Jesus was adopted!

Matthew 1:21 (NIV)
²¹ She will give birth to a son, and (Joseph) YOU ARE to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins." - emphasis mine!

I have not said much about the finalization of Patrick's adoption.  We have been on a 3 year journey to this point and it has been great to finally see it be completed.  We signed our name to the documents and promised to accept Patrick as if he was our own flesh and blood.  I am proud to give Patrick my name (his middle name is Steven!) and will do all I can to help him grow into the man God has created him to be!

While studying for my Christmas sermons, I came across the verse I quoted above.  I know I have read this before...this is a pretty important scripture in the Christmas story.  But I have never read it from the point of view of Joseph.  God (through an angel) asked Joseph to give Jesus his name.  Very few commentary writers address this point.  I did find a couple who did, but the reality is that God is asking Joseph to give him his name because it was the father's responsibility to give their children a name.  Just like Joseph would do with his biological children, he gave Jesus his name because he was treating him as if he was his own son.  Just like he was not to put Mary out because she was having a baby before she and Joseph had been married, he was not to shun the new born son.  He was to give him his name.  He was to raise Jesus like he was his own flesh and blood.  Joseph didn't stand before a judge and agree to raise this child as his own, but he did stand before God.

So by my understanding of scripture, Jesus was adopted and he was the first adopted son (by Joseph) of many who would follow him and be adopted by our heavenly father.  I understand that there are other big themes in Matthew 1, but I this is pretty cool!
Romans 8:15-17 (NIV)
For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship (adoption). And by him we cry, "Abba, Father." The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children.  Now if we are children, then we are heirs--heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. - emphasis mine!


If you want to watch a video of our adoption with the Judge, you can watch it below!

Just a thought

Matthew 9:35-38 – The Message 
Then Jesus made a circuit of all the towns and villages. He taught in their meeting places, reported kingdom news, and healed their diseased bodies, healed their bruised and hurt lives. When he looked out over the crowds, his heart broke. So confused and aimless they were, like sheep with no shepherd. "What a huge harvest!" he said to his disciples. "How few workers! On your knees and pray for harvest hands!"

"Jesus is so much more interested in the eternity of those he encountered, but he healed their “right now” first. He understood that healing their “right now” would open the door to healing their eternity. "