Welcome to our gathering, brothers and sisters, children of Israel who belong to the Way. Tonight we remember the birth of our Lord and Savior, who was born into this world roughly forty years ago. Jesus was the promised son of David, anticipated by the prophets, announced by an angel, born of a virgin, worshiped by magi from the east, and protected from the murderous jealousy of both Herod the Great and his son Archelaus. Jesus, the Christ, would live among us and ultimately give his life on our behalf on the cross, pouring out his own blood for the forgiveness of our sins, and then be raised on the third day. He preached a message of repentance, of salvation, and of faith.
Tonight, let us read from the Scripture which the Lord’s disciple, Matthew, has provided for us, with the blessing of the elders in Jerusalem. Matthew was the Lord’s scribe, who carefully chronicled the story and teachings of our Lord, as he traveled in Judea and Galilee. But Matthew was also a prophet, proclaiming the message of God. And now this Scripture has been delivered to us here in the diaspora for our encouragement, and so that we might know the truth concerning this Jesus, the Son of God.
Hear, O Israel, the Word of the Lord:
The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham: Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac was the father of Jacob, and Jacob was the father of Judah and his brothers. …
Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: when His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit. … Now all this took place in order that what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet would be fulfilled, saying, “BEHOLD, THE VIRGIN SHALL BE WITH CHILD AND SHALL BEAR A SON, AND THEY SHALL CALL HIS NAME IMMANUEL,” which translated means, “GOD WITH US.” … Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem … and [they] came and lived in a city called Nazareth, so that what was spoken through the prophets would be fulfilled: “He shall be called a Nazarene.” (LSB)
Praise God for his provision, for his redemption, for his Son.
[Of course, this is merely a reconstruction, a parable, as we play out what it would have looked like to have Matthew publish his Gospel to the Jewish Christians within a decade of the resurrection, coincidence with the events in Acts 10–11. Merry Christmas to my readers!]
