Joseph Joins the Dots

Scripture: Matthew 1:18-25

Just read the Scripture and contemplate, ponder, like Mary.

"Now the birth of Jesus Christ happened this way: While his mother Mary was engaged to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph, her husband-to-be, was a righteous man and because he did not want to disgrace her, he intended to divorce her privately. When he had contemplated 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 as your wife because the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit, and she will give birth to a son. You will name him Jesus because he will save his people from their sins.' This all happened so that what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet would be fulfilled: 'Look, the virgin will conceive and bear a son, and they will call him Emmanuel,' which means 'God is with us.' And when Joseph awoke from sleep, he did what the angel of the Lord told him. He took his wife, but did not have marital relations with her until she gave birth to a son whom he named Jesus."

So we believe this is the inspired Word of God. We believe this is the truth, and quite clearly it's describing, joining each dot, and giving us a picture of who Jesus is.

Look at it—before they came together. What's that telling you? She was already pregnant through the Holy Spirit. This is a supernatural birth.

Now Joseph is thinking, "I've been disgraced because there's only one way to get pregnant, and I need to divorce her." But at least as he contemplates, "Well, I'll do it quietly. I won't disgrace her," because he loves her.

And so an angel comes to him and says, "Joseph, don't be afraid because the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit." That’s twice we're being told what is happening in the life of Mary and Joseph. He's told the child's name: Jesus, which means "he will save his people from their sins." And this will happen because Matthew links it to the prophecy of Isaiah in chapter 7, saying that the virgin will conceive a son and call him Emmanuel—an interesting name because it means "God with us."

When Joseph woke from his sleep, he did what he had been told.

Let's follow Joseph's example. He contemplated. He had a plan. He was given new information, and he changed his mind and he obeyed. He woke up—that's what needs to happen to many of us. We need to wake up!

And the last thought: He took his wife but did not have marital relations with her until she gave birth to a son. Yes, that's right there. He didn't have sex with Mary until Jesus was born.

Now go ponder on that.

Thanks for listening.