel entitled to in need of care from others.
How can we do that? Because, if we are honest, most of us instinctively look 1st after our own interests – be better than others, gifts having the most advanced technology, just as we easily love ourselves – and this is typically heightened when we are facing challenges or hardships. Paul’s answer is that we should generously share what is ours in Christ, both experientially, from his example.
Firstly, whatever “encouragement…comfort…tenderness [and] compassion” we enjoy in Christ should be shared with others (2:1-2).
I take it this is what Paul means by calling for us to be “like-minded…being one in spirit and of one mind.”
Christ’s perfect love for us means we are incomparably blessed and reassured.
Therefore let us offer the encouragement and comfort we have experienced to others.
The temptation for us, especially when we are struggling, is to retreat into God as our refuge and strength instead of steadfastly urging others to do the same.
Understanding that God provides peace amid turmoil as we seek Him in our prayers (4:6-7) is a glorious reality both to take hold for yourself and proclaim to others. What we have, know in Christ, is a treasure to be shared not hoarded.
Secondly, this passage corrects the thinking that severely limits our service and encouragement of others only to seasons when we are comfortable and settled.
Remember that the Christians Paul originally addressed at Philippi were being heavily persecuted for their faith. Yet he exhorts them to encourage each other.
And in addition to sharing with others the wonderful experience of Christ’s love he additionally challenges them to follow Christ’s example: “have the same mindset as Christ Jesus” (2:5). Jesus Christ did “nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit” but with incredible humility valued others above himself (2:3) and carried His cross, unflaggingly looked to their interests (2:4)—to your interests.
Our Lord exhibited an astounding other-person centeredness that Christians have long exhorted, marveled and preached at, but too often failed to emulate.
If anything, this passage challenges us who rest secure in Christ’s love but do not act to comfort others with it; those of us who rejoice in and sing about his wonderful love for us but do not likewise exhort, nor encourage others with it.
This Christmas Day, this Christmas season, May God help us to have the same mind as Christ—even when we believe that others should be looking after us, even as we feel entitled to first celebrate and feast on our Christian experience.
In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,
Let us Pray,
Psalm 150 Amplified Bible
A Psalm of Praise.
150 Praise the Lord!
Praise God in His sanctuary;
Praise Him in His mighty heavens.
2
Praise Him for His mighty acts;
Praise Him according to [the abundance of] His greatness.
3
Praise Him with trumpet sound;
Praise Him with harp and lyre.
4
Praise Him with tambourine and dancing;
Praise Him with stringed instruments and flute.
5
Praise Him with resounding cymbals;
Praise Him with loud cymbals.
6
Let everything that has breath and every breath of life praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord! (Hallelujah!)
Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.
Loving God, Living God, Loving Hope, Living Hope, Loving Living Life His Way! "Many things are possible for the person who has hope. Even more is possible for the person who has faith. And still more is possible for the person who knows how to love. But everything is possible for the person who practices all three virtues." - Brother Lawrence (1605-1691), Practicing the Presence of God (1692). 