Joseph had a dilemma. Mary, his wife to be, just told him that she was pregnant! WOW! That would send any man in a tizzie! What am I to do? What are my family members, friends and workmates going to think?
After possibly losing some sleep about this dilemma, Joseph comes upon a plan. “I know, I can secretly give her a divorce.” thinks Joseph.
BUT THEN….Matthew 1:20-21 happens!
An angel speaks to Joseph in a dream, convincing him not to divorce Mary.
“But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins.”
Wow…Joseph knew something about the scriptures and he realizes that this was a Prophetic fulfillment of Isaiah 7:14 “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.”
Immanuel – God with us…This is one of the most famous prophecies regarding the birth of Jesus the Messiah in the Bible. It also illustrates a principle of prophecy, that prophecy may have both a near fulfillment and a far fulfillment.
“It is characteristic of predictive prophecy that it often mingles different times together in one composite picture” (Martin)
The dream came while he thought about these things. Joseph was understandably troubled by Mary’s mysterious pregnancy, her future, and what he should do towards her. Though he had decided to put her away secretly, he was not comfortable with that decision. Joseph, son of David: The address son of David should have alerted Joseph that something was particularly significant about this message. Son of David is a reference to Joseph’s legal lineage to the throne of David. That which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit: It seems that Mary had not told Joseph that she was pregnant by the Holy Spirit. This shouldn’t surprise us; how could she (or how could anyone except God) explain such a thing? This angelic word to Joseph was persuasive. You shall call his name JESUS: The name JESUS (“The Salvation of Yahweh”)
The Apostle Peter states, there is no other name under heaven by which men must be saved (Acts 4:12). For He will save His people from their sins: The angelic messenger briefly and eloquently stated the work of the coming Messiah, Jesus. He will come as a Savior, and come to save His people from their sins.
This description of the work of Jesus reminds us that Jesus meets us in our sin, but His purpose is to save us from our sins. He saves us first from the penalty of sin, then from the power of sin, and finally from the presence of sin.
Wonderfully, it says “His people.” If it had said, “God’s people,” we might have thought it was reserved for the Jewish people alone. But it isn’t belonging to Abraham that brings salvation from sin; it is belonging to Jesus, being one of His people.
What is the significance of Immanuel – God with us to our daily lives?
Joseph knew Peace in the middle of his dilemma because he had faith in God and followed HIS lead…Joseph Obeyed and He knew peace!
Do you know peace in your life?
Do you experience and recognize God’s presence in your life?
You can…just by asking Jesus to be your Personal Saviour…and you will know PEACE the same peace that Joseph knew even in his dilemma!
