What extraordinary trust and compassion Joseph has! His world is suddenly blown apart when he discovers that his fiancée, with whom he has not had sex, is pregnant. Probably, most people in that situation would have stormed off, saying, ‘OK, that’s it! Goodbye!’, but not Joseph. Read again all that God explains to him through an angel (vs 20,21). The angel reassures him that God is behind all of this and has it covered. Everything is fine.

Actually, it’s much more than fine, because with Jesus, God tells Joseph, comes the ultimate security of salvation (v 21) and God’s presence with us (v 23). ‘The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood’ (John 1:14a, The Message).

There’s nothing more comforting than knowing that God is with us. Now even our sinfulness can’t separate us from him. Try to put yourself, for instance, in the position of the woman who knows she’s done wrong but demonstrates her extravagant love for Jesus (Luke 7:48– 50). Notice Jesus’ response to her.

Eternal security and God’s presence: these are the environment of heaven. Enjoy the imagery of Revelation 7:9,10 and 21:1–4.

Lord, speak to me this Christmas Day and grant me grace to listen and obey, so that your Son may be glorified in me.

The promise that God is with us in Christ is here in verse 23 and again in the words of the great commission,¹ providing the bookends of Matthew’s Gospel. That is the true wonder of today. 

Whereas Luke asks us to consider the events of the first Christmas from Mary’s viewpoint, Matthew points to the equally poignant experience of her fiancé, Joseph. For him, the news of Mary’s pregnancy must have come as a shock and, with it, an awareness of the public disgrace that would surely follow. There was even a danger that Mary could have been executed by stoning.² Gritty reality sets in here, earthing the coming of the Messiah in a very real human dilemma. 

God speaks, however, and for Joseph, a righteous man, that makes all the difference. Once he receives, in a dream, God’s revelation as to the true nature of the child and his mission, he immediately steps up to obey the Lord and takes Mary to be his wife. In doing so, he accepts the reproach of the community, choosing to respect her virginity until this special child had been born. We never hear Joseph speak in the New Testament, but his actions speak louder than words. He embraces the mystery of God’s will for his life, choosing to trust when he cannot understand.

The central message of this holy season is summed up in verse 21, ‘because he will save his people from their sins’. Through all the celebrations and busyness of today, hold on to this vital statement. It’s not about just being together, or even singing carols and feasting: this day is a day of rejoicing as the Almighty has broken into human history for your sake and mine.

Consider the two names of the Messiah here, Jesus and Immanuel, and think about what each brings into your own story this Christmas. Rejoice and give thanks.

¹ Matt 28:20  ² Deut 22:20,21