There was once an engaged couple. He was much older than the girl, she being only in her early teens. Later, it was found out that she was pregnant even before they could get married. And he was not even the father. He wanted to break off the engagement but he married her anyway and raised the boy as his own. But the boy grew up to be a rabble-rouser and a trouble maker. He really got the authorities pissed off with his insulting speeches, calling them names like ‘hypocrites’, ‘brood of vipers’, ‘white-washed sepulchers’. He surrounded himself with the outcasts of society from whom he recruited his henchmen. Eventually, the authorities had him arrested and he was executed as a common criminal. Today’s conventional wisdom would have encouraged the mother to have had an abortion as a solution to this tragedy.
Just another sad story? No, it turned out to be the greatest story ever told. The words of this rabble-rouser have inspired millions through the centuries, moving them to do heroic deeds, sacrifice their lives and change the course of history in many and different instances. The deeds of this trouble maker have served as inspiration for people to change their lives to serve others and make this world a better place to live in. His death was not the end but the beginning of a new life where “He will wipe every tear from their eyes; there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain.” He is Emmanuel, God with us. He came to save us from ourselves and bring us into intimate communion with him.
Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly. But just when he had resolved to do 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 as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet: “Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel,” which means, “God is with us.” When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife. Matthew 1:18-24