A Retelling of Jesus as Immanuel
Mary and Joseph, just two teenagers in love, ready to take on the world, are just starting out life together. During their engagement, Joseph finds out that Mary is pregnant, that she must have cheated on him, and he resolves to quietly break off the engagement, trying to preserve dignity for both himself and Mary. But before he gets the chance to do so, an angel of the Lord appears to him in a dream saying, fear not, don’t be afraid to take Mary as your wife, because she is pregnant with the kingdom, with the son of God himself, Jesus. Immanuel, God with us, was finally here, and the Kingdom of God was about to begin taking shape upon the earth, a kingdom as simple and just as powerful as two teenager’s love for one another.
A retelling from Matthew 1:18-25
Reflections on Matthew 1:18-25
How does this scripture help me love God more? There can be something earthly about loving God. Immanuel, God is with us. We’re not commanded to love some diving being beyond us. God came to us vulnerable, choosing to live with us, choosing to pursue us, and that is beyond comprehension.
How does this scripture help me love others more? There’s absolutely no one beyond God’s ability to use and love. Sometimes our culture writes off teenagers and an ever continually growing list of groups of people. Those who follow Jesus aren’t called to write anyone off. We’re called to love.
Why has this story endured? This story is dear to so many because it’s a story of God’s love breaking into the world into a brand new way. God continually reveals his love for us through acts of Creation.
What is it that is true for them then that is true for us now? God still shows up in the common, the simple, and the unexpected. In things like children being born into the world, the homeless being fed, in enemies being forgiven.