A SERIES OF DEVOTIONS BASED ON THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MATTHEW 

JESUS IS FULLY GOD AND FULLY MAN      

Matthew 1:18 “This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit.”   

Today’s devotional verse says that the Holy Spirit caused the conception of Jesus in Mary’s womb. Every time you speak the words of the Apostle’s Creed you say “conceived by the Holy Spirit.” In other words, Jospeh was not the biological father of Jesus. The Holy Spirit caused Mary to become pregnant with Jesus.   

“Conceived by the Holy Spirit” was the angel’s answer to Mary when she questioned, “How will this be . . . since I am a virgin” that I will give birth to the Son of God? (Luke 1:34) The angel’s answer to Mary’s question was, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.” (Luke 1:35) 

Jesus is true God and at the same time true man. The Nicene Creed says Jesus Christ is “very God of very god . . .who . .. . became man.” Jacob Corzine explains, “By the power of an inscrutable divine miracle called the incarnation, the person of Jesus Christ is truly of two natures: divine and human. He is . . .fully God and fully man.” 

Jesus, fully God communicated to Jesus, fully man sinlessness. Because He was sinless, He took upon Himself your sins and the sins of all human beings dying on Calvary’s cross in payment for them. Since He was true man, He sacrificed Himself in your place, His heavenly Father accepting the payment of His shed blood as sufficient for the forgiveness of your sins and the sins of all humanity.   

Jesus says to you every time you receive the Lord’s Supper, “ . . . this is Ny body given into death for you. . .this is My blood shed for you for the remission of your sins.” As Luther put it so long ago, “. . .in, with, and under the bread and wine you receive the true body and blood of your Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”   

Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, I thank you for sending Your Son Jesus to save me from eternal death because of my sins. Grant me Your forgiveness for His sake. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

We praise you, Jesus, at Your birth;   
Clothed in flesh You came to earth.   
The virgin bears a sinless boy  
And all the angels sing for joy. Alleluia! 

Now in the manger we may see  
God’s Son from eternity,  
The gift from God’s eternal throne  
Here clothed in our poor flesh and bone. Alleluia! 

The virgin Mary’s lullaby   
Calms the infant Lord Most High.  
Upon her lap content is He  
Who keeps the earth and sky and sea. Alleluia! 

The Light Eternal, breaking through,  
Made the world to gleam anew;  
His beams have pierced the core of night,  
He makes us children of the light. Alleluia! 

The very Son of God sublime  
Entered into earthly time  
To lead us from this world of cares  
To heaven’s courts as blessed heirs. Alleluia! 

In poverty He came to earth  
Showing mercy by His birth;  
He makes us rich in heav’nly ways  
As we, like angels, sing His praise. Alleluia! 

All this for us our God has done  
Granting love through His own Son.  
Therefore, all Christendom, rejoice  
And sing His praise with endless voice. Alleluia!  (LSB 382)