Immanuel - God with us
Colin Hickley
Get your Bible and Read Matthew 1 v 18 – 25
The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel (which means ‘God with us’) – NIV Matthew 1 v 25
Introduction
Not for the first-time during lockdown, my reflection is inspired by the Church’s Notice Board, our current ‘window’ to the Church’s neighbours and passers-by.
What does Advent mean to you? What about Christmas itself?
For me, the words of Matthew 1 v 23 encapsulate it perfectly Christmas is Immanuel – God with us.
Our focus may be on Jesus coming as a new born baby to the stable in Bethlehem but this was only the start of Jesus’ amazing life on earth that would ultimately lead Him to the Cross.
For Mary and Joseph, the Shepherds, the Wisemen, the Disciples, in fact everyone who met Jesus during His 33 years on earth – Jesus was indeed ‘God with us’ – in person. But Jesus’ death on the Cross for each one of us, to save us from our sins, to restore our broken relationship with God, for those who believe in Him, was to lead to God’s profound gift – the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit is God’s constant presence with us; our advocate, our guide, our comforter, our power to live the Christian life and serve God.
Our Christmas will no doubt be very different this year. Not meeting together as a Church in the normal way. Distanced from family and friends. How blessed we are to know that whatever we face Immanuel God is with us. Every moment, every day, only a prayer away.
This Bible passage gives us a perfect example of God with us. In a man that largely remains silent and is often overlooked. Joseph, Jesus’ earthly father. Joseph’s faith and trust in God is clear to see, he was a man of character and integrity. Joseph was an earthly father with a Heavenly vision.
Joseph, of course, was chosen – chosen by God for this important role. A Heavenly Father choosing an earthly one to raise and protect His Son. Chosen to fulfil a prophesy because indeed he was of the house and line of David – as recorded in Matthew 1. Not the wealthiest or most important by earthly standards but we all know God doesn’t tend to use people like that. Chosen because he was God’s man, one that could be trusted with the important task he had been given and most importantly that he could trust God completely.
This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about
His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. Mat 1 v 18
It is probably helpful if we understand the 3 steps in the Jewish marriage process:
- The first step was the engagement, a contract arranged by family members who determined whether the couple would be well suited for each other and for a future marriage.
- Second, there was the betrothal, the public ratification of the engagement, with a period of one year for the couple to become known as belonging to each other, but not having the rights of living together as husband and wife. The only way a betrothal could be terminated was by a divorce.
- The third stage is the marriage proper, which took place at the end of the year of betrothal.
Mary and Joseph were in the second stage, betrothal, so were not yet living together as man and wife, and would not have slept together.
Well, can you imagine the conversation as Mary explains to Joseph that she is pregnant but that she hasn’t been unfaithful to him because she has become pregnant through the Holy Spirit. And furthermore, an Angel has visited her to tell her this and the child will be the Son of God.
Now this is where we see the true character of Joseph, we don’t read that he flies of the handle and starts shouting and screaming, maybe he even wanted to believe Mary because he loved her and wanted to trust her. No, Joseph acts thoughtfully and sensitively to Mary.
Joseph decides he can’t marry Mary as he must remain faithful to the Law, he has based his whole life on. But he doesn’t want to disgrace Mary publicly so will divorce her quietly.
We need to understand it would have been an incredible stigma for him to have a pregnant wife before their marriage. In fact, the Law said Mary should be stoned to death and Joseph would have had to throw the first stone.
Joseph could have disgraced her publicly, saying, “I’m not the father of that child, someone else is.” And the community would have put her into a public shunning period along with her family, then a public stoning would have taken place. But not Joseph.
How hurt, confused, disappointed and betrayed Joseph must have felt. Mary, the woman he loves and had trusted; the woman he knew was righteous too was now pregnant. He knew it didn’t fit her character, the woman he had come to know and love. And it kept whirling around in his mind “what am I going to do about this situation?”.
The natural reaction for a lot of us in this situation would be “why did she do this to me? After all the plans we made, the commitments we made and love we gave? And now this!”
I think we have a lesson to learn here from Joseph, it is not only our actions that show out character but also our reactions. Our actions are usually controlled but our reactions when things go wrong aren’t. Do we act differently when things are beyond our control? Our reactions to the situations we face are a reflection of our heart. Where we are in our relationship with God.
Joseph could have reacted selfishly, asking, “Why is this happening to me? How could she do this to me?” But his reaction, because he was a just and righteous man was “How can I protect her? I don’t want to publicly disgrace the woman I love. I’ll just put her away privately. I love her too much to disgrace and embarrass her. I’m going to do my best to protect her.”
But after he had considered this, an Angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream
Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. Matt 1 v 20
Joseph had a plan but he was sensitive to God and God had other plans in store for him. It is interesting to note that the angel appeared to Joseph in a dream not in person as with Mary or in splendour as with the shepherds. I think that reflects Joseph’s relationship with God and his trust in Him.
Another lesson we can learn from Joseph he had a plan but he was willing to change it as God led him. Are we sensitive to God’s will for our lives and for the life of His Church? Or are our plans set in stone and we just expect God to bless them? Joseph was blessed because he was sensitive to the will of God.
Joseph was not only sensitive to God’s plan but he was also obedient
We find it difficult to be obedient to God, don’t we?
- Especially when there are risks involved – Joseph faced the real possibility of ridicule, shame and exclusion for the decision he took.
- Or when to be obedient just doesn’t seem to make any sense – everything in human terms would have said to Joseph this just doesn’t make sense BUT he was willing to place the situation in God’s hands and trust Him completely.
- Or when others just don’t understand – Others may have criticised Joseph, his family and friends but he knew what God was calling him to do with certainty.
Joseph was obedient in every detail – the angel instructed Joseph to name the baby Jesus – because He will save his people from their sins – and that is exactly what he did.
Joseph continued to listen closely to God and protect the baby Jesus, which you can read about in Matthew 2. Joseph listened and obeyed completely.
We can all learn from the life of Joseph, how he lived by faith, where his relationship with God was central, how he lived in righteousness, sensitively listen to God’s will and obeying it without question. What an example Joseph is to us of living a life honouring to God.
As this Advent we prepare ourselves for this most unusual of Christmases
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit – Romans 15 v 13