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THE CHRISTMAS STORY IN MATTHEW'S GOSPEL - 1
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.
[NKJV]
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.
[NKJV]
Matthew, at the beginning of his gospel message, speaks of the fulfilment of Isaiah’s prophecy, having first set out a genealogy showing that the birth of Jesus and the purpose of his story is truly the Messiah as foretold. Matthew is speaking to the Jewish people, and thus he portrays Joseph as anxious to follow the law, Mary being found with child, so he is minded to put her away secretly — in essence wishing to break off the betrothal, but away from the public gaze.
The appearance of the Angel of The Lord however, speaking to Joseph as he slept, changes his mind, but also crucially reveals this as a supernatural event and thus not something covered by man’s laws. This is God with us.
We can surely see that the story Matthew relates is not just a report of a historic event, but also a spiritual picture of the moment when Jesus is birthed in us — supernaturally, and we are aroused from being asleep to the realm of the Holy Spirit to find that ‘God is with us’ in the form of His son.
Always remember that there is a seed within each one awaited to be touched with the spark of the Angel of God. This Holy messenger arouses us from slumber to bring the Husband and His bride together within us so that we each birth the Son in a corporate expression of the power of God.
The appearance of the Angel of The Lord however, speaking to Joseph as he slept, changes his mind, but also crucially reveals this as a supernatural event and thus not something covered by man’s laws. This is God with us.
We can surely see that the story Matthew relates is not just a report of a historic event, but also a spiritual picture of the moment when Jesus is birthed in us — supernaturally, and we are aroused from being asleep to the realm of the Holy Spirit to find that ‘God is with us’ in the form of His son.
Always remember that there is a seed within each one awaited to be touched with the spark of the Angel of God. This Holy messenger arouses us from slumber to bring the Husband and His bride together within us so that we each birth the Son in a corporate expression of the power of God.
‘MEDITATE ON THESE THINGS’
ISAIAH 7:13-15
Then he said, "Hear now, O house of David! Is it a small thing for you to weary men, but will you weary my God also?
Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.
Curds and honey He shall eat, that He may know to refuse the evil and choose the good.
Then he said, "Hear now, O house of David! Is it a small thing for you to weary men, but will you weary my God also?
Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.
Curds and honey He shall eat, that He may know to refuse the evil and choose the good.
“Emmanuel” — Hannah Kerr
A HOLY COMMAND: Oswald Chambers on Love
— Love With All Your Soul --
“You are My child, the friend of My son, now exhibit to that mean and selfish person exactly the love I showed you when you were mean and selfish.”
We shall find ample room to eat ‘humble pie’ all the days of our life. The thing that keeps us going is to recognise the humour of our heavenly Father. When we meet the disagreeable person we know what God is doing, He is giving us a mirror that we may see what we have been like toward Him.
[from ‘Our Brilliant Heritage’]
We shall find ample room to eat ‘humble pie’ all the days of our life. The thing that keeps us going is to recognise the humour of our heavenly Father. When we meet the disagreeable person we know what God is doing, He is giving us a mirror that we may see what we have been like toward Him.
[from ‘Our Brilliant Heritage’]
Listen to this meditation by clicking below …
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