God with Us
In the manual: Come, Follow Me lesson 52, “We Have Waited for Him, and He Will Save Us,” on Gospel Library
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An angel came to Joseph in a dream and told him not to be afraid to take Mary as his wife (Matthew 1:20).
Read Together
Joseph and Mary were engaged when Joseph learned she was expecting a child. He was a kind and just man, and he planned to end the engagement privately (Matthew 1:18–19).
14Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
20But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. 21And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.
What It Teaches
The angel told Joseph the child’s name. “Thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21). In Hebrew, the name Jesus is Yeshua, a form of Joshua, which means the Lord saves.
Matthew saw Isaiah’s prophecy fulfilled. “Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:14). Matthew explained that the name means “God with us” (Matthew 1:22–23).
When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel said (Matthew 1:24). He married Mary, cared for her, named the baby Jesus, and later took his family to Egypt to keep the child safe (Matthew 2:13–14). Joseph’s obedience protected the Son of God.
“God with us” is the Christmas message. Jesus Christ came to be with us in our joys and our sorrows, and after his Resurrection he promised, “Lo, I am with you alway” (Matthew 28:20).
Talk About It
Joseph obeyed quickly, even when it was hard to understand. When has someone in our family followed a prompting and blessed others?
Take to Church
The angel told Joseph to name the baby Jesus, because he would save his people from their sins. His other name, Immanuel, means God with us.