Matthew 1:18-25
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.
Reflection
The angel’s message to Joseph is good news. Mary’s Son will bring the salvation of the Lord. He will save people not merely in the physical sense (Matt. 8:25; 10:22) but in the most important sense because he will bring salvation from sins. Everyone has sinned against God, failing to worship him and causing tragic harm to others (Rom. 1:18–32; 3:9–20, 23), but God sent Jesus to clearly show us that he is a merciful and forgiving God (Ps. 130:3–4, 7–8).
Jesus, who is God, came to earth and fulfilled the promise in Isaiah 7:14 that “Immanuel” would come (Matt. 1:23). When Jesus was among his people, God himself was with them (8:23–27). In the Old Testament, the greatest blessing to God’s people was when he actually lived among them (Ex. 29:46; Lev. 26:11–12), but the relationship was spoiled by their rebellion against him. In Jesus, God has provided salvation from sin and has healed the broken relationship between himself and his people. When God sent his Son Jesus, he made it possible for God to be “with” his disciples “always, to the end of the age” (Matt. 28:20).
Romans 1:8-15
8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is proclaimed in all the world. 9 For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I mention you 10 always in my prayers, asking that somehow by God's will I may now at last succeed in coming to you. 11 For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you— 12 that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith, both yours and mine. 13 I want you to know, brothers, that I have often intended to come to you (but thus far have been prevented), in order that I may reap some harvest among you as well as among the rest of the Gentiles. 14 I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish. 15 So I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome.
Reflection
Those who know God through faith in Christ deeply desire to make him known to others. Paul longs to visit Rome “to preach the gospel” there (Rom. 1:15) and through mutual encouragement (v. 12) to take the gospel to even more distant lands, like Spain (see 15:24)— which is a reminder to all who receive the gospel of our need to share the gospel with those still unreached.
At the same time, the gospel message is not merely intended to produce new converts. It is also vitally relevant for those who already believe in Christ in every area of life. Notice that Paul says he is “eager to preach the gospel” to the Roman church—those who already knew the message (1:15). We are told that the good news is actually “the power of God” (v. 16). Paul viewed the gospel as the daily food for every human heart.
Psalm 46:7
7 The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah
Remember that God sent Jesus to be with you (Matt. 1:23) so that you don’t have to live in isolation from God. Draw near to him now; he is with you today, and he is for you.