When Hope Draws Near: God With Us

Matthew 1:18–25

We live in an age that celebrates the idea of Christmas but despises the reality of Christ. This culture may decorate, sing carols, sip peppermint lattes, and speak of peace, joy, and hope—yet it has no stomach for the truth: Jesus came to save sinners. They want a harmless baby in a manger, not the sovereign King who demands repentance.

Matthew 1 does not present a sanitized fairytale; it delivers the scandalous, world-shaking truth: a virgin pregnancy, a conflicted fiancé, and a divine plan that overturns every human expectation. God did not send a Hallmark card. He sent His Son.

When Hope draws near, it disrupts, confronts, and demands a verdict.

Matthew’s account takes us into the tension and turmoil of Joseph’s soul. Unlike Luke, who shows Mary’s awe, Matthew puts us in the shoes of a righteous man staring down scandal and betrayal. Joseph is engaged to Mary. Suddenly, she is pregnant—and he knows the child is not his. The confusion is real. The pain is sharp. The questions are relentless. Yet even here, God is at work.

The Messiah is born not into sanitized perfection, but into the crucible of human brokenness. God does not wait for us to tidy our lives; He steps straight into our chaos, pain, and fear. The first word from heaven to Joseph is not mere comfort—it is a command: “Do not be afraid.” When Hope draws near, fear is put on trial and found wanting.

The angel delivers the facts: "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." The name "Jesus" is not a sentimental tradition; it is a divine declaration: "Yahweh saves." His name proclaims His mission.

Consider this: Christmas exists because sin exists. Jesus did not come to enhance your comfort, boost your self-esteem, or fulfill your ambitions. He came for one reason—to save you from your sins. That may not fill stadiums, but it is the unyielding truth of Scripture. Sin is the indictment. Judgment is certain. Jesus alone is the Savior. This is not a seasonal message; it is the eternal verdict of God.

The angel’s words do not end there. He declares, “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.’”

Do not miss the force of this claim. This is not simply a great prophet or a holy man. This is God in the flesh. The second Person of the Trinity, co-eternal with the Father, took on human nature, fully God and fully man. Paul proclaims, “In Him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily.” John testifies, “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” The incarnation is no myth; it is the miracle of all miracles.

The Holy One became man not to observe, but to redeem. Only God could bear God’s wrath. Only a man could stand in a man’s place. Christ alone stands as Immanuel, not a vague sense of God’s nearness, but the living, breathing presence of God in our midst.

Consider the modern struggle with loneliness, an era where digital connections often replace personal ones but fail to satisfy the heart's deeper longings. In the face of such emptiness, the promise of 'God with us' becomes profoundly personal. Immanuel meets us in the solitude of our fears, assuring us that we are never truly alone, offering companionship and a purpose that transcends our immediate realities.

What does this mean for us?

Hope is not abstract. God is not distant. The Creator Himself has invaded His creation to bring salvation. This is not soft spirituality; it is a cosmic intervention. Jesus did not enter the world to start a religion, but to finish the mission of redemption.

This mission is deeply anchored in the symbolism that unites the cradle and the cross, for the wood of the manger anticipates the wood of the cross. That is why the cross stands at the center of the Christmas story, no matter how much the world tries to bury it beneath sentiment and distraction.

From the cradle to the cross to the crown, Jesus reigns as Savior, Lord, and King. This is the truth. Deny it at your peril. Receive it and be transformed. In embracing this truth, we find a joy that transcends momentary pleasures and a freedom that lifts the burdens of guilt. When we receive Christ, we enter into a life that is abundant, not through material wealth, but through profound peace and purpose. It is a transformation born out of love and grace, not fear. This is the hope that draws near to us and offers a new beginning.

When Joseph awoke, he did not merely ponder the angel’s words; he obeyed. He took Mary as his wife. He named the boy Jesus. This is the mark of true faith: not mere mental assent, but costly obedience. Let me be plain, many will sing about Jesus, light candles for Jesus, even quote Scripture about Jesus, but refuse to bow the knee to Him. They crave His peace but reject His Lordship. They want His blessings but spurn His authority. You cannot have Jesus as Savior if you will not have Him as Lord. The One born in Bethlehem now reigns in glory. He will return to judge the living and the dead. This is no idle claim. It is the warning and the promise of God.

Now the question is unavoidable: What will you do with this Jesus? Not the cultural caricature, not the sentimental holiday figure, but the biblical Christ. Jesus, who came to save you from your sins. Immanuel, God with us. You are summoned to respond. This Jesus claims your life, your loyalty, your worship. You cannot ignore Him. You cannot contain Him. You cannot domesticate Him. He will be your Savior, or He will be your Judge. Your response to Him sets the verdict.

Friends, hope has drawn near. It has disrupted your assumptions, confronted your sin, and now demands your response.

The hope of the gospel is not that God will smooth every path, but that He will never abandon us. He entered our pain, our weakness, our sin not to affirm us, but to rescue us.

The scandal of Christmas is this: The Holy One dwelt among the unholy. The Creator walked among His creation. The King put on flesh, bore the cross, and crushed death so that we might live. This is not a comforting fable, it is a summons to repentance and faith.

Christmas is not about magic, lights, or nostalgia. It is about the miracle of incarnation: God came down.

Jesus saves.

Immanuel is with us.

And if He is truly with us, then no fear, no shame, no sin, no suffering can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. This is the anchor for your soul. Do not dismiss it lightly.

This is the gospel. This is the truth. This is the hope that has drawn near. And His name is Jesus.

Church, if you have not bowed to Jesus, don’t leave this Christmas season with only sentiment. Leave with salvation.