Introduction: Grace be to you and peace, from God our Father, and from our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. Our text is the Gospel Lesson just read, from Matthew 1. We begin with prayer.
Dear fellow disciples of our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ:
- Have you ever been all alone – perhaps in the dark of the night camping in some isolated area – and wondered about being all alone, perhaps even doubting the presence of God? Or perhaps you have contemplated all of the brouhaha and hubbub of human life on this planet – all that goes on every day that is contrary to goodness, decency, and care for people – and wondered if there even is a God? Or perhaps it was at some moment of catastrophe, when you were involved in some accident or disaster, and you wondered if God even cared?
- Whether stressful and poignant moments, or the general dreary droning on of our earthly lives, we do at times wonder about the presence of God, or about just how much He cares for us, or about His goodness. Our sinful nature, the world around us, and even demonic forces can drive us to such despairing thoughts of doubt and unbelief. The realities of the first “Christ-mas,” the coming of Christ – Who He is, what He came to do, and the blessings that have come to us – are the checks and balances against these dark and dismal thoughts.
- But Christmas can be superficial – merely a time of parties, gift-giving, and “busy-ness” to get us through the dark days of the winter solstice and into the New Year. But if we take the words of Scripture seriously, and allow the realities to sink in, we have marvelous reassurance of God’s love for us and His eternal loving commitment to our well-being and blessedness. And it all centers in the reality of “IMMANUEL: GOD WITH US.” So:
I. Consider The Holy Miracle Of The Incarnation Of Jesus Christ
Text: “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call His Name Immanuel [which means God with us].”
John 1:1-3,14 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him was not anything made that was made. . . . And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.”
Col. 2:9 “In Him the whole fullness of the Deity dwells bodily.”
Statement: I suppose that apart from the Word of Holy Scripture, it would have been difficult for anyone to imagine such a thing happening. What sentient and rational person would ever think that God – the Almighty, Immense, Creator of the Sun and all stars – could become and dwell fully in a human being? It still defies our reason and senses!
Application: But this is the wonder of Christmas – which we still celebrate to this day, and this is the answer to all of our questions about God’s presence, His love, and His commitment to the good and blessedness of human beings. And there is greater certainty when we consider what He came to do for us – more on this later.
Transition: But as we think about these things, it may be helpful for us to:
II. Consider The Holy Faith Of Mary And Joseph
Text: “When His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit.”
Text: “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. . . . When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took his wife.”
Statement: We know from other accounts in Holy Scripture of the faithfulness and constancy of Mary. In this text we read of the holy faith of Joseph – who accepted and believed the words of the prophet regarding “IMMANUEL: GOD WITH US,” and the incredible unlikelihood of his being involved in all of this! The description is astonishing, that Joseph simply complied with the angel’s instruction, and went ahead with the marriage!
Application: There are many things that we experience in life, many aspects of common sense and reason, that make the miraculous works and blessings of God seem incredulous and virtually impossible, including the incarnation of God’s Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. It was no different for Mary and Joseph – in spite of the visitation of an angel. Did you read – “Joseph woke from sleep”? He could have discounted all of this as a bizarre dream. Instead, he took to heart the Word of God and believed, and we are invited to participate in the same blessedness of faith.
Transition: And this is so critical – in view of what Jesus came to do for us. The difference between those who know and believe God’s love for us, and those who do not, is staggering. But according to our text, and numerous other assurances in Holy Scripture:
III. Jesus Came For The Blessed Purpose Of Saving Us From Our Sins
Text: “She will bear a son, and you shall call His Name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”
Statement: Note carefully what the angel asserted: He will save HIS people from their sins. Note that we, all people, the whole world, already belonged to Him – He came to save that which was already His own.
Note that He came to save us from our SINS. These are the hard realities that we must live with – the ugly, dark, and evil things which we have thought, said, and done in our lives, and which we recognize we can do nothing to erase or make up for. But He can, and He did – in His suffering and death on the cross, the shedding of His atoning blood, and by His glorious resurrection.
Application: No one else could have done this for us. And apart from the Word of God, who would ever have thought that God would do this for us? As astronomically remarkable as is the incarnation of Jesus, just as remarkable is the purpose of His incarnation – to save us from our sins, to bring us back to faith and knowledge of the love of God, and to begin a process of new life and restoration of love and goodness within us! And just as the reality of the incarnation remains, so also this blessedness of our salvation remains – established by Jesus, by “IMMANUEL: GOD WITH US.”
Transition: And while we may still have our moments of doubt and concern, the reality of God’s presence, goodness, love, and salvation remain forever! And so we must:
IV. Remember That “Immanuel: God With Us” Is A Constant Reality – He Is With Us Even Now To Save Us
Matt. 28:20 “Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
Matt. 18:20 “For wherever two or three are gathered together in My Name, there am I in the midst of them.”
And most importantly, He is with us with His very body and blood – the incarnate Son of God – in the sacramental meal He has given us, to bestow the blessings of forgiveness and eternal life and new life upon us:
Matt. 26:26-28 “Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, ‘Take, eat; this is my body.’ And He took a cup, and when He had given thanks He gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink of it, all of you, for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.”
Statement: So “IMMANUEL: GOD WITH US” is still with us, wherever we are, whether completely alone or in the midst of a massive throng, and He is especially present with us in the gathering of His people, those gathered in His Name, and most blessedly and physically present in Holy Communion, where He gives us His body and blood for the forgiveness of our sins, for our salvation.
Application: If He became flesh, of course He wants to be with us in His flesh. If He came to save us, then surely He wants to save us even now. And so we are sure that He remains with us – “IMMANUEL: GOD WITH US” – in human flesh and blood, to love us, forgive us, save us, and bless us!
Conclusion: For this reason we marvel and we celebrate Christmas – the real substance and what is truly astounding – “IMMANUEL: GOD WITH US.” We rejoice and worship Him now and forever! God grant such blessedness to each of us and always! Amen.
Votum: And the peace of God, which surpasses all human understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds in the true faith, which is in Christ Jesus, even unto life everlasting, Amen.