Advent Devotions - December 9

Matthew 1:18-25

Joseph Accepts Jesus as His Son

 

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. 19 Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.

 

20 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

 

22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23 “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).

 

24 When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. 25 But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.


This familiar passage about Joseph accepting Jesus as his son is one of the more understated parts of the birth of Jesus. Joseph’s faithfulness to the LAW GIVER as opposed to just the law, gave him the ability to listen.

 

The angel of the Lord directed him to take Mary as his wife and name her son Immanuel - God with us - whom we know as Jesus. His obedience to what the Lord commanded him to do was second to his own consideration of being faithful to the law and how it would impact him personally.

 

What does God tell us in these verses about who the Messiah will be and what He will do?

 

Think about what Joseph was risking to obey the angel of the Lord. What were some of the things that Joseph might have been considering? What could some of the consequences have been for not obeying?

 

Consider how we are much like Joseph, having to accept Jesus as THE Son.