Joseph’s Dream

“You are to give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.” — Matthew 1:21

Back in Nazareth, Mary was engaged to Joseph, the carpenter. But before they were married, Joseph found out that Mary was going to have a baby.

Joseph knew the baby wasn’t his. He was very upset. What would he do?

Joseph was a good man who loved God. He didn’t want to embarrass Mary in front of everyone. So he decided to end their engagement quietly.

But while he was thinking about all this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream.

“Joseph, son of David,” said the angel, “do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife. The baby inside 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.”

The name Jesus means “the Lord saves”. Do you remember Joshua, who led God’s people into the promised land? Jesus and Joshua are really the same name. But this Jesus would save His people from something even bigger than enemies. He would save them from their sins.

When Joseph woke up, he did exactly what the angel had told him. He took Mary home to be his wife. He would take care of her, and of the baby, as if Jesus were his own son.

Joseph doesn’t say a single word anywhere in the Bible. But he listened to God, and he obeyed straight away. Mary needed someone to look after her, and God gave her Joseph. Jesus needed a dad to teach Him and care for Him as He grew up, and God gave Him Joseph too.

It wasn’t easy for Joseph. People might have talked about him and Mary. But Joseph trusted God more than he worried about what people thought.

The promise kept: The Bible says that all this happened to keep the promise God gave through Isaiah: “Behold, the virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call Him Immanuel” (Matthew 1:23). Immanuel means “God with us”. Jesus is God, come to be with us.

Read it in your Bible: Matthew 1:18–25

Dear God, thank you for Joseph, who listened to you and obeyed. Thank you that Jesus came to save us from our sins. Thank you that you are Immanuel, God with us. Amen.