What could have been worse for Joseph and Mary, his betrothed, than to discover that she was pregnant (v 18)? Betrothal was much stronger than our custom of engagement and could only be ended by divorce. But had Joseph simply divorced Mary it would be unlikely that anyone else would marry her. So Joseph’s intention to divorce her quietly (v 19) showed his kindness. He wasn’t only concerned about his own reputation.

God’s intervention through a dream changed things radically. Not only was Joseph reassured that Mary had not been unfaithful (v 20), as with Zechariah and John (Luke 1:13) he was given the gender and name of the child (v 21)! And Jesus was no random name: its meaning, ‘the Lord saves’, described this child’s future mission.
Matthew couldn’t have told the story of the birth more simply: ‘she gave birth to a son’ (v 25)! Instead of giving more detail, he goes on to focus on another name, the one foretold by Isaiah (Isaiah 7:14), Immanuel. In this child, God was taking things into his own hands: ‘God with us’ (v 23) will ‘save his people from their sins’ (v 21).

Joseph is a great example of someone who truly listens to the Lord and responds in obedience. What might the Lord want to say to you today?

‘We are such insignificant creatures on a minor planet of a very average star in the outer suburbs of one of a hundred thousand million galaxies. So it is difficult to believe in a God that would care about us, or even notice our existence.’ These well-known words of cosmologist Stephen Hawking are typical of those who imagine God – should he exist – to be a remote and passive observer of our world. The good news of the Christian faith, in contrast, is expressed in one word in today’s passage: ‘Immanuel’ (v 23).

First, we are told of Joseph’s dilemma (v 18). Assuming Mary must have been unfaithful, Joseph decides it would be best to divorce her quietly. Matthew, however, is very clear about the issue of conception: ‘she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit’ (v 18). Joseph knew what Isaiah had prophesied some 700 years before Jesus was born: ‘The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son’ (v 23). Second, Matthew records Joseph’s dream (v 20), which clearly reveals two significant issues: Jesus’ identity as ‘Immanuel’, God with us (v 23), and Jesus’ mission to ‘save his people from their sins’ (v 21). So the story announces the essence of the Christian gospel: God with us and God saves us. Third, this leads to Joseph’s decision (v 24). Despite his bewilderment and uncertainty, Joseph trusted God enough to obey him. He took Mary to be his wife and they named the baby ‘Jesus’, just as the angel of the Lord had told them to. 

Matthew 1 calls us to recognise the identity and mission of Jesus Christ: God with us and God rescues us. If we truly welcome him into our lives, asking him to make his home with us, then we will come to understand our own identity and purpose too.  

Pray today for the many evangelistic events, carol services and personal conversations which take place at Christmas: may the gospel advance around the world!