Matthew 1:18-25

A large storm system moved through here knocking out my Internet for a while. So here we are this morning with the Word. The storm also knocked down some more limbs on my tree, I think I need to go get a chainsaw and have at it. Anyway I hope you have a great day today.

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Matthew 1:18-25

Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly. But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins.” So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.” Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife, and did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son. And he called His name JESUS.

So often we forget how amazing the birth of Jesus really is, and how it has impacted the lives of so many people. It really began with Joseph and Mary who were two ordinary people, not perfect, just ready to be used by the Lord for whatever He asked. They were willing to take on the responsibility of parenting the Lord and watching over Him. Even more they were going to give birth to God in the flesh.

Before the creation of the world, God knew that mankind would need a savior. From before the earth came to be, Jesus was already in existence as the Son with the purpose to come and redeem man. The Word came and dwelt among us as the Gospel of John tells us so poetically. He came as promised and prophesied thorough the scripture. Just as in the Old Testament an angel appeared to Joseph in a dream to reveal the birth of Jesus was fulfillment of Scripture.

Jesus the Christ, the Son of God, came down to this earth and became a man so that as a man he could take our place and die on the cross. In that death he saved us all from the penalty of sin, that sin which came from Adam, the first man. He lives now and brings us life in His resurrection. Praise be to the Lord Mighty and Awesome are His works.