The Bible tells the story of Jesus’ birth in different gospels. Matthew 1:18-25 and 2:1-18.  Luke 1:26-38 and 2:1-21.  For this devotional, I am using only Matthew 1:18-25 and Luke 1:26-38 and these verses are found below. These verses tell stories from Mary’s and Joseph’s perspective.  I found four, amazing similarities between their stories:

1. Both Mary and Joseph are visited by angels.  An angel appears to Mary.  An angel came to Joseph in a dream. Communication with angels was extremely rare.
2. Both Mary and Joseph were told by the angels, “Do not be afraid.”  They were to be married and found out that Mary was pregnant by the Holy Spirit.  These were unusual circumstances to say the least. 
3. Both Mary and Joseph accepted what the angel had told them.  What faith!
4. Both were told to name the baby Jesus.  He will save his people from their sins.

Matthew 1:21. “She will give birth to a son,  You will name him Jesus.  Give him that name because He will save his people from their sins.” (ERV) 

Jesus is our hope.  Named by angels, He was born for us, for you, for me.  We can come to know Jesus as our Savior.  Jesus comes into our hearts and saves us from our sins.  We do not have to be afraid. God is with us.  Amen.

[Joseph’s Story] Matthew 1:18-25. ‘18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was like this; for after his mother, Mary, was engaged to Joseph, before they came together, she was found pregnant by the Holy Spirit. 19 Joseph, her husband, being a righteous man, and not willing to make her a public example, intended to put her away secretly. 20 But when he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, don’t be afraid to take to yourself Mary, your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. 21 She shall bring forth a son. You shall call his name Jesus, for it is he who shall save his people from their sins.” 22 Now all this has happened, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, 23 “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, And shall bring forth a son. They shall call his name Immanuel;” Which is, being interpreted, “God with us.” 24 Joseph arose from his sleep, and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took his wife to himself; 25 and didn’t know her sexually until she had brought forth her firstborn son. He named him Jesus.’ (WEB)

[Mary’s Story] Luke 1:26-38. ’26 In the sixth month of Elizabethʼs pregnancy, the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, 27 to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, a descendant of David, and the virginʼs name was Mary. 28 The angel came to her and said, “Greetings, favored one, the Lord is with you!” 29 But she was greatly troubled by his words and began to wonder about the meaning of this greeting. 30 So the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God! 31 Listen: You will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. 32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David. 33 He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and his kingdom will never end.” 34 Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I have not had sexual relations with a man?” 35 The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called the Son of God. 36 “And look, your relative Elizabeth has also become pregnant with a son in her old age – although she was called barren, she is now in her sixth month! 37 For nothing will be impossible with God.” 38 So Mary said, “Yes, I am a servant of the Lord; let this happen to me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.’ (NET)