Family Night

A Father's Heritage to Share- Dudash

Tonight starts the third week of Advent, Proclamation and JOY. Tonight you get to light three candles. See side bar. If you have family time together, use the readings below and what ever commentary is helpful to your family. The main reading Matthew 1:18-25 is from Josephs perspective, just as Luke is Mary's. The main idea in the post below is the meaning of Jesus Christ (He who saves, Anointed One, Messiah); and Him being called Immanuel, God with Us in verse 23/.


Talk about: How was Jesus' birth a miracle? What do these names of Jesus mean? (Jesus, Christ, Immanuel)Who is this Child? What does His life mean for all people.
Sing: Hark the Herald Angels Sing, What Child is this?
Thank God for sending His Son to save us

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An Angel Visits Joseph

Read Matthew 1:18-25

"This is how Jesus Christ, the Messiah was born. 

His mother Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. 

But before the marriage took place, while she was still a virgin, 

she became pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit. " 

Matt. 1:18 NLT

The name Jesus means "He shall Save", The name Christ is not His last name, but is His title as "The Anointed One", The Messiah.

If we go back to the beginning of time we see that, God created the heavens and the earth. He made man and woman in His own image and likeness. Then Adam and Eve both sinned, eating the fruit they were commanded not to eat and were removed from the garden, so they could not continue to eat from the tree of life. During the despair of their fall, God made a promise, that one day the child of a woman would bruise the head of the serpent, the devil. Later God promised Abraham, "And through your descendants all the nations of the earth will be blessed. Long after that, God promised King David "I will set up your seed after you, who will come from your body. I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be his Father and He shall be My son" . vs 5,11-14

James Tissot - Brooklyn Museum

Even though mankind sinned, God had a glorious plan to bring salvation to us, through a Promised Child. So glorious was His plan that He sent the mighty angel Gabriel to announce the coming joy to Mary. Now He comes to Joseph, Mary's fiance, who was a son of King David. As you read this section of Matthew's gospel (18-25), put yourself in Joseph's place as he discovers his beautiful, pure betrothed bride is pregnant and not with his child. As he considered breaking their engagement quietly, an angel appeared to him and said:

"Joseph, son of David,  do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. 

For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, 

for he will save his people from their sins."

 Jesus is the "Anointed One", 

God's promised Messiah, who saves His people from their sins.

Praise God for His wonderful gift of Jesus our Messiah and Savior.

Read: Matt. 1:23, Isaiah 7:14, John 1:1-3, Col. 1:14-18

"What child is this?"

"Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son,

and they will call him Immanuel, which means 'God is with us'.

Matt.. 1:23

Mary was a virgin, that means she didn't live with a husband yet. She got pregnant with Jesus before her and Joseph came together. This is the fulfillment of the  prophecy above, that was originally made 700 years before by the prophet Isaiah. Matthew tells us that Jesus Christ, Savior, Anointed One, is "God with Us". Just think about that. He was God with us!!! Think of some of the words of the Christmas Carole, "Hark the Herald Angels Sing". "Veiled in flesh, the Godhead see, Hail the Incarnate Deity... mild He lay His glory by, born that men no more may die. Born to raise the sons of earth, born to give them second birth."

Read the passages in John and Colossians and consider:

What child is this? 

Emmanuel, God with Us

Immanuel, God with Us by Michelle Struss

Read more about this painting at His Paint Brush.  

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Zechariah's Prayer of Blessing for his Little Son

Luke 1:67-80

Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and praised God for His faithfulness to keep His promises to His people. We see in this the threads of God's tender mercy to give us salvation, the forgiveness of our sins and to bring us the morning light of heaven, Jesus. He spoke a prophecy over his new baby son John saying,

"And you, my little son,

will be called the prophet of the Most High,

because you will prepare the way for the Lord.

You will tell his people how to find salvation

through forgiveness of their sins.

The Birth of John

Luke 1:57-66

The Visitation- Tissot, Brooklyn Museum

Elizabeth delivered her son and they named him John, meaning, "The Lord has shown favor". Her neighbors and relatives were filled with joy at the great mercy the Lord had shown her!
 

Joy comes from God's favor and grace.
 

The neighbors of Zechariah and Elizabeth saw the miracle of God and were amazed. After they named the baby John; Zechariah could speak again for the first time since the visit of Gabriel. Then fear (awe) came over the people. They held these things close to their hearts; and wondered "what kind of child will John be?".God's hand was certainly on his life.
 

Fear (Phobeo):frightening fearful sight...to be in awe of, revere... reverence.

Mary's Song of Praise

Luke 1:45-56

Back to the home of Zacharias and Elizabeth and she said to Mary:

James Tissot, Brooklyn Museum

"Why am I so honored,
that the mother of my Lord
should visit me?...
You are blessed because you believed 
that the Lord would do what He said."
Luke 1:45 NLT

And Mary responds with a song of praise:

"Oh, how my soul praises the Lord.
How my spirit rejoices in God my Savior!
For He took notice 
of His lowly servant girl...
He shows mercy... to all who fear Him...
 
His mighty arm 
has done tremendous things!...
He has scattered 
the proud and haughty ones.
He has brought down princes 
from their thrones 
and exalted the humble."
Luke 1:46-55 NLT

Mary Visits Elizabeth

Luke 1:39-45

Today's reading is a favorite for women every where, especially those who are moms and enjoyed the wonder of carrying a new life. My favorite verse is:

'At the sound of Mary's greeting,
Elizabeth's child leaped within her,and  

Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.

Elizabeth gave a glad cry 
and exclaimed to Mary,

"God has blessed you above all women, 

and your child is blessed. 

Why am I so honored, 

that the mother of my Lord should visit me? 

When I heard your greeting, 

the baby in my womb jumped for joy. 

You are blessed because you believed 
that the Lord would do what He said."'  
Luke 1:41 NLT

These verses fulfill what Angel Gabriel said to Zaccharias:"...He will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even before his birth."  Luke 1:15 Also notice that the Holy Spirit was involved with Mary when she asked: "But, how can this happen? I am a virgin. The angel replied, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you..." Luke 1:34, 35

This is amazing! The power of God Most High moved through the Holy Spirit to place His Son into Mary who was just a regular human being. His Son is the only human to be begotten, fathered by God and to have His same genes.

Thank God for His Precious Son who was born as a human, died sacrificially that we might have life in Him. Thank Him for His promise to give us the gift of His Holy Spirit. Jesus said just before His ascension:

"Do not leave Jerusalem until the Father sends you the gift He promised...
you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you." 
 Acts 1:4, 8

God's Answer to David

(See December 7th for David's Question)

In Luke 1:31-33, Gabriel told Mary,

"... you will conceive... and bring forth a Son
and shall call His name Jesus.
He will be great and called Son of the Most High;
and the Lord God will give Him
the throne of His Father David...
and of His Kingdom there will be no end."

These verses fulfill a promise made to King David in 2Samuel 7:11-14. David was dwelling in his beautiful house of cedar and decided to build a house for the arc of God. He told this to Nathan the prophet who then said to do all that was in his heart for the Lord. But that night the word of the Lord came to Nathan saying,

"Go and tell my servant David, '
Would you build a house 
for Me to dwell in?..."
 
The Lord tells you that 
He will make you a house.
"I will set up your seed after you,
who will come from your body,

   

 I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.

I will be his Father and He shall be My son" .
vs 5,11-14