Matthew 1:18-23
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).
It’s easy for us to get caught up in the excitement of the Christmas season. There are lights to hang, trees to decorate, gifts to buy, and friends, family, and food to enjoy. But what we truly celebrate in this time is an unimaginable truth: the very same God who created us to be with him came to earth in order to be with us. He didn’t just create us; he lived as one of us.
The Son of God was also the son of Joseph and Mary. The friend of sinners was a friend to many. The same hands that created the world continued to build and to sculpt as a carpenter. He laughed and he cried. He was the object of great admiration and great opposition. He faced incomparable temptation and insurmountable trials.
He felt the pierce of thorn and nail and spear. He endured the crushing weight of his own body hanging upon the cross, and he suffered the overwhelming weight of our sin, bearing the punishment we deserved. But death was only part of the plan, and the tomb proved no match for Immanuel.
He lived as one of us, only better. He died as one of us, only worse. And he rose again, as only one who has power over life and death could. God with us.
Nails, spear shall pierce him through,
The cross be borne for me, for you;
Hail, hail the word made flesh,
The babe, the son of Mary!
- What Child Is This
