Deep in
thought Joseph walked into his bedroom, closing the door behind him, he walked
to his bed and sat down. ‘O LORD God,
humbly I pray for forgiveness of sin, it is not my intention to disgrace Mary
but I have since come to realize that she is with child. Not my child!’
Joseph spoke softly as he lay back on his
bed. How could Mary do such a
thing? It was a difficult day and Joseph
took off his sandals and cloak, turning the blankets back he lay with his hands
behind his head looking into the ceiling.
Sleep came
quickly and Joseph was standing talking to an Angel of the Lord ‘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 of Jesus, because He will save His people from sin.’ Joseph woke up in the morning and thought
about his dream; he would honor the Lord and take Mary as his wife.
‘Mary’
Joseph greeted her, taking her hands in his pressing his lips to them; ‘I love
you and want to marry you.’ Joseph said
as he pulled Mary into his arms. ‘Oh
Joseph, yes I will marry you.’ Mary said laughing. Both Joseph and Mary decided not to make a
big deal of the wedding but that it should take place as soon as possible.
Just to
shake things up a bit Caesar August had a decree issued to the people in the
Roman world that would record a census on how many people lived in the Roman
world. Now Joseph was born in Judea
Bethlehem. He had no choice but to take
his wife Mary along with him to record his name in one of the census scrolls.
Up early
the next morning Mary and Joseph started their way to Judea. There was a company of people leaving for
Bethlehem. Joseph arranged to travel with
a couple of friends, making the cooking of meals a little easier for Mary. Mary was starting to show and it was clear
that Mary’s time was closer than expected.
But in good faith Joseph and Mary took the road with excitement.
It was late
when they arrived in Bethlehem, the town was buzzing with people and animals. Joseph asked Mary to stand in the square and
wait for him so he could go and enquirer for a room for them. Walking from one Inn to the other, Joseph
could not secure a space for them. In desperation
Joseph asked the Inn Keeper if they could spend the night in the barn, Mary was
tired and needed somewhere safe to sleep.
The Inn Keeper suggested they walk around the block and knock at the
back of the building, there he would find the Inn Keepers shepherds with some
flocks of sheep in a barn.
They
prepared something to eat and as they sat down to relax Mary went into labor. Jesus was born and because Mary didn’t
have anything with her she covered Jesus with cloths and placed her little baby
boy into a manger.
A couple of
shepherds where sitting around a fire gazing at the stars in the heavens, when
suddenly an Angel of the Lord appeared.
The glory of the Lord shone around them and they were terrified. But the Angel said to them ‘do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will
be for all the people. Today in the town
of David a Savior has been born to you; He is Christ the LORD. This will be a sign to you. You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and
lying in a manger.’
Suddenly a
great company of heavenly hosts appeared with the angels, praising God and
saying ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom His
favor rests.’
The shepherds
were in awe and decided to travel to Bethlehem and pay homage to the Lord
Jesus. On their way to see the Lord
Jesus they told everybody about what had happened and with great excitement
they were looking forward to seeing the Lord.
The news
was being spread and people were wondering who could this child be?
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