December Update from the Rector

Jesus was born

That’s how Matthew, one of the eyewitnesses of Jesus’ life, sums up the event. You can tell he’s a bloke. There are no details of the birth weight, how Mary was doing, or whether the child had his mother’s nose or his grandfather’s eyes. Just “Jesus was born.”

But there’s a reason for this… Matthew, who became a close friend of Jesus, is more interested in the meaning of the events, not in all the details of the events. He only gives the name of the baby, and even that is because this name means something.

Nine months before Jesus was born, Mary had fallen pregnant. That’s not very dramatic! However, her fiancé Joseph, wasn’t the father. Still, that’s not exactly unique. But what happened to Joseph next, was not at all normal, and it certainly was unique:

“This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”  (Matthew 1:18-21)

The name “Jesus” means “God rescues”. And “rescue” is a one-word summary of the meaning of Christmas. You rescue your Christmas from just getting through it; from merely getting to it; by getting it; by getting the fact that it’s a rescue story.

This Christmas come to our services, and find out more about this amazing rescue story, that lies at the very heart of what Christmas is all about.

From my family to yours, I wish you a blessed Advent & Christmas.

Yours in Christ, 

Bryan