Matthew 1:18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. 19 And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. 20 But as he considered these things, behold, an 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. 21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:
23 “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
and they shall call his name Immanuel”
(which means, God with us). 24 When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, 25 but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.
One of the things we really appreciate about having four Gospels is the different details and perspectives each writer brings to give us a fuller picture of the coming of Christ. Luke gave us Mary's background and perspective; Matthew gives us Joseph's side of the story. Both of them mesh together in the coming of God's Son, Immanuel, God with us. When we see these two dovetail together it is so much more than a Hallmark romantic comedy where love brings two people or a town together; it is the epic story of all human history affecting us all. With this story comes a challenge for all: believe in and receive this Son.
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