Joseph and the Angel

Joseph and the Angel. To help us to understand the profound effect this encounter had on Mary we will continue with our series of devotionals on Mary by considering this event in the life of Joseph.

18 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. 19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly. 20 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. 21 And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”

22 So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: 23 “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.”

24 Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife, 25 and did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son. And he called His name Jesus.

Matthew 1:18-24, NKJV

Joseph and the Angel. To help us to understand the profound effect this encounter had on Mary we will continue with our series of devotionals on Mary by considering this event in the life of Joseph.

Joseph and the Angel - Strange Dream

Joseph had a strange dream. An angel appeared to him with some very surprising words.

"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. 21 And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”

We know that Joseph was a just and kind man. When he thought his soon-to-be wife had been unfaithful to him, he determined to put her away secretly and not make a public example of her. All of this changed, of course, when Joseph was visited by an angel in a dream. Now he understood an amazing thing. This child that Mary was carrying was conceived by the Holy Spirit.

Joseph and the Angel - Response of Joseph

How did Joseph respond to this amazing message from the angel?

Joseph did not hesitate to obey the words of the angel. Even though he and Mary could be ostracized because Mary was pregnant, his response was immediate. When the angel spoke to him he not only told him that Mary was pregnant by the Holy Spirit, but that he should call his name Jesus, for he would save his people from their sins.

Do you think that Joseph understood exactly what the angel was saying? I think the fact that he would save his people from their sins would have been confusing to both he and Mary. The Jews were looking forward to the promised Messiah, but in their understanding, He would reign over them politically and, in this case, save them from the Roman rulers.

Joseph and the Angel - Lessons

As we continue these devotionals on Mary, the Mother of Jesus, what lessons can we learn from Joseph and the Angel?

Though the news given to Joseph would have literally been unbelievable in his mind, he immediately trusted God and obeyed the angel. It was obvious that God chose a man who deeply loved the Lord and was willing to be obedient even when the commands were difficult to believe or obey.

Is our love for the Lord real--do we jump to obey God's commands even if they seem to make our life more difficult? Or, is our love for the Lord superficial? Do we love God when it is convenient, but are we too busy enjoying the things of this world to take Christ too seriously?

In Matthew 22:37, the Lord Jesus Christ said, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.

Is that how we love the Lord? Do we love Him with all our heart? Do we love Him with all our soul? Do we love Him with all our mind?

Let us pray that, like Joseph, we would love the Lord completely above anything on this earth. God knows our hearts and our thoughts. When we are ready to leave this earth, will he say to us, "Depart from me for I never knew you.?"

Living completely for Christ is not an option for believers. However, it is a life filled with great joy and peace even in the middle of times of great difficulty. What an amazing God we serve! And, what an amazing Savior we have! He left the glories of heaven to come to this sinful and wicked earth, to be rejected by His own people, and to be crucified. Why? To save a people for Himself.

I pray today that you are in this group of people, saved by Christ and living completely for Him!

God Bless You,

Linda