…an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son od 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 1:20(b)-22

Everybody has the disease. There is no one left untouched. The ramifications can be seen everywhere; there is no place, no event, and no optimized condition that is not radically affected. The full impact will not be known until we pass into another world.

Yet, everywhere you look there is either denial or aggressive attempts at a divine makeover.

Christmas is about God’s rescue of his people from this pervasive disease. God has sent His only son who was given the name “Jesus”, which means “Yahweh’s salvation”. The angel proclaims that the reason he is given the name Jesus is “because he will save his people from their sins.”

Note three thoughts in this phrase:

“He will save…” What God says he will do, he will do. Nothing in all of creation can keep this rescue from coming to pass. This is not a bail-out plan by elected officials.  There is no human contingency factor here. This is an action plan by the creator Himself who understands the depth of the problem far greater than we do. The rescue will happen for His people.

“His people…” are “everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him.” [John 6:40]. They are the people that God, the Father has given to His son [John 17:2,6,9]. He has chosen His people before the creation of the world [Ephesians 1:4].

“…from their sins.” God’s people are those who know they are siners and act accordingly with repentance, humility, and mercy.

“Filled with tidings of boundless delight, Jesus, the Savior has come.”