Bailey Methodist Church
12/21/2025

      • John 3:16ESV

  • Hark The Herald Angels Sing
  • The First Noel
  • What Child Is This (Greensleeves)
  • Children Go Where I Send Thee
  • Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow!
  • Matthew 1:18–25 ESV
    18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. 19 And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. 20 But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: 23 “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us). 24 When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, 25 but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.
    Introduction
    At the heart of the Christmas story is one of the most staggering declarations in Scripture: God is with us. Not distant. Not silent. Not watching from afar. With us. He steps into the world He created, into the mess we have made, into the fears, questions, and uncertainties that shape our lives.
    We see this truth unfold through the story of Joseph, a man whose entire world is suddenly shaken. Through Joseph’s experience, Matthew teaches us three powerful truths about what Immanuel—“God with us”—really means.

    1. God With Us in Our Confusion (vs. 18–20)

    James 1:2–5 ESV
    2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.
    Joseph and Mary are legally engaged—an arrangement so binding in ancient Judaism that it required a formal divorce to dissolve. They do not yet live together or engage in marital relations, which is why Matthew emphasizes that this miraculous pregnancy occurs “before they came together.” When Joseph learns Mary is with child, the only explanation that seems possible is unfaithfulness.
    Joseph is a “righteous” man—faithful to God’s commands, yet compassionate. Rather than exposing Mary to public shame and legal consequences, he chooses the kindest option available: a quiet, private divorce. His heart is heavy, his plans are broken, his future unclear.
    But it is right then—right in the confusion—that God intervenes.
    “Joseph, son of David, do not fear…”
    God does not wait for Joseph to understand before He draws near. God’s presence precedes God’s explanations.
    This is exactly what James 1:2–5 teaches:
    “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds… If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously…”
    Joseph did not yet know God’s full plan, but he knew God was with him. And the same is true for us.
    When life confuses us, Immanuel means we are never alone. God is with us in the questions, in the uncertainty, and in the places where nothing seems to make sense.

    2. God With Us in Our Salvation (vs. 21–23)

    Isaiah 53:6 ESV
    6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
    As Joseph wrestles with what to do, God reveals the truth about Mary’s pregnancy. The angel tells him that Mary has not been unfaithful; the child within her has been conceived by the Holy Spirit. By calling Joseph “son of David,” the angel reminds him of his ancestral connection to the throne of David and the role he will play in God’s plan. Joseph is instructed to take Mary as his wife, which will make the child legally his son—and therefore a true heir of David’s line.
    The angel gives Joseph the child’s name: Jesus, meaning “The Lord saves.” This name reveals His mission. Jesus has not come to solve political problems or overthrow earthly rulers. He has come to rescue humanity from its deepest problem: sin—the rebellion and brokenness that separate us from God.
    To make this clear, Matthew connects this moment to Isaiah’s prophecy:
    “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel,” which means “God with us.”
    There has long been discussion about how Isaiah’s prophecy worked in its original context, but its ultimate meaning is fulfilled in Jesus. Isaiah foreshadowed a child who would be more than a sign—he would be the very presence of God among His people. Jesus is fully divine and fully human: divine so that He can save us, human so that He can represent us.
    This saving mission is beautifully expressed in Isaiah 53:6, which captures why Jesus came:
    “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.”
    Jesus came because we needed rescue. Jesus came because we could not save ourselves. Jesus came to carry our sin, remove our guilt, restore our relationship with God, and bring us home.
    In Jesus Christ, God is with us to save us.

    3. God With Us in Our Obedience (vs. 24–25)

    Luke 1:38 ESV
    38 And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.
    Matthew tells us that when Joseph wakes from the dream, he obeys without hesitation:
    “He did as the angel of the Lord commanded him.”
    Joseph takes Mary as his wife, formally completing the marriage, even though their situation is unlike any other. Matthew then clarifies that Joseph and Mary did not consummate their marriage until after Jesus’ birth. The phrase “did not know her until” naturally implies that after Jesus was born, Joseph and Mary lived together as a normal married couple. This supports the later biblical references to Jesus’ brothers and sisters. Scripture gives no basis for the idea that Mary remained a virgin throughout her life. Instead, it shows her—like Joseph—as a faithful, obedient servant walking the path God placed before her.
    Joseph’s obedience is quiet, immediate, costly, and profound. He steps into a calling filled with uncertainty and responsibility—the call to raise the Messiah, the Son of God. Mary demonstrates the same faith, saying:
    “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” (Luke 1:38)
    Their lives teach us an essential truth: Obedience does not require full understanding—only full trust in the God who is with us.
    When God is with us, we can obey even when the path is unclear. When God is with us, fear gives way to faith. When God is with us, ordinary people participate in extraordinary purposes.
    Conclusion — God With Us Today
    From beginning to end, Matthew’s story declares a simple but life-changing truth: God is with us.
    God is with us in our confusion—bringing wisdom and peace.
    God is with us in our salvation—carrying our sin and restoring our relationship with Him.
    God is with us in our obedience—giving strength to follow His calling.
    This is the hope of Christmas. This is the promise of the Gospel. This is the gift of Immanuel.
    You are not alone. You are not abandoned. You are not forgotten. God is with you—today, tomorrow, and forever.
    Amen.

      • Matthew 1:18–25ESV

      • James 1:2–5ESV

      • Isaiah 53:6ESV

      • Luke 1:38ESV

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Bailey Methodist Church
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