Merry Christmas to all my Christian Friends. God is good all the time, all the time God is good.
So Joseph, a carpenter, was planning to marry this young beautiful female named Mary. He is looking forward to the marriage and their life together. Being a carpenter he definitely can provide a living and shelter for his new bride and the future family.
Then suddenly, Mary becomes pregnant and Joseph knows he was not the father. Oh my goodness. She cheated on him with another man! This cannot happen and at this point he was quite upset. Then, as the picture above depicts, when he decided to put her away privily an angel came to him in his sleep and explained the situation. Mary was not unfaithful, she was chosen and conceived from the Holy Spirit and was going to have the Messiah.
Now, this is a lot to take in if you were Joseph. Suddenly this wonderful upcoming event, marriage, was turned upside down as Mary was unfaithful, then an angel tells him she was faithful, to take her as his wife. Wow! A lot to take in, understand, and go forth with. Whew!!
So, Joseph did, he married Mary but the Bible says he knew her not meaning they did not have sexual relations UNTIL after Jesus was born. For a newly married man this was probably difficult BUT, Joseph was obedient to the LORD.
Then they have difficulties finding a place to stay so they stay in the stable, an humble beginning for the coming Messiah. This is another lesson in itself.
The Christ child is born, now they have a bouncing, bubbly baby boy. They return home and Joseph is to continue his life's work as a carpenter. To make a living for his new family and provide shelter. They get settled in good when, oops, another encounter. An angel comes to Joseph and tells them they must leave and go to Egypt. Huh? Are you serious? They are just really getting started good with the carpentry business. But, in obedience they pack and leave.
Joseph, being the head of the house has been through a lot, yet he continues to be obedient to the LORD GOD and does as the angels instructed him. Now, think about Joseph. He is given the task, job, responsibility to raise the Christ child to be a good man. What an obligation!! He has held the Christ child, loved the Christ child, provided for the Christ child, and did GOD's bidding to make certain the Christ child was safe.
Do you think Joseph went to heaven? He was a Godly man, an obedient man, and I would presume he is in heaven. By all accounts no one knows what happened to Joseph but speculation is that he died before Jesus started his ministry and/or was crucified. Think about Joseph this Christmas as well as Mary and our savior JESUS CHRIST.
Thank you for reading my carrying on about Joseph. Love you all.
In Christ's Love and Grace
Johnny
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