Devotion 12/23, An Angel Appeared to Joseph

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. 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.”
Matthew 1:20-21

Joseph was a good and compassionate man, just the type that God would choose to be the earthly father to His Son. Upon learning of Mary’s pregnancy, he was planning on divorcing her quietly as to not publicly disgrace her (vs.19).
In the midst of Joseph’s mapping his strategy to protect Mary, an angel appeared to him in a dream with the solution. By the angel calling him “Joseph son of David”, this had to bring to his mind his royal pedigree, and prepare him for the unusual birth of Israel’s King and long awaited Messiah in which he would have a huge part! The angel also made it abundantly clear that Mary’s purity was intact, her pregnancy was of the Holy Spirit, not of man. Joseph didn’t need to worry, Mary had been faithful to him.
God does all things well and detailed. He revealed to Joseph the Child’s gender, name and mission. Mary would have a son and He was to be named Jesus for He would save His people from their sins. The name Jesus means Jehovah, which in turn means “the Savior”!
Jesus, true to His precious name, would indeed save His people from their sins. He came to this earth as God Himself saving all who place their faith in Him from the penalty, power, and the very presence of sin!
Joseph obeyed God, and received many blessings for doing so. He got to behold his Savior and glory in the fact that the long awaited Messiah had come to earth at last, right to his house!

Jesus first had to become the sins of the people before he could save them (us) from those sins (2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 John 4:10). His own people rejected him before his forgiveness could be received. Jesus’ gift of salvation was incredibly costly to him. It is a reminder of two great truths: God loves us incredibly and salvation is a precious gift. In Jesus we know and experience both truths!

Almighty God and Savior, thank you for bearing the cost of my sin in Jesus. Thank you precious Lord for taking on human flesh and bearing it’s difficulties and facing rejection so I could be saved. My salvation makes all other names pale in comparison to Jesus, in whom I offer all thanks and praise. Amen.

A savior. A baby will be born, our Savior. He will be the Way, the Truth and the Light. The story of Christ’s coming was in prophesy far before his birth. They were documented, stored in Persia. That’s how the wisemen came to understand what they had seen in the skies, the king of kings was coming, fulfillment of prophesy.
Lord, prepare my heart to receive Christ Jesus in all His glory, to worship, praise, adore and learn from Him. I pray the Holy Spirit stir my soul that I might be able for witness for Him. In Jesus, my savior’s name I pray, Amen.