Birth of Christ

It Begins

(NRSV)

23 “Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel,”which means, “God is with us.”

and they shall name him Emmanuel,”

which means, “God is with us.”

(NRSV)

14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel.

Compare these two verses and identify with the vision that Isaiah has for the future King. This vision was given to him more that seven hundred years before the birth.

(NRSV)

The Birth of Jesus the Messiah

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18 Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. What do you make of the description of their relationship? In Jewish tradition, the couples marriage was arranged by their relatives, it was then given a year of courtship when they could not have relational connection beyond getting top know each other. After that year of relationship building the marriage was consummated through the act of fornication. The scripture was clear that this was the stage that the marriage was in.

The way that marriages were arranged explains the next verse. (NRSV)

19 Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly. So, after talking about how the mother, Mary, became pregnant, lets consider how we become saved Christians. The Holy Spirit came upon Mary and she conceived a child. When we become saved, I will offer up, that no man or woman can bring that to being other than the Holy Spirit, do you agree? The Spirit comes upon us to convict us of the truth of Jesus Christ that lives within us.

Now, in our Methodist beliefs, many here were Baptized at birth. Much like Mary and Joseph being offered to each other by their families, you were offered up to God for marriage. You were not consummated at that time, but at the appropriate time you were Confirmed. Joseph and Mary went through a period of time where they considered the consequences of Mary being pregnant and what this might mean for their relationship going forward. Dis they sin, no, and yet the world around them would most likely accuse them of breaking the communal covenant.

The Angel comes to Joseph and tells him, (NRSV)

20 But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. In much the same way, we are offered up to the Lord at our baptism and between that time and your Confirmation, the body of Christ teaches, and the Holy Spirit confirms your marriage to God.

All of these things happen so that you might know that God calls you to a relationship with him. This relationship is much like the traditions set forth even before the birth of Christ. You are offered to God, even before you really know Him, and the courtship begins. If we are diligent to teach and lead, and if the spirit convicts and leads, the relationship is joined in a lifetime commitment, a marriage.

Perhaps this happened when Joseph awoke, (NRSV)

24 When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife, The mystery of the Incarnation is much the same as the mystery of salvation, is it not? In both instances it is the Spirit that comes to us, and works in us. Joseph accepted his commitment to Mary after the visit from the Angel, but you can be sure that he was still struggling with what had happened. (NRSV)

25 but had no marital relations with her until she had borne a son; and he named him Jesus. Immanuel-means God with us. During this tie of the birth of Jesus, may with consider our Baptism and our Confirmation. In the way that Mary received the baby into her womb, we also received Jesus into our hearts and carry him to full-term.