20 …an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.
21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”
22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:
23 “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us). – Matthew 1:20-23
About 33 years later, before He was to give up Himself for us on a cross for our sins, Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. – John 14:6.
Do you see it? The way to God is free through Jesus!! No payment or sacrifice of our own could do it; only a perfect Lamb could pay the price for sin, because no amount of our good deeds could outweigh our serious crime of sinning against God. And that is why we celebrate Jesus coming at Christmas. He is God who put on flesh to rescue we who were lost without Him forever. He is my righteousness, my salvation, my God! Christ is truly the reason for joy-both now in 2020 and for all time.
