Joseph would have been a simple but hard working blue collar worker. A carpenter by trade, he worked hard with his hands to establish himself. Older than Mary, he had spent potentially years saving up so he could provide a home for his betrothed.
It’s clear from the Gospels that Joseph loved Mary, and he was also a devout follower of the law. So imagine the heartache he felt when he finds out his fiancee is pregnant, and yet he knew it couldn’t be his.
Not understanding what was happening, he opted to send Mary away rather than to publicly shame her. If I put myself in his shoes, I can feel the heartache of his decision. The betrayal he probably felt. The sorrow and embarrassment. The loss of his loved one.
Alone, probably depressed, he slowly moves to his bed to sleep, knowing the excruciating job he has to do the next day. I can see him lay his head down, tears rolling down his cheek – knowing this had happened to others, but he could never see it happening to him.
Yet if he could never have imagined what had happened to Mary, he must have been thoroughly confused when an angel comes to him in a dream.
“Joseph, don’t be afraid to take Mary as your wife.” I’m sure Joseph was scratching his head trying to figure this out. So the angel explained, “She has conceived by the Holy Spirit, and you will name him Jesus because he will save his people from their sins.”
Now can you imagine having a dream like that? So real, and vivid. Would you shake it off, thinking it was just your subconscious trying to mess with you? That’s not what Joseph did. He did as instructed, and took Mary as his wife, and named the child Jesus.
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