Christmas History #5 w/ Nancy Grace Joy: LESSONS WE CAN LEARN FROM JOSEPH- JESUS' EARTHLY FATHER

Christmas History #5 w/ Nancy Grace Joy: LESSONS WE CAN LEARN FROM JOSEPH- JESUS' EARTHLY FATHER LESSON ONE: JESUS' DAD TEACHES US KINDNESS We see the story of Jesus' father learning of his impending birth in Matthew 1. The problem? He and Mary weren't yet married, and he assumed the child was from someone else. Matthew 1:18-19 (NIV) "This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly." LESSON TWO: JESUS' FATHER TEACHES US OBEDIENCE When we ask the question "who is Jesus' father?," we find ourselves thinking of his amazing qualities. Among them? Obedience. And we see this amid Joseph's initial kindness toward Mary. After Joseph considered divorce, Matthew tells us that an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream with a message: “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" (Matthew 1:20-21, NIV) LESSON THREE: JESUS' FATHER IS A PROTECTOR We learn in Matthew 2 that Joseph was also a wonderful protector. There are two instances in which obedience and protective instincts collide. Matthew 2:13 reveals that an angel of the Lord again appeared in a dream and told Joseph to flee with Jesus and Mary. The angel warned that Herod would try to kill Christ. So, he got up and fled to Egypt with Mary and Christ; the family stayed there until Herod's death. Matthew 2:19-20 reads: "After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, 'Get up, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who were trying to take the child’s life are dead.'" Joseph's repeated obedience and protective measures are a guide to all parents. www.NancyJoy2U.com , advent, #JOYcandle, #ShepherdsCandle, #jesusisborn, #nancygracejoy, #jesus, #prophecy, , #goodnews, #Isaiah2, #thevirgin, #Immanuel, #borninBethlehem, # #marypregnant, #namehimjesus, #Luke1, #maryandelizabeth, #Marypregnant, #birthofJesus, #Jesusborn, #virginbirth, #journeytobethlehem, #90milsondonkey, #luke2, #nancygracejoy, #nancymorningmeditations, #jesusisborn, #luke2, #joseph, #josephjesusfather, #maryandjoseph, #josephcarpenter, #christmasstory, #christmas,