Jesus' earthly father was Joseph. Joseph was a man who was faithful to God. He was also faithful to the law of God. When Joseph discovered Mary, the young woman who was pledged to marry him, was pregnant, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. But before this could happen, God sent Joseph a vision in which an angel told Joseph not to be afraid to take Mary home as his wife, but what was conceived in her was from the Lord. When Joseph woke up, he didn't delay doing just as the angel had told him to do.

Joseph was told to name the baby Jesus because he would save his people from their sins. We are always amazed that a humble baby born in a manger could save people from their sins. How could this be? It is because Jesus is Immanuel, God with us. Jesus came as the fulfillment of God's world salvation plan. The world was condemned because of sin. But Jesus came to take sin away.


Application: Father, thank you for sending your son who took away the sin of the world. Help us to rejoice in the baby Jesus this Christmas time.
One Word: Our Savior Jesus forgives our sins