Matthew 1:18-25; The abundance of OT prophesies pointed forward to the coming of God’s Messiah, but the 400 years of heavenly silence after Malachi only fanned the flames of Israel’s desire for a savior. The silence was abruptly broken by the arrival of the angel Gabriel to Zechariah, foretelling the birth of their son John. Then another angel appeared to Joseph in a dream, instructing him to bring Mary home as his wife, despite the reality that she was already pregnant. The angel informed Joseph that the HS had conceived within Mary’s womb and the son to be born would be named Jesus, as He would save his people from their sins.