In 21st-century America, many unmarried women give birth without attracting the cruelty and condemnation of society. A woman who has become pregnant by someone other than her fiancé can expect to face criticism but not to be shunned or threatened with death-by-stoning. Her jilted fiancé would be justified if he chose to leave, and Joseph believed he would be justified to separate from Mary. That was his plan before an angel visited him with strange and wonderful news. What Did the Angel Tell Joseph? “Joseph, son of David, don’t be afraid to take Mary as your wife, because what has been conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:20-21). The angel’s message to Joseph is obvious at one level. Stay with Mary; this is a special child. She did not commit adultery. At a deeper level, he also connected Joseph with an Old Testament prophecy by addressing him as the “son of David.” Joseph’s father was Jacob, according to Matthew 1:16, and he was descended from the line of David. Israel was expecting their Savior to be “a righteous Branch to spring up for David, and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land” (Jeremiah 33:15). The angel affirmed his own message by adding this verbal seal of authenticity. The silence of heaven was broken, not to foreshadow an event to come centuries in the future but very soon. This surprising emissary delivered a shocking wake-up call that salvation was imminent… (READ MORE)

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