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The Early Church Proclaims Faith in Christ

Faithful Seekers of the King

Matthew 1:18-25 The Message

The Birth of Jesus

18-19 The birth of Jesus took place like this. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. Before they came to the marriage bed, Joseph discovered she was pregnant. (It was by the Holy Spirit, but he didn’t know that.) Joseph, chagrined but noble, determined to take care of things quietly so Mary would not be disgraced.
20-23 While he was trying to figure a way out, he had a dream. God’s angel spoke in the dream: “Joseph, son of David, don’t hesitate to get married. Mary’s pregnancy is Spirit-conceived. God’s Holy Spirit has made her pregnant. She will bring a son to birth, and when she does, you, Joseph, will name him Jesus—‘God saves’—because he will save his people from their sins.” This would bring the prophet’s embryonic sermon to full term:
Watch for this—a virgin will get pregnant and bear a son;
They will name him Immanuel (Hebrew for “God is with us”).
24-25 Then Joseph woke up. He did exactly what God’s angel commanded in the dream: He married Mary. But he did not consummate the marriage until she had the baby. He named the baby Jesus.

For Reflection

The story of the birth of Christ is an overture to the Gospel. It foreshadows the meaning of God's gift to humanity.  The full story is the Gospel in a nutshell. Think about the political and economic climate into which God's son is thrust. Think about Christ's linage.  Think about who responds well to the announcement of Jesus's birth. Think about why His birth is such a threat to some and hope to others.

Pray

Pray for those who hear the gospel, fear it, reject it and work to destroy it.  Pray for those who hear the gospel and ignore it.  Pray for those who hear the Gospel and drift away from its promise.  Pray for those who hear the Gospel and who, with God, work toward the establishment of the Kingdom of God.

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