Previous Lesson -- Next Lesson
2. Birth and Naming of Jesus (Matthew 1:18-25)
MATTHEW 1:24-25
24 Joseph arose from his sleep, and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took his wife to himself; 25 and didn’t know her sexually until she had brought forth her firstborn son. He named him Jesus. (See Luke 2:1-20)
Joseph believed the words of the angel and without delay, took his beloved bride, avoiding the suspicions of his mind and relying on the divine vision. By this step of faith, he became worthy of being entered into the series of the ideal heroes of faith.
Joseph obeyed the command of the angel, though it was contrary to his former judgment and intention. He took his wife without dispute, being obedient to the heavenly vision. It is not the norm to receive extraordinary directions like these, but God still makes known his direction through the Holy Spirit. Through prayer and his Holy Word, by hints of providence, debates of conscience, and through advice of godly followers of Jesus. In each of these, the general rules of the written word must always apply. In all steps of our life, particularly the great crossroads such as this of Joseph’s, we need to take direction from God.
Mary did not speak about the divine proclamation and her strange situation. She prayed and believed and trusted God who was responsible for her. The Lord listened to the moaning of her trust and offered a glorious response to the struggle of her heart. Joseph accepted her with full respect and kept her a virgin until she gave birth to the Son of God, the highly favored one.
Matthew wrote in brief how Jesus was born. The public did not consider the greatest event in human history unimportant, though it happened without noise and without propaganda. He was born in a stable. All the powers and qualities of God were hidden in this grand event expect one. The multitude of angels rejoiced because the Creator and the creatures were united. All the devils gnashed their teeth at him because the Triumphant had come to take the spoil from their claws and condemn them.
Joseph saw in the birth of the first-born Son a fulfillment of the promise of the angel, and he called the newborn, "Jesus." He was obedient to God’s direction, contrary to the customs followed by his family.
With the birth of Jesus, a new era began. Since then the world did not sink under the nightmare of the law, the unavoidable judgment and the wrath of God. The age of grace began, and God came to men to save them and to sanctify them apart from the works of the law and the striving of man. We received God's abundant grace. Did you know that since the coming of Jesus, all the statutes of the world religions including their conditions, rituals, provisions and laws were made null and void because God sent his help to men freely?
PRAYER: I glorify you and praise you Father, Son and Holy Spirit, the one God, for the great redemption you have made. I worship you and your Son in the spirit of your love. I rejoice because you came to me in my impurity. Please open the eyes of the people in my surroundings, that they may see your grace, your kindness, your compassion, and your presence in our Lord, the person of Jesus Christ.
QUESTION:
- How did Joseph, the father of Jesus by adoption, become one of the heroes of faith?