The Daily Fountain Daily Devotional of the Church Of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) 25 March 2020 – TOPIC: THE ANNUNCIATION OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST

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DATE: WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25, 2020
TOPIC: THE ANNUNCIATION OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST
READ: MATTHEW 1:18-25 (NKJV)

18. Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit.
19. Then Joseph her husband, being a just [man,] and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly.
20. But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.
21. “And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins.”
22. So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying:
23. “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.”
24. Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife,
25. and did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son. And he called His name JESUS.

THE MESSAGE:

According to the Dictionary, Annunciation is the announcement by the Archangel Gabriel to Mary that she would give birth to a Son named Jesus. In Christianity, the Annunciation is celebrated on 25th March yearly. Before the engaged Mary got married, she was found to be with child of the Holy Ghost and Joseph wanted to end the relationship secretly. The Angel of God was sent to announce to him that the child in Mary’s womb was of the Holy Ghost and told him to name the child Jesus – for He would save His people from their sins. The birth of our Lord Jesus had been prophesied by Isaiah the prophet in the Old Testament and today’s passage is the fulfillment, “therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign; Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son and shall call his name Immanuel” which is translated “God with us” (Isaiah 7:14). About 700 years after this prophecy, the Messiah, Jesus Christ, was born into the house of David in fulfilment of the prophecy. Did you know that every Jewish girl from the time that prophecy about the Messiah was given prayed and wished that she would be the favoured one? So the Annunciation of our Lord Jesus Christ to Mary was not entirely a surprise, but the manner of the birth was (Luke 1:34).

Unfortunately, some people venerate the Blessed Virgin Mary and forget the Lord Our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Mary was just an instrument to fulfil God’s desire to save mankind. Let us instead celebrate the Lord Jesus Christ, the Messiah of the world.

PRAYER: Thank You Father for loving us so much that You sent Your Son Jesus to save us from our sins.