"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." Matthew 1:22-23
Matthew 1The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.
Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat Judas and his brethren;
And Judas begat Phares and Zara of Thamar; and Phares begat Esrom; and Esrom begat Aram;
And Aram begat Aminadab; and Aminadab begat Naasson; and Naasson begat Salmon;
And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab; and Booz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse;
And Jesse begat David the king; and David the king begat Solomon of her that had been the wife of Urias;
And Solomon begat Roboam; and Roboam begat Abia; and Abia begat Asa;
And Asa begat Josaphat; and Josaphat begat Joram; and Joram begat Ozias;
And Ozias begat Joatham; and Joatham begat Achaz; and Achaz begat Ezekias;
And Ezekias begat Manasses; and Manasses begat Amon; and Amon begat Josias;
And Josias begat Jechonias and his brethren, about the time they were carried away to Babylon:
And after they were brought to Babylon, Jechonias begat Salathiel; and Salathiel begat Zorobabel;
And Zorobabel begat Abiud; and Abiud begat Eliakim; and Eliakim begat Azor;
And Azor begat Sadoc; and Sadoc begat Achim; and Achim begat Eliud;
And Eliud begat Eleazar; and Eleazar begat Matthan; and Matthan begat Jacob;
And Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.
So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; and from David until the carrying away into Babylon are fourteen generations; and from the carrying away into Babylon unto Christ are fourteen generations.
Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.
Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily.
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.
Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife:
And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.
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"At Christmas, we celebrate God stepping into history to save us from our sins. Jesus came to live, die, rise again and to return as King of kings and Lord of lords. Christmas should indeed remind us that all of history is His story."
The Entire Account of Christmas
by Bryan Osborne on December 5, 2023
Our God will go before us
And guide us by his presence
What confidence this promise is
We will never walk alone
Through unknown paths, through shadows
Our hearts fear not tomorrow
For every step his faithfulness
Is the truth that lights our way
Our God will go before us
The Lord of Hosts is with us
O praise the one who leads us on
For his grace will bring us home
Though evil forms against us
All heaven will defend us
The gates of hell shall not prevail
For the battle is the Lord’s
Our God will go before us
The Lord of Hosts is with us
O praise the one who leads us on
For his grace will bring us home
Now send us with your presence,
And lead us on to heaven,
Where songs of sorrow strain no more
And our every breath is praise
O let our every breath be praise
Our God will go before us
The Lord of Hosts is with us
O praise the one who leads us on
For his grace will bring us home
Our God will go before us
The Lord of Hosts is with us
O praise the one who leads us on
For his grace will bring us home
Words and Music by Matt Boswell, Keith Getty, and Matt Papa
Image by Kasia from Pixabay