Starting with Joseph
It is curious to me that Matthew starts with Joseph's concern about Mary's pregnancy and what Joseph was going to do about it. After all, Mary had a lot more at risk than he; she could have been stoned to death. However, she was going to have the baby regardless, Joseph was obviously needed as a key player and father. Maybe Matthew was not just writing this to Jews but to male Jews who may first think about honor instead of compassion? I have no idea.
Jesus' Parents
This is a dumb question but I have to wonder, why couldn't Christ have a human father? Or, to the other extreme, why any parents at all? Mary could have simply found Jesus or cherubs could have delivered Him. If either had happened it would be no less miraculous than a virgin birth and would have erased the question of Original Sin.
The first question, why couldn't Jesus have a natural father... Well, other than Isaiah 7:14 I can think of two things: First, the Messiah had to be irrefutably different than a prophet but still irrefutably human. Second, He is the Son of God.
The second question seems easier to me than the first: without a Jewish mother Jesus would not have been a Jew (per the Talmud). Arguably, He wouldn't have been 100% human if He hadn't been born to a human. A miracle of "apparition" would also be harder to prove as Jewish babies have been found before.
Additionally, He had to be from Abraham and David's line.
"An angel of the Lord...
An angel of the Lord announced the Christ's pending birth. Because "angel" basically means "messenger" let's see how angels have been used previously:
Hagar: An angel of the Lord names Ishmael and tells Hagar to go back to Joseph's camp. Interestingly, the angel tells her "I will give you more descendants than you can count.” [emphasis on 'I' added, not God will, but "I" will.]
Sarah's Son: The Lord and two others announced Isaac.
Saved Isaac: Kept Abraham from sacrificing Isaac. Again, "withheld from me" instead of "withheld from God" even though "the angel of the Lord" is speaking.
Lot: Pulled Lot out of Sodom before its destruction.
Moses: It is "the angel of the Lord" in the burning bush, which is later identified as God.
So far I've seen a difference in "the angel" and "an angel" of the Lord. However, I've gone far enough to wonder if it is indeed God in Joseph's dream.
Here is a bunch of info on angels.
...appeared to him in a dream"
Jesus was announced in a dream. I have to stand back and think, "Why no booming voice from the mountain, sky, or at least a whisper in the wind?" What else has God revealed in dreams?
Abram: God's Covenant
Protect Sarah: God spoke to Abinmelech in a dream.
Jacob: Selection of payment.
Jacob/Israel: Do not fear going to Egypt.
Laban: Pursuing Jacob
Joseph: Interpreting dreams take him to Egypt.
Daniel: Several interpretations of dreams.
Ezekiel: Glory of God
In Person vs. Dream
Why would Joseph be told about God's own Son by an angel in a dream instead of in person? This is the biggest news since... since... anything!
As an aside, only Matthew mentions Joseph's dream revelation.
Looking at the list of visits from angels and dreams, do you see a pattern? Except for Abram's vision of God's Covenant, it seems the most important information is presented in person, either by an angel or by God. I couldn't find any other children being announced in a dream.
Gabriel told Zechariah about John the Baptist in person. Even the shepherds got a personal visit filled with the "radiance of the Lord's glory" announcing Jesus! This is very interesting to me.
As a note, using a dream could have opened Joseph up to allegations of being labeled a false prophet.
The Name Jesus
First, lets note that Jesus's name was probably not a Greek or Hebrew version of "Jesus" but probably "Joshua." His name was most likely the Hebrew Yeshua which means "He will save." I'll obviously stick with "Jesus."
Examples of some comparisons between Jesus and Joshua:
1. Both appointed by God to complete a task.
2. Both lead God's people to the Promised Land, spiritual and geographical, respectively.
3. Both had 12 men.
4. Both left unfinished work.
Too much information
Why do I need to know that Joseph did not consummate his marriage until after Jesus was born? Was Joseph expecting a midwife to validate and document her status as a virgin?
Praise
What does Matthew have to say about the mother of Jesus? Not much. His father? A "good man." They were probably much like most young couples anticipating their nuptials... Except these two people chose God in the face of anticipated rejection by their family and peers. I get nervous when God asks me to tell my co-worker, "I'll pray for you" and these two risked getting stoned to death without second thought. How can we ever be grateful enough for their courage?
Jesus' birth signifies not a doctrinal shift in God's plan but a paradigm shift, a change in method not message. As my Sunday School teacher Bev said, "The 10 Commandments are tough... but they aren't nearly as tough as the Beatitudes!" God's grace is in the small endearments like making clothing for Adam & Eve after they disobeyed Him to huge events like saving the people of Israel from themselves and their enemies... There are a lot of examples in the Old Testament of God's grace, love, and desire to have a relationship with us.
Please try to recognize and return God's love.
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