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Daily Devotion: Matthew 1:21-23

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Matthew 1:21-23     "And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. "

The angel of the Lord had appeared unto Joseph to comfort him concerning Mary’s pregnancy. Joseph was assured that his espoused wife had not been unfaithful to him in any way. The angel then began to unfold more of the story for Joseph. Mary would have a son, and his name would be called Jesus (Jehovah is salvation – see Thayer’s Greek Definitions).

Jesus’s birth was simple: He was born into this world in the same physical process as every other baby ever born. However, there was a powerful exception in His conception in that He was conceived by the Holy Ghost and carried in the womb of a virgin. In the same manner, His naming was made simple in that the angel (messenger) of God said, “You will name Him Jesus.” But there was a powerful reason behind that name: “He shall save His people from their sins.”

There was no doubt about the angel’s message that was given to Joseph. These things were set in motion by the very hand of God. Mary would have a son according to God’s purpose. They would name Him Jesus, according to God’s purpose. He would save His people (including us) from their sins, according to God’s purpose.

God had stated this by the mouth of Isaiah the prophet about 734 years before Jesus was born into the world. God, in the person of Jesus Christ, would be with us in a form and manner that we would be able to relate to more closely. God, in the person of Jesus Christ, would directly interact with us in our joys and our sorrows, our temptations and our fears, and He would triumph over them all.

Dear ones, Joseph was a man blessed with great revelation and faith in God. We believe this blessed word by the very same power that caused Joseph to believe. We love and serve One who makes the impossible a reality. And He has saved us from our sins!  

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