VERSE:
Matthew 1:18-25
18 This is how Jesus Christ was born. A young woman named Mary was engaged to Joseph from King David's family. But before they were married, she learned that she was going to have a baby by God's Holy Spirit. 19 Joseph was a good man [good man: Or "kind man," or "man who always did the right thing."] and did not want to embarrass Mary in front of everyone. So he decided to quietly call off the wedding. 20 While Joseph was thinking about this, an angel from the Lord came to him in a dream. The angel said, "Joseph, the baby that Mary will have is from the Holy Spirit. Go ahead and marry her. 21 Then after her baby is born, name him Jesus, [name him Jesus: In Hebrew the name "Jesus" means "the Lord saves."] because he will save his people from their sins." 22 So the Lord's promise came true, just as the prophet had said, 23 "A virgin will have a baby boy, and he will be called Immanuel," which means "God is with us."
24 After Joseph woke up, he and Mary were soon married, just as the Lord's angel had told him to do. 25 But they did not sleep together before her baby was born. Then Joseph named him Jesus.
LESSON:
The Christmas Story!
This verse tells us the story behind the story of the Birth of Christ. It takes us back starting with the time when Mary and Joseph were first informed by the Angel that Jesus would be born into their family. Both Mary and Joseph willingly accepted Gods plan for their life, even if their "newly announced" future was a bit scary, and may not have been exactly what they may have planned for themselves. The key here is that God had a plan for their lives, and they followed, to the best of their abilities, God's plan for them. It is also a wonderful story of God's promises...and of God's delivery. Praise be to the Lord.
