12/22/2015

Matthew 1:18-21 “18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: when His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit. 19 And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man and not wanting to disgrace her, planned to send her away secretly. 20 But when he had considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child who has been conceived in her is of 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.”

 

Why do we have a New Testament? Why was Genesis-Malachi not enough? The answer is in Matthew 1:21 - Jesus will save His people from their sins. No other religion, no other figure, no other prophet, no other leader can make such a claim. No one else before or after Christ had the ability or the authority to save from sin. He alone has the power to redeem, the power to justify, the power to regenerate, the power to adopt.

 

As Christians, we don’t celebrate Christmas the way the world does. For us it isn’t about folklore, or decorations, or vacation days, or big meals. It isn’t even about the spirit of giving or spending times with loved ones. For us, Advent is about remembering where the story of Christ begins. It is focusing on the supernatural circumstances that brought to earth this one in whom we have bet our entire souls. This infant child, miraculously conceived, whom we worship and call Immanuel – God With Us.