Joel M Bradshaw

18Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. 19And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. 20But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 22All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:

23“Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel”

(which means, God with us). 24When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, 25but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.–Matthew 1

Joseph was in a seemingly impossible situation. He loved Mary and wanted to do what was right by her. But she was pregnant and it wasn’t his. And all she could have said about it would have been that an angel had told her she was going to get pregnant. Joseph needed reassurance and God provided that for him.

Joseph showed faith because he let God’s word be enough for him. He trusted God and therefore reacted accordingly. And even though we don’t read here the angel telling him to do so, Joseph still didn’t consummate the marriage until after the birth. Joseph didn’t want the baby’s reputation to be harmed either.

Joseph’s disciplined restraint made it possible for Mary’s story to be true. Her body would have otherwise given evidence that she had been sexually active. Matthew reminded us of the Immanuel prophecy. Mary and Joseph would have known of Isaiah’s words and most likely would have pondered them all throughout the pregnancy. Joseph would have the honor of linking the baby’s name to salvation. The very Jesus you hold dear, reader, was first the name Yeshua that honorable Joseph got to proclaim. The Lord saves!–JMB