31. Friday after Fourth Sunday in Advent.
Lord, let thy word
enlighten us and lead us
on the right path.
Matthew 1, 20-23. But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife; for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins. Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.
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In holy modesty and sincere humility Mary had hid from Joseph the announcement which had been made to her by the angel. Therefore, when Joseph became aware of her condition, he naturally thought that she had been unfaithful to him. The saints of God have many gloomy thoughts. Now he might, according to the law, have dragged her before a public court of justice and put her to shame. But he could also give her a bill of divorce, as one who no longer found favor in his eyes; then it would appear as if she were innocent and he faithless. And the piety of Joseph is so great, that he is willing to be regarded as the criminal, though he is innocent, rather than bring disgrace on her, whom he must believe to be guilty. But the Lord solves all difficulties for his own. Joseph is informed of the blessed mystery, and he hears from the mouth of the angel that name which is above every name.
Joseph is called “a just man;” that is, a godly, believing, good and pious Israelite; it was necessary and proper that this should be the character of the man who was to become the foster-father of Jesus. However, he is only his foster-father. Our Bible lesson for today shows us again most plainly that Jesus is the Son of God: “That which is conceived in Mary is of the Holy Ghost;” she is espoused to Joseph, but is still a “virgin;” the son whom she shall bring forth is “Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.” What beautiful concord is there not among the evangelists on this point, that Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son of God, conceived of the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary! What an exact agreement between the prophets of the Old and the evangelists of the New Testament on this point! If Jesus is not the only begotten Son of God, true God and true man, then there is not a word of truth in the Bible; for this is the central doctrine in all the scriptures, the one in which everything from Genesis to Revelation has its root. In the Old Testament this heavenly truth becomes more and more clear, while in the New it beams like the resplendent sun that floods everything with light. The creed of the church is most firmly established in God’s own word; the deeper I penetrate into the scriptures, the more thoroughly am I convinced of the truth of our creed. I there find myself in a sanctuary in which Jesus Christ, the eternal God and precious Savior, fills everything with his glory and his grace. God help us to be right-minded and just, as Joseph was, and obedient to the truth, however much it may conflict with our own will and our way of thinking. Then shall we experience, with Joseph, that a righteous man is not shamed, but learns to solve the enigmas and is taught the mystery of godliness. For the secret of the Lord is with them that fear him. This is, indeed, Christmas joy.
Lord our God, give us this grace by the Holy Ghost for the sake of Jesus Christ. Amen.*
Come, thou Savior of our race,
Choicest gift of heavenly grace!
O thou blessed Virgin’s Son,
Be thy race on earth begun.
Not of mortal blood or birth,
He descends from heaven to earth:
By the Holy Ghost conceived,
Truly man to be believed.
Wondrous birth! O wondrous Child!
Of the Virgin undefiled!
Though by all the world disowned,
Still to be in heaven enthroned.
[TLH 95, LSB 332, ELH 90; listen here]
* Here the head of the family says a short morning or evening prayer in his own words, and closes with the Lord’s Prayer and the Benediction. This is to be done every day. If the stanzas are not sung, they may be read in their proper place before the impromptu petition and the Lord’s Prayer.