Comfort and Joy

Matt 1:18-21

"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.”

Sermon theme – Jesus’ coming is news that brings comfort & joy

The angels comes and gives Joseph news of comfort and joy, too. He doesn’t know what to do about Mary. He had this ideal life planned, but now has to think about divorce before he is ever fully married. The angel brings comfort with the strange but true news that Mary is not at fault – God did this to her. It is enormously comforting to see your way clear through a difficult situation like this. And the Lord’s Table is meant as a means of comfort. Whatever difficulty you are going through, this bread and wine, this worship service, isn’t meant as a distraction from it, a leaving it behind for a while. This sacrament shows your way clear through it by showing You the God who is with You through it, and who takes You through. This brings comfort. It also brings the joy of salvation. Hebrew for Jesus is save. We have a savior. Here we see HOW Jesus saved us, by sacrificing His own body and blood. Here we see the joyful result of Jesus saving us: sitting, eating, and living together in love, joy and peace. May we know Christ’s comfort and joy through His Word and through this table today.

12/9/12