Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

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 Annunciation to Joseph

Phil 4:4-10
 
Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Philippians 4:8

The Annunciation to Joseph is described for us only by the Gospel of Matthew.  Then an angel appeared to him in a dream and said, “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.” Matthew 1:20.
 Jesus Christ alone can be our sinless Sin-Bearer because only He was born in this miraculous manner. Through the virgin birth, He was unstained by sin and demonstrated His nature as both fully human and fully God. "Therefore, the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:14).
When God reveals the truth to Joseph, he immediately believes and obeys God's will, unbelievable as the truth would seem without a deep trust in God's power. Joseph trusted God enough to obey him. Mary and Joseph chose to embrace shame to preserve the sanctity of God's call.
Matthew was careful to state that Jesus was born of Mary, not Joseph ”Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, and Mary was the mother of Jesus who is called the Messiah” (Matthew 1:16). Matthew makes it clear that the Holy Spirit was the source of Jesus' birth.
There are not many facts recorded about Joseph in the four gospels. He is mentioned only with respect to the events surrounding Jesus' birth, flight to Egypt, return to Galilee. We find Joseph obeyed the Lord without question during all the times.
 Three times Joseph received angelic messages in dreams, and each time they called for moves he had not planned and would not wish for. First, he was called to care for Mary who was pregnant. Then he was ordered to flee as a refugee to far-off Egypt. After the birth of Jesus, an angel appeared to him, warning him of impending danger. Joseph immediately took Mary and Jesus to Egypt, where they found safety until the threat passed (Matt. 2:13–15).  Finally, an angel told him to return home.
 Joseph is not mentioned as being around when Jesus began His public ministry. He is conspicuous by His absence. Almost everyone agrees that he had died before the time Jesus revealed Himself to the world. We know nothing of the circumstances surrounding his death.
 We last hear of Joseph when Jesus was 12. After that, the Bible only mentions Jesus’ mother, Mary, and Jesus’ brothers. (Joseph probably died before Jesus began his ministry. From the cross, Jesus committed the care of his mother to one of his disciples [John 19:25–27].)
 As we look at the life of Joseph, we find that he was a humble man who honored God by obeying His Word. He followed the Lord, regardless of the personal costs. Joseph valued God’s plan above what others thought of him. He remained sensitive to the Holy Spirit, demonstrated by his acceptance of His guidance.

 
PRAYER
Dear Lord help us to come closer to you and understand your ways. Pray that we would continue work as a confessing community, as an obedient community and a loving community. May the love of God will touch everyone by his sacrifice.
 
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
“The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel which means God with us” (Mathew 1:23)
 
Willy Isaac, Carmel MTC, Boston, MA
Christian Education Forum, Diocese of NAE of the Mar Thoma Church

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