She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins. (Matthew 1:21)
The Arrival of the Messiah
The book begins with a long list of genealogy (Matthew 1:1-17) which states Jesus' rightful place as "The son of Abraham and The son of David". This list plays an important role in the arrival of the Messiah. Genealogies are used during this time to support legal claims on hierarchy.
Among the long list are people with questionable characters. This gives us an idea on how God works on the lives of the people. You are not chosen by God because you are morally good but God chose you according to his wise council 'For he says to Moses, "I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion." So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy. ' (Romans 9:15, 16).
The Virgin Birth
Matthew cited a passage from the Old Testament (Isaiah 7:14). "Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel" (which means, God with us) (Matthew 1:23).It was a very difficult time for this family. A scandalous pregnancy of Mary which I believe made her wonder why such things happened to her. Even so, she trusted God and humbly says "let it be so". Same is true with Joseph, after knowing the situation he then decided to leave Mary in secret. An angel came and said to him that the baby is of God's. What a complicated situation! Maybe way more complicated than your situation right now. Name it, a delay in promotion, loss of loved ones, a shocking disease, etc. This family knows complicated more than you do.
It is an encouragement to us that in every difficult and challenging situations, God is working. We may not see it the way we wanted it to be. We may not feel his work in our lives but surely, he works in many ways and is not hindered by our feelings.
He has arrived! The King! The Messiah!
The glorious miracle still resounds to this day and heralds a message that:
The King has arrived to save his people from their sins. A king that surpassed any king in any time. The king who lived to die and be raised to save us for God's glory.
May this season reminds us his love for us and the reason why he came. "To seek and save the lost" (Luke 19:10).
The Arrival of the Messiah
The book begins with a long list of genealogy (Matthew 1:1-17) which states Jesus' rightful place as "The son of Abraham and The son of David". This list plays an important role in the arrival of the Messiah. Genealogies are used during this time to support legal claims on hierarchy.
Among the long list are people with questionable characters. This gives us an idea on how God works on the lives of the people. You are not chosen by God because you are morally good but God chose you according to his wise council 'For he says to Moses, "I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion." So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy. ' (Romans 9:15, 16).
The Virgin Birth
Matthew cited a passage from the Old Testament (Isaiah 7:14). "Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel" (which means, God with us) (Matthew 1:23).It was a very difficult time for this family. A scandalous pregnancy of Mary which I believe made her wonder why such things happened to her. Even so, she trusted God and humbly says "let it be so". Same is true with Joseph, after knowing the situation he then decided to leave Mary in secret. An angel came and said to him that the baby is of God's. What a complicated situation! Maybe way more complicated than your situation right now. Name it, a delay in promotion, loss of loved ones, a shocking disease, etc. This family knows complicated more than you do.
I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.
It is an encouragement to us that in every difficult and challenging situations, God is working. We may not see it the way we wanted it to be. We may not feel his work in our lives but surely, he works in many ways and is not hindered by our feelings.
He has arrived! The King! The Messiah!
The glorious miracle still resounds to this day and heralds a message that:
The King has arrived to save his people from their sins. A king that surpassed any king in any time. The king who lived to die and be raised to save us for God's glory.
May this season reminds us his love for us and the reason why he came. "To seek and save the lost" (Luke 19:10).
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