Read: Matthew 1:18–24
“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.”
Matthew 1:20b
There is something to be said for the repeating stories, miracles, and themes in the Bible. Among them, we’ve already seen the similarities between Elizabeth and the two barren moms in the Old Testament, Sarah and Hannah. Now, we look at Joseph. Just as Joseph in the Old Testament was guided by dreams, so the earthly father of Jesus is given divine direction while sleeping. The dreams of the first Joseph would change an empire. The dreams of this Joseph will change the world.
Joseph is already betrothed to Mary, which means the marriage has been arranged and locked into place. However, the ceremony has not yet occurred; this usually happened a year later. Unlike today’s engagements that can easily be broken off, this was a more binding arrangement that involved a payment for the bride.
Infidelity during this betrothal phase is considered adultery. So, the natural assumption for Joseph upon learning of Mary’s pregnancy is that his bride-to-be has slept with another man. Perhaps out of love and mercy, Joseph plans to divorce her privately so that she is not disgraced. But disgrace will probably come anyway once the pregnancy becomes obvious to everyone else. According to the law, Mary is also in danger of being stoned (Deuteronomy 22:23–24).
We are not told if the angel who appears to Joseph in a dream is Gabriel. Regardless, Joseph receives a very clear message from this angelic visitation, with equally clear instructions. Mary is pregnant by the Holy Spirit, it is Immanuel—the Savior Himself—with whom she is pregnant, and Joseph is to take her as his wife.
Joseph obeys. I like that the text says that he simply does as the angel commands. This command means it is a pretty strong message, and Joseph receives it. He takes Mary as his wife, even though she is pregnant and not by him. And the marriage is not consummated until after Jesus is born, thus the virgin birth, not just the virgin conception.
We, as the corporate body of believers, are referred to as the bride of Christ, and He is our bridegroom. Marriage is a picture of our relationship with Him. Paul explains this in Ephesians 5:21–33: “Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord. . . . Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.”
He paid the price for us with His death on the cross. And while we have been united with Him in spirit in this life, we eagerly await the day when the Bridegroom will return for His bride. Revelation tells us of that future day when we will “rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready” (19:7). What a day that will be. Hallelujah!
