Advent - 2024 - 2

Dr Jim Brown's TruNorth Devotional
ADVENT 2024
Day 2 | AMAZING JOSEPH
AMAZING JOSEPH

Matthew 1:18-21
“Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly. 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.’”


After giving us the generational information, Matthew continues his description of the birth of Jesus with these details.

This is one of the few places where we learn anything about Joseph, Jesus’ earthly dad (and legal earthly father).

Of note is that under Jewish law at the time, being engaged and finding the wife to be “with child” (clearly not yours), one option was to have her stoned to death. But Joseph loved Mary and although probably shocked, disappointed, and upset, he “…being a just (or upright) man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly.”  Joseph was opting for the least harsh response, to quietly divorce Mary.

“BUT WHILE” … I like those words. They show us another time when God intervenes in human affairs.  So, the LORD God sent an angel to talk to Joseph. He probably did so in a dream… because often it’s the only time our minds are quiet!

Joseph was obviously a righteous Jew who recognized God’s voice (or in this case God’s angel) and knew how to be obedient.  The angel gave him comfort and reassurance that Mary was still his, just now on special assignment from Almighty God.

Prayer: Lord, may we be as sensitive as Joseph was to the LORD when He talks to us… through His Spirit or through His Word.  Amen.
Posted in