Matthew chapter 1 v18-25:

Monday December 21st.   Read Matthew chapter 1 v18-25:

What must it have been like for Joseph to discover that Mary, his bride to be, was pregnant? What could he think, but that she had been unfaithful to him, for though not yet actually married, betrothal was as binding as if they were – so, he is called her husband in v19. Why had Mary not told him of Gabriel’s visitation? Perhaps she felt he would not believe her, perhaps she felt it was just ” too private”, but whatever the case, Joseph believes she is pregnant by another man. Now, he could have held her up to public shame, even charged her with adultery, but we are told he was a good and just man, and clearly a compassionate one too, so his thought is to break off the betrothal ” quietly” – discretely and with as little fuss as possible.

Then God sends an angel in a dream – but Joseph has no doubts of the truth and reality of what he is told, or that this dream is indeed from God – that he need not fear to take Mary as his wife, for the baby in her womb is ” conceived in her from the Holy Spirit”, and the Son she bears is to be called Jesus, for He, truly God’s Son in Mary’s womb ” will save His people from their sins”. Then we are reminded of the prophecy of Isaiah 7 v14, now fulfilled in Mary and her child. Jesus the Saviour is indeed Immanuel, God with us, in His birth as truly human as we are, yet God’s own Son, given to be our Saviour in wonderful grace!