“How sweet it is to learn the Savior’s love when nobody else loves us! When friends flee, what a blessed thing it is to see that the Savior does not forsake us but still keeps us and holds us fast and clings to us and will not let us go!”―Charles Spurgeon
Advent is the season where we commemorate the arrival of the most notable person who has ever lived—the LORD Jesus Christ. The angel appeared to Joseph in a dream announcing the immaculate conception of Jesus in the womb of his fiancee the virgin Mary. The angel said, “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.” (Matt. 1:20b-21) How startling this pronouncement had to be! What kind of faith and love did Joseph have to exercise to stay with a woman and raise a child that was not biologically his.
Advent is the season where we commemorate the arrival of the most notable person who has ever lived—the LORD Jesus Christ. The angel appeared to Joseph in a dream announcing the immaculate conception of Jesus in the womb of his fiancee the virgin Mary. The angel said, “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.” (Matt. 1:20b-21) How startling this pronouncement had to be! What kind of faith and love did Joseph have to exercise to stay with a woman and raise a child that was not biologically his.
Jesus’ mission is rescue, liberation, and freedom from sin and its effects. He understands that our participation in certain beliefs and practices will harm, steal from, or even kill us naturally—and will separate us from God eternally. Jesus the Savior’s sacrifice on the Cross is the remedy. Paul wrote, “Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst.” (1 Timothy 1:15) Paul was aware of the tragedy of his past life, how in his pride, sin, and zealous persecution of Jesus’ followers, he had also wounded the Lord. Even the flaws of his present revealed his need for God’s ever-abounding grace. Paul needed a Savior, to prevent his life from being destroyed by his own foolishness and his soul from being damned forever…and so do we.
