The world’s most important birth was about to take place. Why was it almost unknown? What was Joseph's dilemma? What were the baby’s names? Was Mary a perpetual virgin? Let’s look at Matthew 1:18-25.
Joseph’s Dilemma
Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. (Matthew 1:18 NKJV)
Joseph, betrothed to Mary, found her pregnant. At that time, a groom typically prepared a home for his bride, which could take a year. When all was prepared, he came to collect his bride, like Christ comes for the Church. Joseph decided to cancel the wedding privately for Mary’s sake.
Joseph’s Mercy
Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly. (Matthew 1:19 NKJV)
Imagine being engaged, feeling betrayed, yet loving her and not wanting to disgrace nor punish her. An angel says, it’s of God and her son would bring salvation. You marry her knowing there will be gossip. You also know the child’s name, Jesus (God saves) and Immanuel (God with us).
Name Him Jesus
But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. 21 And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:20-21 NKJV)
Jesus’ name means “YHWH (the Lord) saves.” His name is the hope of the whole world (Matthew 12:15-21). Jesus’ name heals (Mark 9:38-40). We should take Jesus' name seriously and pray for blasphemers. His Greek name is sometimes abbreviated ??S[1], IHS in English letters, a sign seen in churches everywhere.
[1] Greek capital letters Iota-Eta-Sigma, biblestudytools.com, newadvent.org/cathen, christogenea.org
God with Us
So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: 23 “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.” (Matthew 1:22-23 NKJV)
Jesus is the cornerstone of Christianity, His birth, resurrection, salvation, divinity and humanity. In 451 AD, the last Ecumenical Council recognized by most Protestants, came to the greatest historical consensus on Christ, affirming the Trinity, Christ's virgin birth, his humanity and his deity, and his two natures in one person.
Jesus means Joshua. Two Joshuas were forerunners of Jesus. Joshua the son of Nun conquered 31 cities in Canaan beginning around 1400 BC. Joshua and the promised land symbolize Jesus and eternal life. Joshua the son of Jozadak was a high priest (Haggai 1). Jesus is our high priest (Hebrews 8:3-5).[2]
[2] newadvent.org/cathen; The Oxford History of the Biblical World. 1998. Oxford University Press; biblearchaeology.org; orthodoxytoday.org)
Perpetual Virginity?
Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife, 25 and did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son. And he called His name Jesus. (Matthew 1:24-25 NKJV)
Was Mary a Perpetual Virgin? Jesus had siblings (Mark 6:3, Matthew 13:55, John 7:3, Acts 1:14, 1 Corinthians 9:5). The Greek word for cousins was not used. In John 19:26-27 Mary is a spiritual mother, not without her own children to look after her.
Psalm 69 is quoted several times in the New Testament, referring prophetically to Jesus.
Those who hate me without a cause (Psalm 69:4; cf. John 15:25)
zeal for Your house has eaten me up (Psalm 69:9a; cf. John 2:17)
the reproaches of those who reproach You have fallen on me. (Psalm 69:9b; cf. Romans 15:3)
And for my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink. (Psalm 69:21; cf. John 19:28-29)
It also states plainly that Jesus’ mother had other children.
I have become a stranger to my brothers, And an alien to my mother’s children; (Psalm 69:8 NKJV cf. Isaiah 53:3; Mark 3:21; Luke 8:19; John 7:3-5)
Let’s not be deceived by those who hide doctrinal errors behind claims to infallibility, but repent and seek the truth.
God was born a baby in a stable, suffered, died, was raised again, founded a church, sits now at God’s right hand and will come again to bring about world peace. He offers us the gift of eternal life. Will you accept it? You decide!
