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Why would a young upstanding businessman marry a pregnant teenager who claimed to be a virgin? Because God told him to. Why do some people’s lives take the strangest turning at times? It can be that God is behind it all – (but not always!)

Matthew 1verses 18 to 25 are among the best-known passages in the Bible – and most loved.

It is a beautiful story – and a true story – the account of our gracious God at work – giving us, and the world, Jesus Christ the Messiah, the Saviour, and Lord.

This is how it begins, and all is not well to begin with – that is often the case when God is at work.

Our God wants to work in our hearts and lives, and through these lives, into the dark world out there with light and love and mercy and grace – to minister to the needs of those around us – and those far away.

Our God has a word for each of us and that word is usually for sharing.

The world loves a baby – but a baby cannot tell you what to do. Perhaps this is why the world takes this account of the work of God - only so far, and no further – because this baby – as with all other babies – grows and develops and speaks.

This baby becomes the man Jesus Christ – and he had, and has, so much to say to the world – as well as to you and me.

God becomes one of us – so that we might become like Him.

This is a very factual account of what happened – these verses deal with facts – there are no expressions of feelings – it is not over emotional – nor is it sentimental.

It tells us what happened with bare stark facts – and yet it speaks about something that raises all sorts of feelings and emotions.

It speaks about Jesus the Saviour coming to save people from their sins – and one thing that many people do not want to hear is that they are sinners in need of a Saviour.

You either come to love this baby – or you end up crucifying Him.

Mary and Joseph were engaged to be married – they were betrothed – which in the eyes of the law meant they were legally married – but the marriage would not be consummated for some 12months.

They had never come together. There had been no sexual union – but in Mary’s womb a miracle was taking place. God was preparing a special child in a special way. This is unique. Our faith is unique.

We have no details as to how Mary told Joseph – but Joseph did not believe her.

Mary’s explanation did not satisfy. That’s no real surprise! How dare she claim that God had done this! Is this not an absurd justification for sin?

Doubt is real and deep – but there is not a single word from Joseph – no anger – no temper – no rage – no revenge.

Joseph is a godly man – a righteous man – and when he learns part of the truth – he thinks of putting Mary away, privately - quietly, and without any fuss.

Joseph pursues the path of mercy – the quiet route. He could have handled all this very differently.

Legally – all he needed to do to divorce Mary was to tell her to go, with just two witnesses present. Would not the scent of scandal leave people wondering what really happened? A decision had been made.

When Jesus draws near to people – when God comes close – when it all becomes real – questions and problems and issues do arise.

When God moves and acts, we never know what is going to happen.

It is at this very awkward moment that God sends supernatural help.

Joseph needed a word from God – he may not have been aware of that – and just as Mary had heard from God, so did Joseph.

An angel comes – God is ministering to his very real need. Joseph is in an agony of mind as he is torn between two possibilities – to put Mary away – or to take her to himself – he is considering what to do. Joseph falls asleep – and an angel appears to him and speaks to him – “Do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife – what is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.” Joseph – this is the power of God at work in a way never previously experienced in the world.

Verse 21 – She shall bring forth a son – you shall call his name JESUS – for he shall save his people from their sins. God places a special calling upon Joseph to look after and raise Jesus to manhood. It is often in a crisis that our true character is revealed. Joseph protects the unborn.

v.22 – All this was done to fulfil what had been prophesied by Isaiah 600 years previously – v.23 – The virgin will be with child – and will give birth to a son – they will call him Emmanuel – which means – GOD WITH US.

A young woman – a normal young woman – which in God’s sight means a virgin – and when Jesus Christ came it meant that God was with US in a new way.

If Jesus was only a good man – if Jesus was only a moral leader – if Jesus was just a fine teacher and attractive speaker and an example worth following – he could not lift us up – and minister to our needs or heal our sicknesses – and forgive our sins.

Jesus Christ was, and is, the Son of God – and he is able to do all these things.

In Christ Jesus, God comes to deal with sin – and sickness – and death – three things which God never meant man to experience, when created.

God saw the mess man was in. God saw what was happening in the days of Noah – God saw the predicament at the time of Ahab and Jezebel when he raised up that ‘wild man’ Jehu to become king.

God saw the attack upon Jerusalem and the Temple when the time was approaching for the coming of the Messiah and God raised up the Maccabees to rescue Israel – and now the Messiah comes – and not in the way any of us would have sent the Messiah – the Saviour.

“We said we would save these people – we told Isaiah – and Micah – they are unable to help themselves – they need outside help.” – and GOD SENDS JESUS.

Jesus lived up to His Name – He was GOD WITH US – and He saved and saves people from their sins.

This is the Name which is above very Name.

Jesus comes to be WITH US – to SAVE US – not just to save us from loneliness – frustration – anxiety – worry – fears – but from SINS.

The tragedy is that many would like to be saved from anything else but their sins.

The world says – you cannot change human nature – the message of the Incarnation of Jesus Christ is that human nature can be changed.

Jesus Christ is the One Who can do that – and he is the Only one who can do that – it is not just patching up and repairing what is already there – but a new creation.

“DON’T GET SPIRITUALLY STUCK AT CHRISTMAS”

One line of a popular song says – “Man will live for evermore because of Christmas Day” – that is just not true. It is a nice thought though? Is it? Man can turn from ‘Christmas Day’ to his sin. Man has to go further – to Calvary – to the Cross – to the shed blood of Jesus Christ – which washes away our sin.

YES – we want to be saved from war – from pain – from hell – but JESUS says – Do you want me to save you from your sins? That is why I came into this world.

It is a short passage – a few verses – yet it contains so much – a miracle – God at work – and our God continues to work and move and speak – and intervene.

Joseph arises and does what God has asked him to do – there is no hesitation – he has heard from God – he has a role to fill. Joseph will protect the life of the unborn Jesus, and then look after the young and growing Jesus.

If God had messed up this couple’s initial plans – now the greatest plans the world has ever known are being worked out – as the Gospel unfolds.

“Lord God, we never know when it will be our final ‘Christmas’ – help us not to miss the significance of the birth of Jesus – remind us of why he came – to forgive our sin and sins. As we read Your Word may we remember that Jesus grew and spoke and taught and healed and died and rose again – Father, we give you thanks and praise, in Jesus Name.”

"Inspiration For You" from Randy Mitchell

Keep Your Dreams to Yourself