Day by Day with Martin Luther

Read: Isaiah 7:10-14 Matthew 1:18-25

“Nativity of our Lord”

“ And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”
[Luke 2:10-11]

Today, Christ takes our birth away from us and absorbs it into His birth, and gives us His, that in it we might become pure and new, as if it were our own, so that every Christian may rejoice and glory in Christ’s birth as if they also, like Christ, has been born bodily of Mary. Whoever does not believe this, for them I feel so very sad. That is the great joy of which the angel speaks. This is the great comfort and exceeding goodness of God that, if a man believes this, he can boast of the treasure that Christ his true Brother, and God his Father. For all these things are true and happen when we believe. This is the principal thing and the principal treasure in every Gospel. Christ must above all things become our own, and we become His. Out of this great love and praise to God, who in Christ has given us super-abundant gifts free of charge. This is what Isaiah means: “to us a child is born, and to us a Son is given.” [Isaiah 9:6] To us – to us – to us! See to it this Christmas, that you make this birth your own – this happens when you believe!