The Second of Advent - Joseph's Faithful Actions

The Second of Advent - Joseph's Faithful Actions

Today is the second of Advent and we continue our seasonal journey of celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ.  A few weeks ago we learned the basics about Advent and about having a family worship time (click HERE to view).  Today we are going to study "Joseph's Faithful Actions".

With divorce and remarriage in todays society being at about 50% it is very easy to understand the important role of a step father.  Many people even believe that their step father (in many cases) is actually a better father than their biological father.  Joseph was a step father to Jesus.  I of course am NOT suggesting that he was a better father than God but Joseph's faithful actions played an important part in history.
  
There are 3 important actions by Joseph that helped change the world forever.  By following God and doing exactly what God asked of him - Joseph protected Mary and Jesus;  thereby allowing Jesus to grow up and become the Savior to ALL! 

Here are Joseph's 3 Faithful Actions:
1.  He married Mary even though he new ahead of time that she was already pregnant.
2.  He brought Mary to Bethlehem where Jesus was born.
3.  He took Jesus and Mary to Egypt to escape from Herod who would have killed Jesus the child (read the verses below).

When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up,” he said, “take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.” So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: “Out of Egypt I called my son.”
Matthew 2:13-15 

"After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt"
Matthew 2:19

Have you ever wondered why Joseph was not present at the Crucifixion?  As we studied last week in the verses below we learned that Jesus made sure that his mom Mary would be cared for in His absence.  Many historians believe that Joseph passed away when Jesus was about 13 years old.  If Joseph had been alive at the Crucifixion then Jesus would not have made that provision for future care for his mom Mary.

Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.  When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, “Woman, here is your son,” and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.
John 19:25-27

While Joseph's role was not as important as that of Mary's role - it was still a vital part.  Let's thank God for Joseph's faithful actions.

Please enjoy the song below:
"Guard Him, Joseph"


(by Sally DeFord)

A special thanks to "Sally DeFord" for sharing this with us on YouTube

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