Reflection
By Jane Otte
SHUTTERSTOCK
Saving Jesus
26
www.thelutheran.org T
here is more “angel” activity in this season than in any other. Angels visit Zechariah, Mary, the shepherds and Joseph. In fact, we know more about Joseph from his angel dreams recorded in
Matthew than from any other Scripture. For Joseph, the angel dreams were a plan of action. “Joseph got up”
(Matthew 2:14, 21). We know that behind that “getting up” was belief. Joseph accepted the authority of God in those angels, married Mary and, eventually, moved to Egypt. Did Joseph know that his little child could have been slaughtered
along with all the other baby boys in Bethlehem? Was he told the old story about Rachel crying for her children and did he realize that his baby could be killed? We don’t know. But we do know that Joseph’s belief and his action saved Jesus from death. It took a believing parent to save Jesus. Salvation is the theme—even for the baby’s name. This was another
angel instruction: “You are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21). So Joseph named his son Jesus—“he who saves.” Joseph believed the angels
and saved Jesus, who saved the world.
Author bio: Otte writes, mentors and directs the choir at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, Marion, Ill.
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52