Steven A. Bush - December 15, 2013
No Ordinary Joseph
While Luke's account of Jesus' birth tells us more about Mary and the shepherds, Matthew's account tells us more about Joseph and the Magi. The blended account tells how God the Son becomes a man and this story is as good as it gets. Quoting the prophet Isaiah with respect to the Messiah, Matthew conveys what the angel told Joseph in his dream: “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel (which means, God with us)." (Matthew 1:20-23 ESV) The name, Immanuel, and the name, Jesus, reveal that our Messiah was indeed fully God and fully man. C.S. Lewis says it well, "The central miracle asserted by Christians is the Incarnation. They say that God became Man. Every other miracle prepares for this, or exhibits this, or results from this." Amen and Amen!