Christmas Lesson 3 The Preparation
Memory verse
Matthew 1:21
Thou shalt call his name Jesus, for He shall save His people from their sins.
The man who Mary was going to marry was called Joseph. He was a carpenter by trade and a good man. Everyone liked him. He also came from the race of Abraham and was a descendant from the royal family of David. He loved Mary and was looking forward to the day when they would be married and would be together living at his home. He like Mary, was also looking forward to the day that the Saviour would come and save them from their sins, as he loved God and believed His promises.
Joseph had not seen the angel or heard his message to Mary. When he heard about it and knew that Mary was to be a mother, he was upset and troubled about it. He was even wondering if he should call off the wedding.
But God sent an angel one night to help him understand. When he had gone to sleep the angel appeared and said, ”Joseph, don’t be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the baby that is to come is the Son of God. God is His Father. But He has given you a special responsibility to look after Mary and the baby. You will call His name Jesus, for He shall save His people from their sins.”
Joseph did just what the angel asked him to do. He married Mary and brought her to live with him at his house. When the baby Jesus was born, Joseph took care of the little boy and Mary. Joseph grew up in Joseph’s home, and everyone thought he was Joseph’s son.
But the Bible is very careful to tell us that His real Father was God. Joseph was His appointed father here on earth to care for Him when He was little. This was part of God’s preparation.
It was God who made all this wonderful preparation for the coming of His Son from Heaven. Why did He come? To save His people from their sins. Who are His people? Those who have realised that they need a Saviour to save them from their sins, and have come to Jesus trusting that He will do that for them. Those who turn away from Jesus and believe they do not need a Saviour, are not “His people,” and so He can not help them.
If you have come to Jesus, believing that He took the punishment for your sins, then He accepts you as one of “His people.” When this is true you can count on Him day by day to save you from your sinful ways.