Now this is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about. When His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found with child through the Holy Spirit. Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man, yet unwilling to expose her to shame, decided to divorce her quietly. Such was his intention when, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home. For it is through the Holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her. She will bear a son and you are to name Him Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins." When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took his wife into his home.

In the New Testament, the only other person besides Jesus to whom this title is given is Joseph (v 20). The background of the annunciation to Joseph is the prophecy of Nathan about God raising an heir to David whose throne will be forever (2 Sm 12:14). This "Son of David" is popularly thought of as the Messiah. The angel announces to Joseph that Jesus’ claim to be the Messiah must be through him because he is of the Davidic line. Joseph will transmit the hereditary lineage to the son of Mary. The Messianic claim of Jesus, however, may seem weak because it is "only legal" and not natural. But the Jews, the evangelist Matthew, and the first Christian believers will see no problem because in the Torah, the full weight of the claim rests on the father, be he natural or legal. Before the Law, Jesus has claim to be the Messiah as the "son" of Joseph, not as the son of Mary.

SOURCE: "365 Days with the Lord," ST PAULS, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 895-9701; Fax 895-7328; E-mail: publishing@stpauls.ph; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.