Advent Trail December 16th - Matthew 1:20-21

An angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “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)

Matthew’s gospel tells “how the birth of Jesus came about” from the perspective of Joseph. Inevitably, when Joseph learned of Mary’s pregnancy he could only assume that she’d been unfaithful to her betrothal promise, and rather than shame her he intended “to divorce her quietly” (Matt.1:18-19).

So Joseph too needed divine reassurance that things were not as they seemed. The angel’s message to him echoes what was said to Mary, explaining not only what was happening but the significance of it. He too was told that the conception of the child was “from the Holy Spirit”, just as the angel had said to Mary (Luke 1:35). So he need not be afraid to proceed with the marriage, despite what people will think.

Mary had been told that she would bear a son who was to be called Jesus, meaning “the Lord is salvation” (Luke 1:31), and the same message is given to Joseph along with an added explanation of why that must be his name – it’s “because he will save his people from their sins”. There is nothing said here about the child being a descendant of David, but the angel’s greeting, “Joseph, son of David”, conveys that point. To Joseph, as to Mary, it’s made clear that their child will be the promised Messiah and “the Saviour of the world” (Luke 2:11; John 4:42).