Matthew 1:20, 21

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. 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 thinker…and that was good as far as Mary was concerned, and for the baby Jesus. Had he acted hastily, Mary would, by law, have been stoned to death for her supposed adultery. The course permitted to Joseph was violent and unjust. But, Joseph “considered” his line of action, not knowing which way to exactly turn, that is, until an angel appeared to him in a dream. God will guide us when we put our questions to him. When we are anxious we have one which hears us and will show us the way. The words for Joseph were assuring words, letting his heart be at ease with the character of Mary and her uprightness. The Holy Spirit had come over her and the child already had a name, Jesus. This name was a common name, and is the same in Hebrew as Joshua, Yehoshua, meaning, “He saved, delivered, put in a state of safety.” This saving of Jesus was not a saving from Roman rulers, but from the oppression of sin. This was the purpose of Christ, his great errand. His life was to make atonement for our sins, the ones the Father has given to him. His atonement was for every person who accepted and believed on him as the Christ. John 3:16 reminds us of this as John wrote: “For God so loved the world…”. This does not include only some, but all whom would come spiritually to know Jesus Christ and to receive him as their personal Saviour. That he should die for you and me is a wondrous thing. The Apostle Paul once wrote that he was the greatest sinner, the least of all, but in reality, we are all the greatest sinners when our back is turned on Christ. Thank God for the saving grace of Jesus Christ and for the man called Joseph who became our Saviour’s earthly father.

Pastor Julia

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