Location: Nazareth
Time: Circa 4 B.C.
Primary Scriptures: Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 1:26-28 — Joseph’s obedience to God’s plan surrounding Mary and the birth of Jesus.
Joseph, seated on a wooden bench outside his humble carpenter’s shop, gazes into the distance. His hands, rough from years of work, rest on his knees as he recalls the extraordinary events surrounding his marriage to Mary. His voice is calm, but the weight of his story is evident.
Joseph:
I am not a man of many words. My life has been simple—building homes, crafting tools, and living according to God’s law. But the events of the past months have shaken me to the core, challenging everything I thought I knew about faith, obedience, and the ways of God.
When Mary and I became betrothed, it was the happiest time of my life. She is kind, devout, and full of grace. I could not have hoped for a better partner to build a life with. Our future seemed clear and bright. But then, everything changed.
It was during the betrothal period, before we had come together as husband and wife, that I learned she was with child. At first, I didn’t want to believe it. How could this be? Mary was a woman of integrity, a woman I trusted completely. Yet the evidence was undeniable—she was carrying a child, and it was not mine.
The law is clear about such situations. A woman found to be unfaithful during betrothal was to be put to death. But how could I bring myself to expose her to such shame, let alone such a fate? I wrestled with this day and night, torn between my love for Mary and my duty to the law. I decided to divorce her quietly, to spare her as much public disgrace as possible. It was the only solution I could see.
But then, one night, as I lay in bed, an angel of the Lord appeared to me in a dream. His words were unlike anything I had ever heard: “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” (Matthew 1:20-21).
I woke with my heart pounding. Could it be true? Could Mary’s child really be the Son of God, the long-awaited Messiah? The angel’s words filled me with both awe and fear. How could I, a simple carpenter, be entrusted with such a responsibility? And yet, how could I refuse?
The next day, I did as the angel had commanded. I took Mary into my home as my wife. I knew what people would say. In their eyes, I would be admitting guilt, accepting the shame of a child conceived out of wedlock. The whispers and stares from the neighbors were immediate and unrelenting. But the angel’s words echoed in my heart: “Do not be afraid.”
Mary and I spoke often during those days. She told me of her own encounter with the angel Gabriel, of his announcement that she would conceive by the Holy Spirit and give birth to the Son of the Most High. Her faith strengthened mine, and together, we resolved to trust in God’s plan, even when it defied all understanding.
The months that followed were not easy. The weight of our calling pressed heavily upon us. I worked tirelessly to prepare our home, to ensure that Mary and the child would be cared for. And though the whispers in the marketplace never ceased, I held my head high, knowing that I was walking in obedience to the God who had chosen us for this task.
When the time came for the child to be born, we were called to Bethlehem for the census. The journey was long and difficult, but Mary bore it with grace. And there, in the humblest of places, surrounded by animals and straw, the Savior of the world was born.
As I held Him in my arms for the first time, all my fears melted away. This tiny child, so fragile and yet so full of promise, was the fulfillment of God’s plan. I named Him Jesus, just as the angel had instructed, knowing that His name meant “The Lord saves.” And in that moment, I understood that my role was not to question but to protect, to provide, and to trust.
To those who hear my story, I say this: obedience to God is not always easy, and it often comes at a cost. But His plans are always greater than ours, and His ways are always good. I did not understand why He chose me, but I am humbled and grateful to have played a part in His redemption story.
Closing Thought:
Obedience to God often requires faith beyond understanding. Trust Him, for His plans are always for His glory and our good.
— Joseph
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