Seeking Jesus This Christmas- Day 6: Dec 6 | Gabriel Reassures Joseph

Read: Matthew 1:18-24

Key Verse: “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus because he will save his people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:20-21)

Gabriel shows up a third time in the Christmas narrative, this time to reassure Joseph, Mary’s betrothed, that she was not unfaithful to him but was carrying the Son of God. It was the first of two times Gabriel would reassure Mary’s not-so-sure husband.​ Joseph was a godly man – he was faithful to the law. He could have publicly humiliated Mary for her infidelity and had her pay the consequences to the full extent of the law, but he chose to do what was loving and spared Mary from having to be punished according to their law and dissolved the engagement with her quietly.

Gabriel spoke to Joseph’s character. He focused on two areas in speaking to Joseph:
1. He reminds Joseph of his royal ancestry – “son of David” – appealing to the pride of his legacy. “You are of royal ancestry,” he seems to be saying, “You are part of the people of God.”
2. He appeals to Joseph based on Scripture. This is, Gabriel reminds him, to fulfill Scripture: “The virgin will give birth...”

Joseph knew who he was and he was committed to Scripture, something vitally important to the man who would be the earthly guardian of Jesus. It’s something we all should follow – know who we are as Christians and know what the Bible says. And Joseph’s response was what you’d expect from such a person – immediate obedience, even to such a difficult mission. He took Mary as his wife. But he took it a step further...they didn’t consummate that marriage until after Jesus was born so there could be no doubt that Jesus was truly the Son of God.

Pray: Father God, I thank you for finding a way to give us Your message. Lord, You protect us, teach us, guide us, and fight battles for us. Thank you for Joseph’s obedience; may I be as quick to obey when God gives me an assignment.