Christmas Day. Emmanuel, God with us

Prepare to Listen.  Light all the candles, including the white one that represents Jesus.  The virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel.
 
Prayerfully Read Matthew 1:18-25 (Read this familiar story as if for the first time, as a beginner.)
18Now 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.  19Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly.  20But 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.  21She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.’  22All this took place to fulfil what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet:
23‘Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
    and they shall name him Emmanuel’,
which means, ‘God is with us.’  24When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife, 25but had no marital relations with her until she had borne a son; and he named him Jesus.
 
Prayerfully Wonder and Reflect
If you read the story as a beginner, what caught your attention?
 
When Joseph learned of Mary’s pregnancy, he chose to quietly break off the engagement instead of publicly stoning her as the law stated.  Perhaps he was unwilling to raise a child that wasn’t his, or he was reluctant to harm Mary.  Imagine his amazement when an angel, ignoring his scruples, appeared to him in a dream and gave him the responsibility for Mary’s child.  He was to name him (and thus claim him as his own), “Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”  The angel added a second name by which he’d be known, “They shall name him Emmanuel,” God with us.  They, including us today, will see God in Mary’s illegitimate son, and call him Emmanuel.
 
The dream faded and Joseph woke up.  Did he wonder: Who am I, a simple carpenter, to raise God-with-us, the savior of the world?  Obedience would be difficult and change his life forever.  Whatever he thought or felt, without hesitation or complaint, he “did as the angel of the Lord commanded him.”  He took Mary as his wife and waited with her for her son, whom he did name Jesus.  Since then, many of his followers name him Emmanuel, God with us, and worship him.
 
Put yourself in Joseph’s place, charged with raising the son who is redeemer and God-with-us.  How might you feel?  What might you want to ask God for?
 
Prayerfully Respond
Jesus, in the busyness of Christmas activities we often forget that your coming initially brought suffering to many people, especially Mary and Joseph.  Their obedience transformed them.  Help me live obediently even if it means suffering so that I too may be transformed, changed by you.  To the praise of your glory, Amen.
 
Live obediently.  Be obedient despite its difficulties.

If you appreciated these Advent devotions and would like to make a donation to my writing ministry (and the cost of the this website doubled this year), I would be grate.  You could send me a check (contact me for my address) or use PayPal or Venmo (Jacqueline Smallbones; last 4 digits of my phone: 2605).  Thank you.