the child - the origin
Contributing writer: Lindsay Lachapelle
Luke 2:21 talks about Jesus' parents having Him circumcised and named on the 8th day after Jesus was born, as was the Jewish custom. This is just one piece of evidence showing how devoted Joseph and Mary were to the law. In Matthew 1:18-25 we read about how Joseph and Mary find out about Mary being pregnant and how Joseph responds. This response shows Joseph's obedience to God and his devotion to his family.
In their day, Joseph and Mary were engaged and in a legally binding agreement; the only way to break it would be through a divorce. During the time period of engagement, towards the end, the bride would go to live with the groom, and they would become one. However, Mary finds out she is pregnant before she and Joseph live together. This put Joseph in a very difficult position as it was clear to him that Mary had to have cheated on him. As was the law back then, Joseph decided to divorce her, quietly, still loving Mary enough not to make a spectacle of her but to stay devoted and follow the law that if the bride is unfaithful to the husband, he must divorce her. To the outside world, this didn't look good from any angle. Either Mary had been unfaithful, or Mary and Joseph committed fornication and brought the shame of sexual immorality to their families.
When life throws you unexpected circumstances, how do you respond? Do you stay true to what you know is right and still love as Joseph does? OR, Do you remain true to what is right and throw away people's feelings to show your own holiness?
Have you ever been in a situation that to the world only looked like it could be wrong, but in reality, it was all part of God's plan?
After Joseph had considered divorcing Mary quietly, he was visited by an angel in a dream. The angel not only told Joseph to take Mary as his wife but also to name the baby Jesus. The angel uses scripture to help Joseph believe, quoting the prophet, "The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel." However, by Joseph taking Mary to be his wife, he was opening himself up to a scandal by those around him. It would imply that he and Mary had been together before they were supposed to be. Joseph stayed true to what the angel commanded, though, and took Mary to be his wife, but not consummating their marriage until the baby was born.
Has God ever asked you to do something that put you in a position that may have seemed wrong to others, but you knew that you were obeying his commands? What helped you have the faith to go through with his command?
If God asked you to do something you knew could make you look bad to others, would you have a hard time saying yes to Him? Why?
Joseph is called "Joseph, Son of David" by the angel who comes to visit him, reminding him of his ancestors and of the promise that God had given that the Savior would come from the line of David. When the baby was born, Joseph named Him Jesus, which showed, at that time, that he was legally claiming Jesus as His own, giving him the rights to all of the inheritance of the line of David. This is significant because it reminds us that God is a promise keeper as He kept His promise; Jesus will come from the line of David. The angel also tells Joseph that Jesus is Immanuel, God with us. In the Old Testament, God says that he will be with us, even to the end of the days, and so this proves that Jesus is God on earth. Lastly, Jesus reminds us that God saves us from our sins. Jesus came to save us eternally so that we can be with Him and be saved from eternal aggression.
Jesus' name holds so much more meaning than just one name. It gives us the hope of God being a promise keeper, the peace of God being with us, and the grace of God saving us from our sins. Which part of His name do you find to be most comforting?
Which part of His name do you find most difficult to believe or understand?
Make a Move:
As we head into Christmas, pray over each part of Jesus' name and ask God to help give you more wisdom and understanding of these things than you've ever had before. Thank Him for being a promise keeper, being with us, and saving us from our sins.
Prayer Prompt:
Father God, I thank you for the gift of your Son, Jesus. I thank you for the example of the faithfulness of Mary and Joseph as they brought this miracle baby, the Savior, into the world. Please help me to be courageous like they were, and please continue to reveal yourself and your promises to me and know you are with me and are the only Savior of my sins. I love you, Lord. Amen.
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