First Mennonite Church
December 22, 2024
The Emmanuel When God Seems Far Away
Text: Matthew 1:18-25
Depending on who reads the birth story of Jesus, he or she might find some words or phrases that stand out above others. Words such as “engaged,” “unwilling,” “righteous” or “angel,” might remind them of the joy of their engagement to marry, or how unwilling they felt about doing something that either brought them joy or regret later, or of the tall order it is to be righteous.
Some other phrases might evoke feelings or bring to them memories of situations they know. Phrases such as: expose to public disgrace, or of telling themselves to “not be afraid” about something, or of a time when they desperately needed reassurance of the Emmanuel that “God is with them.”
Matthew tells the story of the birth of Jesus in just eight verses. In modern times, this space might be barely enough for first-time parents to tell about the preparations they made before going to the hospital to have their baby. And still yet, because we have read or heard this story countless times, there are aspects of Matthew’s account that we do not give much thought to, either because we consider them irrelevant or too difficult or sad to ponder on at a time when we should be merry and happy. In our rush to find something to be happy about or because of the rosy pictures we have of Christmas, we gloss over this story and forget that Joseph and Mary were real people just as we are. In much of the contemporary imagination of that first Christmas day, we can’t imagine that baby Jesus cried, but yes, he cried. We imagine that even after giving birth Mary was still a blushing bride and that Joseph was calm and worry-free despite the added responsibilities he just acquired with a baby in tow.
But there might be another reason we fail to see the human side in this story. That is because of the powerful and supernatural intervention in the story. We are readily captivated by the appearance of angels, the Divine revelation through dreams, and the virginal birth of Jesus.
Matthew begins his story the following way: Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit.
As you might have noticed, it is the last phrase that jumps up on us—“She was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit.” However, the story begins, “When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child . . . .”
To be engaged in Matthew’s time was not that romantic occasion when the young man goes to his knees and opens a box with a ring before his surprised sweetheart. No. It was a legal contract, binding in every respect. To be engaged – or espoused, betrothed, or pledged (some of the other words used in English translations) – was essentially to be married, yet without having consummated that marriage or as yet been living together as a couple. Therefore, only imagine the shock it may have been when Joseph discovered that Mary was pregnant!
Matthew says that when Joseph discovered that Mary was pregnant, he decided to leave her and go his way. Joseph wanted to quietly dismiss Mary and the unborn baby to avoid bringing her shame and public condemnation. For an engaged woman to be found pregnant and not by the man she is engaged with, according to the law she should die by stoning. But for the sake of his love for her, Joseph decided to abandon Mary and the unborn Jesus. Joseph might have felt confused, betrayed, embarrassed, and even angry. He just wanted to go away and disappear from Mary’s.
It is hard to think that throughout this episode Mary got away unscathed. She must have detected Joseph had been shocked at the news and that since he found out about the pregnancy some drastic change in him took place. Because the story is presented by Matthew from Joseph’s perspective and not Mary’s, Matthew does not tell us much about Mary. But obviously, she also must have felt scared for her life and of what lay ahead.
While Joseph was preparing to part ways and away from Mary, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. He revealed to Joseph the truth about the pregnancy. It took an angel to bring Joseph out of his crisis. It took a messenger of the Lord to tell Joseph not to be afraid of taking Mary as his wife. It took God to come to the rescue of both Joseph and Mary from the pain, distrust, and heartbreak they were experiencing. The problem—the pregnancy—the baby that was causing this loving couple such agony was indeed God’s greatest move to be with the world, with humans even in their deepest pain.
Joseph was changed from a fleeing and scared man to become an active agent in God’s salvific story. The angel told Joseph, “You are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”
I must tell you that the human side of this story, as I have relayed, although highly plausible, is within the sphere of conjecture. But is it not what we often do with much of what Christmas, is today? We give into the belief that Christmas is “the best time of the year,” as the song goes. We believe everything is merry and happy. And although it is for many people and most of the time, for us too, it is not always the case. Human life as we know can be difficult regardless of what season of the year we are in.
My dear brothers and sisters, it’s not that I want to paint a grim picture of Christmas for you. I am really grateful and joyful today. I can see in your faces the joy you have always had in the Lord. Jesus has made the greatest difference in our lives and we give thanks to God because “Jesus was born in Bethlehem many years ago,” as we also sang this morning.
But we have also known moments of anxiety, heartbreak, pain, confusion, and even anger. Just like Joseph and Mary, we have had moments of flight emotions. We all have had moments when only the Spirit of God, or an unperceived angelic visitation had been able to quiet and reassure our troubled spirit.
Jesus, the Emmanuel, which means, God is with us is a sacred Name, a holy word, the Christmas gift of God giving himself to us. But the reality of human life is that there are some who do not know this or cannot see it because of their present situation.
There are many struggling to hold it all together, even among people who are in churches today. There are many families struggling with discord; couples feeling disconnected, and many young people wondering what future they may have. There are elders wondering the same but from a different angle in life. Some people are struggling to get a job, some a relationship, and still yet, some are craving acceptance or worth. Being in any of those circumstances would be difficult to believe God is present or close by. The idea of “God being with us” when we are in difficult situations can sound like a mockery of how they feel.
But please hear me say it: Jesus is God’s presence with us. And with the eyes of faith, we can see how he cares for us, how he heals our wounds, and how he bears our burdens. He wants to soothe our heartache. He wants to turn our sorrows into joy. He wants to assure us we are safe in his hands.
This Christmas, let us rejoice that God drew closer to us through his Son. Let us give thanks to God for the gift of faith to see with the eyes of the spirit. And let us be mindful of those who are struggling today and pray for them that this Christmas, the Emmanuel becomes a reality in their lives. Amen!
Pastor Romero