20But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus,f because he will save his people from their sins.” (Matthew 1)
Thoughts: Luke's angel said that Jesus would be a source of joy to the world. Simeon said that Jesus would be a light to the Gentiles. Matthew's angel that spoke to Joseph said that Jesus is to be the Savior of His own people. He would save them not from the Romans, not from poverty, not from sadness, but from their own sins. Political and economic slavery can be miserable, but slavery to sin can bring death and hell. Jesus is the sacrifice of sacrifices. He is the Lamb born to die. All the sacrifices of the Old Testament point to the only One whose sacrifice is worth more than human life. While we may give 70 lambs in a lifetime for a Jewish person, everyone knows a lamb is not equal to one human. In the broader sense God is worth more than billions of humans and their millions of sins each. He is born that we no more may die.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you that you are the Savior we need.
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