It was bedlam that night. Mary’s banging on about how she can’t go a step further. Nowhere seemed to have any room, not for a couple with a baby on the way. As you know we made the 80 mile journey from Nazareth, must have taken a week!

I’m a carpenter, but that doesn’t mean we have loads of money. When we took Jesus for circumcision in the Temple we made the poor persons’ offering, we couldn’t afford much more. Not only was the trip expensive, I was losing wages as each day went by.

But I’m starting at the end. Let’s go back to the beginning.

Mary and I were betrothed, that’s a bit like your engagement, but it was binding - lasted a year. The wife would remain at her parents’ house until the wedding, and sex before marriage? Well, in the old days, that was punishable by death – stoning, the woman not the man, although by our time divorce was allowed.

It’s important you understand that because … because… well you see.. before we were married it turns out Mary’s ‘with child’ – pregnant! I mean how? She not that kind of girl – you might say it was inconceivable. Anyway she was. I was devastated.

People say I’m a kind man. Maybe I am - I don’t know,

but the girl didn’t deserve the disgrace and shame of a public divorce

so I decided to do it quietly.

You could do that, just privately with a couple of witnesses.

I still loved Mary, I was concerned for her but I also wanted to do the right thing by the law and our customs – and yes, perhaps I was anxious to preserve my own reputation.

But before I could sort it all out I had this dream. An angel tells me it’ll be OK to take Mary home as my wife.

Well that’s all fine and dandy then isn’t it? Put yourself in my position. Think what the neighbours might say. How do you think I felt? My new wife is going to have a child, a son; it’s not mine and I don’t even get to choose the name! What if it was you, what would you have done?

But, you have to do the right thing. What’s the point of faith if we don’t follow God’s path?

You have to choose the right way,

God’s way,

not the popular way, even if the road is hard to travel.

So, I take the lad on as his step-dad. You see, by naming him I was legally accepting him as my own, adopted, son - in Jewish law, I’m the legal father.

That gave the boy a legal ancestry, making him “the son of David,” putting him in the line of kings.

I understand now how important that was, although I didn’t at the time. You see the Messiah was prophesied to come from the House of David. It’s written in Isaiah;

“for to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder….he will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom.”[i]

Anyway, God’s messenger, in this dream, said I was to name him - Jesus,” “because he will save his people from their sins.”[ii] That’s what the name ‘Jesus’ means, Saviour.

That was the key purpose of his life… and his death.

So the boy was named Jesus, but he’d be called Immanuel. That means, ‘God with us’. Just as Isaiah said, “the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.”[iii]

Of course, I can see it all now. God the Father made himself known to the whole world through his Son, Jesus...Immanuel (God with us).

Since the time of Abraham, God had been at work with, in and through his people and now had come among them… in person – the person of Jesus…. and he’d chosen me to be his Dad! .. well his step-Dad, what an honour….

born into the world, in that grotty little shed around the back of the inn:

to reveal his will for the world,

to re-create human kind - forgiving, healing, restoring

and to live among his people.

Isn’t that just amazing … awesome.

He is not distant. His not far off. He came to share our life.. my life, Mary’s life; to share people’s experiences, living among them, feeling their joy and their grief. God is a God who knows us intimately. Wow!

You know, because I’m telling you, his life on earth started as Immanuel, God with us and at the end he made a promise, “I am with always with you, even unto the ends of the age;”[iv] and he always keeps his promises does my boy. He’s still with us. He’s still sharing our lives, my life, your life, now.. today!

Anyway, I’ve got to go. Make as to go

He’s a good boy that Jesus.

Well I would say that wouldn’t I, I’m his Dad .. well kind of. But I can tell you, he’s been brought up properly. And he loves you, every single one of you. In fact he loves you so much he thinks you’re to die for.

Enjoy celebrating his birthday. And you know the best way to do that? Take all that he said, and all that he did to heart, and get to know him and to trust him.

Anyway, I must go. Make as to go

Remember his name is Jesus, but he’s called Immanuel…. God with us…

Make as to go

bye!

[i] Isaiah 9:6-7

[ii] Matthew 1:21

[iii] Isaiah 7:14

[iv] Matthew 18:20