God is doing a new thing.

And another thing!

Matthew 1:22: 22 All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet.

In the birth of Jesus, God is doing a new thing. Never before in history has God become part of creation. Never before has God had a mother. Never before have people been able to talk with God face to face. This is unprecedented in the best way.

In the birth of Jesus, God is continuing the work of redemption. Since Genesis 3, God has been about saving humanity from ourselves. The prophets foretold it. The people waited and waited. They knew God would send a Savior. God had promised, time and time again, that it would be so. God had promised, time and time again that through the Jewish people would come the salvation of the whole world.

Sometimes, people try to divide the God of the Old Testament from the God of the New Testament. The Bible—and Matthew’s gospel in particular—won’t let us do that. The God who sustained the widow of Zarephath and who sent the people into battle to conquer the Promised Land is the same God who was born to peasants in Bethlehem. Jesus isn’t preaching to start a new religion. Jesus reveals to us the God we’ve always known.

In the Christmas season, we love our traditions. Every year, too, is its own new experience. What new things will we understand this year? How will God be revealed to us? What wonder, mystery, tradition, and newness will come together in this holy week?

I’m glad we get to walk this road together.

Pastor Emily