My name is Joseph and I am a lowly carpenter from a small town called Nazareth. I am also a new father. My wife and I had our first son about a year ago. Now I know you may be thinking that I am just a proud papa who wants to brag about his new son, but the story I am about to tell you is miraculous. You may have a hard time believing it; if so don’t worry, I understand. I had a hard time believing it at first too.

I had grown up my whole life hearing the stories of how God miraculously worked in people’s lives. I had heard how God protected Noah on the ark when the whole world was flood. I listened when my father told me about how God used Moses to part the Red Sea and our people cross on dry ground. I remember sitting around the fire, glaring into the flames, as the old people retold the story of how Elijah prayed and God rained down fire on the prophets of Baal at Mount Carmel. But nothing miraculous ever happened to me!

That is why I could hardly believe what happened to me about two years ago. My son’s birth was miraculous. Let me tell you the story. But I will have to keep it down. Little Jesus is asleep in the next room.

Betrothal (18a)

Like I said, it all started about two years ago. Mary and I were betrothed and it was just a few months until we would be married. We were both so excited. Back then a year’s betrothal seemed so long, but now it doesn’t seem so.

I guess it wasn’t much of a surprise that Mary and I were getting married. When you live in a small town, you don’t have a lot of options. Besides, it’s not as if I had a choice anyway. I remember when I was younger I overheard my parents talking to Mary’s parents about arranging our marriage when reached the right age. Well, we finally hit the right age, and I am so glad we did. Not only was Mary beautiful, but she was gentle, mature, and devout. I couldn’t wait to be her husband.

Throughout our betrothal, our ritual was to meet at the well in the center of the village after supper and talk while we drew water. I loved seeing Mary at the well. It was the only chance I had to see her all day. A few more months of torture and then it would all be over; we would finally be married; or so I thought.

Mary’s Shocking News (18b)

I’ll never forget that night. It was after a long hard days work on the home I was building for Mary and I that I ate quickly and hurried to the well. I was a little late getting there and I saw Mary sitting on the edge of the well with her head down and her face in her hands. No one else was around. I knew something was wrong because I didn’t see her donkey or her water pales.

When I was close enough to see clear, I saw that Mary was crying. I ran to her as fast as I could go. I put my hand on her shoulder and asked her what was wrong. She didn’t answer. She just kept sobbing. I waited for what seemed like an eternity. And she finally said, “Joseph, I have something to tell you, but you’re not going to understand.” Understand what? What could it be?

Then those two fateful words crept out of her mouth, “I’m pregnant.” My heart sunk into my stomach as I tried to put it all together. “You’re what?” I exclaimed. “Pregnant! How can this be?”

Joseph’s Reaction (19)

I could tell by the look on her face that she wasn’t joking. Mary wouldn’t joke about something like that. I stood up straight and turned around as a flood of emotions rushed through my soul. I just kept muttering, “How can this be? How can this be?” I trusted Mary. I thought I knew her. How was I going to explain this to my family?

Then Mary stood up and said, “Joseph, it’s not what you think.” I turned around and looked at her and said, “What do you mean it’s not what I think? How could it be anything else?” I started to walk away. She cried out, “Wait! Let me explain!” But I didn’t want her to explain. I needed time to think.

I walked outside the village and into the hills. I was confused and angry. As I watched the moonlight reflect off the mountains, the only thing that felt colder than the sand between my toes was empty chill in my heart. I never saw this coming. How could I have been so wrong about Mary? All of my dreams about having a wife and family were stripped away by two little words.

The only thing left to do now was to figure out what I was going to do about this. Adultery is a high crime. If I turned her into the authorities, she would have a public trial and be stoned to death. Even as hurt as I was, I knew I couldn’t do that. So, I decided to divorce her quietly and spare both of us the public disgrace.

Joseph’s Dream (20-21)

When I finally made it back to the house, I looked at the walls that weren’t finished. It was going to be the house where Mary and I were going to raise our children. Not anymore! What would I do with it now?

I washed my face in the basin and slipped into bed. My body was exhausted but my mind was still racing. I couldn’t stop thinking about everything that happened. I tossed and turned for hours until I fell asleep.

While I was sleeping I had a dream. There was a bright light that nearly blinded me. Then all of the sudden a figure began to appear. It called to me, “Joseph, Joseph!” I heard about angels before but I had never actually seen one. Like I said, I had never experienced anything miraculous. But somehow I knew this was an angel.

Its voice thundered, “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.”

After the angel delivered the message, it was gone in an instant, and my eyes opened as the morning sun crept through the window onto my face. I knew I had been dreaming, but I was sure the angel was real and his message was true.

Joseph Takes Mary Home (24-25)

As I sat there on the edge of my bed in amazement, everything began make sense to me. I knew what Mary was going to say to me. Why didn’t I let her? Oh, Mary!

I ran to her parent’s home on the other side of the village as fast as I could. When I got there I found her in the stall feeding the animals. I put my arms around her and apologized for walking away the night before. She started to explain, but I told her I already knew. She gave me a puzzled look and then I told her about the dream and the angel and the message. It was a miracle indeed!

Then she looked up at me with those big brown eyes and said, “So, you’re not going to divorce me?” “Oh Mary, you are going to be my wife!,” I said. “I have a house to finish! We’re going to have a baby!”

A few months later we were married and a few months after that we had to travel to Bethlehem to register for the census since I am from the line of David. It was while we were in Bethlehem the child was born. There were many more miraculous events that took place there, but I don’t have enough time to tell you about them now.

Not long after that, we fled Judea because we heard that King Herod heard that a king was born and he was going to kill all of the young boys in the region. That is how we ended up here in Egypt. I sure hope we will be able to go back to Israel sometime. I miss our little village of Nazareth.

Isaiah’s Prophecy Fulfilled (22-23)

As I had been trying to make sense of all that God has done, I remembered the words of the prophet Isaiah when he said, “The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel—which means “God with us.”

Could it really be? Conception by the Holy Spirit? Virgin Birth? I am from the line of King David! Fulfilled prophecy! The name Jesus means “the Lord saves” and the angel said he will save his people from their sins? It really is! Our son is God’s son! Little Jesus is the promised Messiah! How amazing! What a miracle indeed!

He will one day save his people from their sins. I wonder how he will do it!

Well, I hear the baby crying. I need to go help Mary. Thanks for listening to my story. And don’t worry if you haven’t experienced any miracles, in God’s time, you will; just like I did! Shalom!

No doubt, some of you sitting here this morning have experienced miracles in your lives, but there may be some who have never experienced anything miraculous. I want you to know that if you have never experienced a miracle, you can this morning!

Verse 21 tells us why we celebrate Christmas. Jesus was born in human flesh so that he could one day grow up, live a perfect life, die on a Roman cross, and be resurrected three days later; all so we can have forgiveness from our sins.

The Bible tells us that we are all sinners, and because of this we deserve judgment. But the greatest miracle of all is that God sent his own son to die in our place. Jesus “God with us” paid the penalty for our sins so that we may have eternal life and life with God in heaven forever.

If you have never experienced a miracle, would like to invite you to experience on this morning. The Bible also tells us that if we believe in our heart and confess with our mouth that Jesus Christ is Lord, we will be saved.

The greatest miracle I ever experienced was when Jesus Christ became my Lord and Savior. My life changed forever, and yours can too.

Do you want to experience the greatest miracle of all? Do you believe in your heart Jesus is God and that he was born and died for your sins? Are you willing to confess it with your mouth? If so, let us pray!