18 This is how Jesus the Messiah was born. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. But before the marriage took place, while she was still a virgin, she became pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit. 19 Joseph, her fiancé, was a good man and did not want to disgrace her publicly, so he decided to break the engagement quietly.20 As he considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. “Joseph, son of David,” the angel said, “do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. 21 And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”
22 All of this occurred to fulfill the Lord’s message through his prophet:
23 “Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us.’”
24 When Joseph woke up, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded and took Mary as his wife. 25 But he did not have sexual relations with her until her son was born. And Joseph named him Jesus.
Matthew 1:18–25
God With Us
It is the day we celebrate the birth of Christ. The day “God moved into the neighbourhood.” (see John 1:14 in The Message). The story of Jesus began in Genesis 3, when God promised that a Messiah would break the curse of sin. And now, the Messiah has been born.
Everything we’ve written about since we started looking at the book of Romans finds it’s hope in this celebration. Jesus fulfills the Law and releases the era of Grace.
Take time today to reflect on what this day truly means.
Merry Christmas.
