In this sermon, we looked at Mary and Joseph's experience of the first Christmas. In Matthew and Luke's accounts of the nativity, we see that Mary and Joseph faced many difficult situations that caused them deep loneliness. We also learned how God gave us the feeling of loneliness to remind us that it’s not good to be alone; we were created to be deeply connected to God and to others. Loneliness allows us to know when that connection is missing and drives us toward real intimacy with God and others. Jesus died on the cross to provide this true relational intimacy. Without the Gospel, we would be shackled to perpetual loneliness. Through the death and resurrection of Jesus, God has reconciled us to Himself and to one another by faith, allowing loneliness to remind us of our need to live in community.
