December 24, 2024
God With Us
Matthew 1:18-25
12/24/2024
18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this
way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to
Joseph, before they came together she was found to
be with child from the Holy Spirit.
19 And her husband Joseph, being a just man and
unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce
her quietly.
20 But as he considered these things, behold, an
angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream,
saying, ``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.
21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name
Jesus, for he will save his people from their
sins.''
22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had
spoken by the prophet:
23 ``Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a
son, and they shall call his name Immanuel,''
(which means, God with us).
24 When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel
of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife,
25 but knew her not until she had given birth to a
son. And he called his name Jesus. (ESV)
Saint Matthew wrote:
Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way.
When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph,
before they came together she was found to be with
child from the Holy Spirit. And her husband Joseph,
being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame,
resolved to divorce her quietly. But as he considered
these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to
him in a dream, saying, ``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. She will
bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he
will save his people from their sins.'' All this took
place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the
prophet: ``Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a
son, and they shall call his name Immanuel,'' (which
means, God with us). When Joseph woke from sleep, he
did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his
wife, but knew her not until she had given birth to a
son. And he called his name Jesus.
O God, You make us glad with the yearly remembrance of
the birth of Your only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ.
Grant that as we joyfully receive Him as our Redeemer,
we may with sure confidence behold Him when He comes to
be our Judge; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord,
who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one
God, now and forever. Amen.[1]
Please join us this evening at 7:00 p.m. at Trinity Lutheran
Church to hear the message of God's rich grace, love, and mercy.
May our Lord grant you a blessed Christmas. Christ the Savior is
born. Amen.
____________________
1. Collect for Christmas Eve, LSB Propers of the Day, p. 293.