This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins." All this took place to fulfill what was said through the prophet: "The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel" (which means "God with us").
When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.
~Matthew 1:18-23~
But can we talk about Joseph for a minute? I'm pretty sure that Joseph was a big part of the reason God chose Mary. And I think there's a reason the angel addressed Joseph as "son of David". The Bible tells us the God found David "a man after my own heart", a man who would do everything God wanted him to do. Now check out Joseph. He's a good and righteous man. When he finds out Mary is pregnant, he's committed to doing the right and righteous thing, which is to divorce her. But he's also committed to doing the kind and loving thing, which is to do it quietly and not subject her to public humiliation and punishment. Then he hears from God through an angel in a dream. The angel tells him that Mary is pregnant by the Holy Spirit and will be the mother of the Messiah, so Joseph can go ahead and marry her. And Joseph doesn't hesitate. He gets up and does what the angel told him to do.
After the visit of the Magi, the angel appears to Joseph in a dream and tells him to take Mary and Jesus to Egypt. And what does Joseph do? He gets up, and takes Mary and Jesus to Egypt. Not a moment's hesitation - he obeys without question. And then when the angel appears in another dream to tell Joseph it's safe to go back to Israel, he "gets up" and heads back home. He's warned in another dream that Herod's son is ruling in Judea, so he takes them to Nazareth.
We don't hear much about Joseph, but I get the sense that he's a man of action and he has a fierce and loyal love for his God and his wife. He gives up everything in obedience, and risks everything to protect a baby boy that isn't his child, but that he believes is the fulfillment of promise and prophecy. Truly a man after God's heart, who will do everything God wants him to do.
As we celebrate the Savior's birth, and worship Jesus Christ, may we also learn from the example of Joseph how to be obedient and righteous. May we be men and women after God's own heart, who will do everything God wants us to do.
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