December 22, 2002
Is the birth of a baby in Bethlehem over two thousand years ago still relevant today? Alistair Begg answers this question with a resounding yes, explaining how and why this miraculous event forms a central component of the Christian faith. In Jesus’ birth, we see God’s overwhelming love for His people in the provision of a Savior—proof that, even today, Immanuel is both with us and for us.
18Now the birth of uJesus Christ5 took place in this way. vWhen his mother Mary had been betrothed6 to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child wfrom the Holy Spirit. 19And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling xto put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. 20But as he considered these things, behold, yan 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. 21She will bear a son, and zyou shall call his name Jesus, afor he will save his people from their sins.” 22bAll this took place cto fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:
23d“Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
and they shall call his name eImmanuel”
(which means, God fwith us). 24When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, 25but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And ghe called his name Jesus.
Copyright © 2024, Alistair Begg. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. The ESV text may not be quoted in any publication made available to the public by a Creative Commons license. The ESV may not be translated in whole or in part into any other language.