Tidings Of Comfort And Joy

Christmas will never be the same for the many families who recently lost their loved ones.  What makes it even more difficult is that we all know that this is supposed to be a season of anxious anticipation, overflowing joy, a time when we share those experiences with the ones that are close to us.  When family we love can no longer be with us there will be pain.

I want to share with you the Christmas story from Matthew.  This is a story of great joy mixed with  tremendous sorrow, but in the end it is a story of hope.  That hope is brought about by a Father who loves us. Unfortunately His eternal plan is opposed by the father of lies, who scripture says was a murderer from the beginning.  That dear friends, is the world we still live in.  But lies cannot live in the light that is the Father.  Love will always comfort hurt.  Our hope is powerful because it is not based on imagination but rather on what is true, "the substance of things not seen".

Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows:

When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit.  And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man and not wanting to disgrace her, planned to send her away secretly.  But when he had considered this, behold an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife;  for the child in her is of the Holy Spirit.  She will bear a Son;  and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins."

Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet:

Behold, the virgin shall be with child and shall bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel", which translated means, "God with us."

And Joseph awoke from his sleep and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took Mary as his wife, but kept her a virgin until she gave birth to a Son;  and he called His name Jesus.

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, "Where is He who has been born King of the Jews?  For we have seen His star in the east and have come to worship Him."  When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.  Gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born.

They said to him, "In Bethlehem of Judea;  for this is what has been written by the prophet;

'And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah, are by no means least among the leaders of Judah;  For out of you shall come shall come forth a ruler who will shepherd My people Israel.' "

Then Herod secretly called the magi and determined from them the exact time the star appeared, and he sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and search carefully for the Child;  and when you have found Him, report to me so that I too may come and worship Him."  After hearing the king they went their way;  and the star which they had seen in the east went on before them until it came and stood over the place where the Child was.  When they saw the star they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.

After coming into the house they saw the Child with Mary His mother;  and they fell to the ground and worshiped Him.  Then, opening their treasures, they presented to Him gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.  And having been warned by God in a dream not to return to Herod the magi left for their own country by another way.

Now when they had gone, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, "Get up!  Take the Child and His mother and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you;  for Herod is going to search for the Child to destroy Him.  So Joseph got up and took the Child and His mother while it was still night, and left for Egypt . . .

Then when Herod saw that he had been tricked by the magi he became very enraged, and sent and slew all the male children who were in Bethlehem and all it's vicinity, from two years old and under, according to the time he had determined from the magi.

Then what had been spoken through Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled;

"A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children;  And she refused to be comforted, because they were no more."

But when Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, and said, "Get up, take the Child and His mother and go into the land of Israel; for those who sought the Child's life are dead."  So Joseph got up, took the Child and His mother and came into the land of Israel.  (NAS)

May the Father of life give it to you in abundance this Christmas season.  May the Hold Spirit bring Jesus into your heart so that for you He will truly be, Immanuel, God with us.  May His comfort carry you through your pain.  And may His joy knock you off your feet.