“Why Joy? Because God is with us”

Matthew 1:18-23 (ESV)18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ[a] took place in this way. When his mother Maryhad been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be withchild from the Holy Spirit. 19 And her husband Joseph, being a just man andunwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. 20 But as heconsidered these things, behold, 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 whichis conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will bear a son, and you shall callhis name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 22 All this took place tofulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:23 “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his nameImmanuel” (which means, God with us).Matthew 28:18-20 (ESV)18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has beengiven to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in thename of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them toobserve all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to theend of the age.”