Talk Together
Family conversations with God’s Word.
The Christmas season can bring unexpected visitors to our homes, such as friends we haven’t talked to in a long time, family from far away or even neighbors we don’t know well. Sometimes, these visitors bring things with them: baked desserts, special gifts or even good news. Have you ever had a visitor during Christmastime? Did they bring anything with them?
Almost a year before the very first Christmas, an unexpected visitor brought a man named Joseph some unexpected news.
Joseph wasn’t married to Mary yet, but the messenger told Joseph that Mary was pregnant with a baby! God sent this visitor to speak to Joseph about Mary and her unborn baby. Let’s read about the visit in Matthew 1:18-23.
ESV
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).
Who was the unexpected visitor who came to Joseph in a dream? It was an angel from God! This angel brought good news with him. Mary was pregnant with a very special baby — the Son of God! God chose Joseph to help Mary raise Jesus on Earth!
Can you imagine Joseph’s shock? Mary’s pregnancy was not sad news; it was great news for Joseph and the rest of the world! Mary would give birth to God’s Son. He would live among us and someday, He would save the world from sin.
Many years later, people still meet unexpected visitors during Christmastime. They may not be angels, but they are people we can share the angel’s good news with — Jesus came to be with us and Jesus came to save us.
During Christmas, we celebrate Jesus. Because He paid the penalty of sin, people who trust in Him are saved. Jesus is Immanuel — God with us.