The Son of David

How do you tell your fiancé that you’re pregnant with God’s promised Savior? That’s a question Mary likely asked herself after getting the good news. When Joseph found out, he initially decided to back out of their relationship. But God wanted to include Joseph in this story too. 

In today’s Scriptures, God sends a messenger to Joseph, filling him in on the details. The messenger calls Joseph the “son of David,” which is strange, because David isn’t the name of Joseph’s father. 

David lived hundreds of years before Mary and Joseph. He too was from a small town, and he lived an ordinary life as a shepherd. But one day, God sent a messenger to Bethlehem to tell David he was chosen to rule as king. 

Later, God promised that one of David’s descendants would create a new and better kingdom that could bless the whole world. David and his descendants were flawed and often made harmful choices, which led to the collapse of their kingdom. The people knew that if they were going to have a new and better kingdom, they needed a new and better David. So for generations, people waited for the “Son of David” to arrive.

This brings us back to Joseph, a descendant of the shepherd who became king. Joseph was imperfect, like all other descendants of David until then, but the true and flawless Son of David was coming into the world through Mary—who joined Joseph’s family as his wife. So even though Joseph wasn’t Jesus’ biological father, he raised Jesus alongside Mary—and provided a family link to David.

Joseph took Mary to Bethlehem, David’s hometown. And there, Mary gave birth to Jesus, the true Son of David. And who were the first people to find out about the Son of David? Shepherds, of course. 

The Christmas story reminds us that we’re a part of something bigger than ourselves. Throughout history, God has been working with people to make earth more like heaven. David had a part to play, and so did Joseph. But the story is still going on, and now it’s our turn. 

So how will we follow their lead? Well, one clue is in today’s passages. Look at how Joseph responds to God’s calling. You’ll notice that he listens, trusts, and sacrifices to help others. When we make similar choices, we move God’s story forward. 

Pray: Dear God, thank You for inviting us into Your story. I know I have a part to play in making earth more like heaven. So please help me be aware of how You’re calling me to make a difference in the lives of others. In Jesus’ name, amen.