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The third person to hear the announcement of Jesus’ birth was Joseph. He actually got the news in two different ways. First, he got the earthly new. Matthew 1:18-19 says, “This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.” (NIV)
Evidently, Mary, or her family, told Joseph she was pregnant. He may have heard the complete story of the angel’s announcement to Mary. We don’t know for sure, but it seems reasonable. At any rate, Joseph was thinking of starting the legal process to end their engagement.
That’s when Joseph got the news in the heavenly way! An angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and confirmed that Mary was a virgin and the conception was a miracle. The angel told Joseph to proceed with the wedding. Verses 24 and 25 give us Joseph’s reaction, “When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.”(NIV)
Joseph did what God commanded. May we also obey God this Christmas, and always!
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Bumper music “Landing Place” performed by Mark July, used under license from Shutterstock.