For He Will Save His People—Matthew 1:18-25
Matthew 1:18-25 is a passage packed with core truths of Christianity. Jesus' divinity. His humanity. His incarnation and the virgin birth. Many of these truths are just introduced in this passage, not really fleshed out. If you were a 1st-century Jew reading about these things for the first time, you might not grasp the full implications of, for example, the statement that Mary was "with child from the Holy Spirit." This is a hint of a truth that will be more fully revealed as the book of Matthew goes on.
But one truth sings out loud and clear in this passage, like a hammer hitting a bell. "You shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins." The angel's announcement is dramatic and clear. At last, the One has come who will save his people from their deepest trouble, their sin.
Wise Maker, Wise Savior—Proverbs 8
Imagine you’re at the bottom of a deep, dark pit. It shouldn’t be too hard, because, spiritually, we’ve all been there. Maybe you’ve never been anywhere else.
Now imagine someone lets down a rope to you. “Just grab on and I’ll pull you out!” he yells. But when you are about to grab the rope, a thought hits you. What if the rope isn’t strong enough? What if it breaks when you’re almost out of the pit? The pit is very deep. You would break bones in the long fall back into darkness. But if you don’t grab the rope, you’ll never get out.
It’s a bit like that with Jesus Christ.