Matthew 1:18-25
18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. 19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly. 20 But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. 21 And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”
22 So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: 23 “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.”
24 Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife, 25 and did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son. And he called His name Jesus.
So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.” (vs. 22-23)
The theology of the incarnation can be summarized in this way: The Holy Spirit by the will of the Father makes Christ present for us. Therefore we know that the holy triune God; Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, is of one mind with regard to salvation. And we see Jesus present in an incarnate way (some call this “incarnationally”) not just in His birth in Bethlehem, but also in Word and Sacrament.
Jesus said the wealth of the whole world is not enough to buy a single soul out of God’s prison. He proclaimed, “What will a man give in exchange for his soul?” The price of salvation is infinite; therefore only infinite God could pay the price. “God with us”means that our Savior-God gave His infinitely valuable blood in exchange for our souls. Because His blood has infinite value, it is valuable enough to pay for all souls. What will a man give for his soul? If he is of the one true faith he will give the precious blood of Christ, “…given and shed for you, for the forgiveness of sins.”
O ye heights of heaven adore Him; Angel hosts, His praises sing.
Pow’rs, dominions, bow before Him And extol our God and King.
Let no tongue on earth be silent, Ev’ ry voice in concert ring
Evermore and evermore. (LSB 384)
Let us pray: Stir up Your power, O Lord, and come and help us by Your might, that the sins which weigh us down may be quickly lifted by Your grace and mercy; for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
