Joseph and the Name Jesus
Month 1: The Word Became Flesh · Bible Story
Today's Scripture
Read together: Matthew 1:18–25
18 This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged in marriage to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. 19 Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and was unwilling to disgrace her publicly, he resolved to divorce her quietly. 20 But after he had pondered these things, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to embrace Mary as your wife, for the One conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a Son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.” 22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23 “Behold, the virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call Him Immanuel” (which means, “God with us”). 24 When Joseph woke up, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him and embraced Mary as his wife. 25 But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a Son. And he gave Him the name Jesus.
Memory Verse
“She will give birth to a Son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.””— Matthew 1:21 (BSB)memorize this week
📖 Bible-in-a-Year (optional)
Today's reading: Genesis 47–49
Reading the whole Bible in a year — do this when you have extra time. (Around Day 15 of 365 — Jacob blesses his sons, and the promise points ahead to a coming King.)The Heart of It
Joseph had a problem no one would want. He was engaged to Mary, and before they were married she was going to have a baby. Joseph was a good and gentle man. The Bible calls him "just." So he planned to end the engagement quietly instead of shaming her in front of everyone. He didn't yet understand what God was doing. Then an angel came to him in a dream and told him the truth. This child was made by the Holy Spirit. Joseph was to take Mary as his wife and name the boy Jesus. The name was a command. It was also a promise.
The name "Jesus" means "the Lord saves." The angel explained exactly why He carries that name: "He will save His people from their sins." Notice what He came to save us from. Not mainly from Rome, or from being poor, or from hard times. He came to save us from the deepest problem in every human heart. That problem is sin, and sin separates us from God. From the very first announcement, the whole mission of Jesus is written into His name. He is not just a great teacher or a kind example. He is the Savior. And when Joseph woke up, he did exactly what the angel said. He obeyed before he understood everything. That is what trusting God often looks like.
Around the Table
An angel told Joseph what to name the baby. Jesus! His name means "God saves us." That's why Jesus came.
Let's do it: Say the name "Jesus" together three times. Clap each time: "Jesus saves!"
Joseph did the right thing even when it was hard. He obeyed God even before he had all the answers.
Let's talk: Why do you think God told Joseph the meaning of Jesus' name right at the start?
"Jesus" (Yeshua) means "the Lord saves." The verse tells us what He saves us from. He saves us from our sins, not just from hard times.
Let's go deeper: If Jesus came mainly to rescue us from sin, what does that say is the biggest problem people have? Do most people around you agree?
💬 Conversation Starter
Has anyone ever asked you to do something before you fully understood why? How did it feel to trust them? Joseph trusted God just like that.
🛡️ Defending the Faith
Some say the virgin birth was borrowed from old myths. But the Gospel accounts are calm and exact. They give names, places, and family lines. They don't read like the wild style of made-up legends. And the early church suffered greatly rather than soften this claim (). They reported what they believed truly happened.
For Dad · Go Deeper
It's striking how much of God's work in Scripture rests on quiet, obedient men like Joseph. He never speaks a single recorded word in the Gospels. He simply does what God says. He takes Mary. He names the child. He protects them. Dad, your children are watching that same kind of unglamorous faithfulness in you. They see the prayers no one notices, the apology you offer, the steady showing up. Joseph models a fatherhood that obeys God before it fully understands Him. He trusts that the One giving the instructions can see what we cannot. The name "Jesus" also re-centers your home on the gospel. He came to save us from our sins. That means our deepest family need isn't better behavior. It's a Savior. Lead them to Him, not merely to good rules.
Draws on: D. A. Carson, Matthew (Expositor's Bible Commentary).
Let's Pray Together
"Father, thank You for sending Jesus. His very name means You save us. Help us obey You like Joseph did, even before we understand. Save us from our sins. Make us Yours. In Jesus' name, amen."
His name is Jesus because He came to save us from our sins.