“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
“Conceived … of the Holy Spirit”: Verses 1–17 establish Jesus as a legal son of Joseph; vv. 18–25 deny that Joseph was Jesus’ physical father. The first was necessary to establish Jesus’ lineage to David and His royal right to be King. The second was necessary to establish His qualifications to be the Savior of all people: Jesus was God’s Son, not Joseph’s.
The name “Jesus” means “Yahweh is Savior” and is the Greek equivalent of the Old Testament Hebrew name “Joshua.” That Joseph was to name the child is significant. If the father named the child, it meant he was claiming the baby as a member of his family. This gave the Lord Jesus legal rights to the line of David.
Joseph serves as a model for believers. Before he knew the reason for Mary’s pregnancy, he wanted to treat her justly but mercifully. However, when God’s angel reveals the unique miracle of a virginal conception, Joseph believes, and he fulfills his responsibilities by marrying her and raising Jesus. Some people today struggle to believe the virgin birth, but it takes no more faith for us to believe than it did for Joseph. In fact, we have the evidence of Joseph’s testimony to help us. He saw and believed that God can do what He promises. Likewise, the Holy Spirit works faith in our hearts to believe that God can do anything good and that Jesus is truly both God and man.
God’s blessings on your day…