Matthew 1:1 - 25 (NKJV) 1The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham: 2Abraham begot Isaac, Isaac begot Jacob, and Jacob begot Judah and his brothers. 3Judah begot Perez and Zerah by Tamar, Perez begot Hezron, and Hezron begot Ram. 4Ram begot Amminadab, Amminadab begot Nahshon, and Nahshon begot Salmon. 5Salmon begot Boaz by Rahab, Boaz begot Obed by Ruth, Obed begot Jesse, 6and Jesse begot David the king. David the king begot Solomon by her who had been the wife of Uriah. 7Solomon begot Rehoboam, Rehoboam begot Abijah, and Abijah begot Asa. 8Asa begot Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat begot Joram, and Joram begot Uzziah. 9Uzziah begot Jotham, Jotham begot Ahaz, and Ahaz begot Hezekiah. 10Hezekiah begot Manasseh, Manasseh begot Amon, and Amon begot Josiah. 11Josiah begot Jeconiah and his brothers about the time they were carried away to Babylon. 12And after they were brought to Babylon, Jeconiah begot Shealtiel, and Shealtiel begot Zerubbabel. 13Zerubbabel begot Abiud, Abiud begot Eliakim, and Eliakim begot Azor. 14Azor begot Zadok, Zadok begot Achim, and Achim begot Eliud. 15Eliud begot Eleazar, Eleazar begot Matthan, and Matthan begot Jacob. 16And Jacob begot Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus who is called Christ. 17So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations, from David until the captivity in Babylon are fourteen generations, and from the captivity in Babylon until the Christ are fourteen generations. 18Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. 19Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly. 20But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. 21And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” 22So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: 23“Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.” 24Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife, 25and did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son. And he called His name Jesus.
Joseph’s Story
By
C. Paul Willis
My name is Joseph; I am the son of Jacob, whose father was Matthan, whose father was Eleazar the Priest. My linage is unspoiled going through the line of David back to the father of us all, Abraham! I come before the great Sanhedrin of Israel with a request which is my right by birth. I come to speak in behalf of a young man who calls me Abba and whom I call my son. In order for him to pass your judgment and make him a man in Israel with full access to our Synagogue and Temple I must declare him “bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh – swearing that he is the product of my loins” this I cannot do for this he is not. But before you have him expelled from the Synagogues and Temple of Israel please I beg you let me tell you my story so that you may have favor with the young man. For I tell you this if what I am about to share with you is falsehood then it is blasphemy and you should have me stoned to death but if what I say is true you should not only recognize Jesus, for such is his name but you should also bow before him and call him Lord!
I did not take a wife as others did during their youth because I was only an apprentice carpenter and could hardly feed my self much less a family. But when I had established my own carpenter shop and good clients I asked for the hand of a young maiden in our village named, Mary. Mary’s father was like myself of low station and could not provide a dowry for his child but we came to an agreement and Mary was betrothed to me. While a winsome child she was always protected by her family and properly attended to so that there could be no loss of her virginity until the marriage night.
Just before the wedding Mary came to me and told me the strangest story. She said that she had been visited by the Angel Gabriel and that she was with child who would be the Messiah of Israel. Then she swore to me that it was true and that she was already with child.
I was furious as any man would be but knew that if Mary were exposed to the village of Nazareth she would be stoned to death. I was minded to have her put away privately and take another, a virgin, for a bride. While I was contemplating this and having a restless sleep I had a dream or a vision, I know not which. I remind you of the prophet Daniel, that he had great things revealed to him by the Angel Gabriel, and of Michel the Archangel. In my restless sleep the Angel appeared and spoke. He said, “Do not fear to take Mary as wife, for indeed, she has conceived as was spoken by the prophet, “Behold a virgin shall conceive and bear a child and He will save His people from their sins.”
Upon arising I immediately made arrangements that Mary and I would complete our nuptials though I did not take her in the way of a man and a woman. There was gossip, of course, when Mary began to show that a child was coming. Then we received word that all of us from the house of David would have to go to Bethlehem to be taxed and both Mary and I descendants of David would be required to take the journey. I was amazed for I know the scriptures that said that the Messiah would be born in that very city!
The journey to Bethlehem was difficult and dangerous. The road was crowded with pilgrims and thieves would strike the travelers in broad daylight. We had few possessions, a donkey, my carpenters tools, clothing and blankets to keep us warm at night. Often we were forced to sleep under the shelter of a tree or in a small cave, sometimes in a clearing near the road with other travelers. Even though we shared a fire at those times they were the most dangerous, for any crowd attracted the bandits. When we arrived in Bethlehem the place was swarming with people. The streets were filled with hawkers selling every thing imaginable many items that had been stolen from the same people that were now being invited to purchase their own goods back. Tax collectors blocked every street collecting the taxes for the Romans. Prostitutes beckoned from every opening. The entire village smelled of human and animal excrement. Oh! It was a terrible place to bring a woman ready to be delivered. I enquired at the inn, of course, for a room but was informed that people were packed and sleeping side by side in every corner and nook. People were trying to find shelter under the eves of the houses and out in the Sheppard’s fields near the village. There was simply no room for a person seeking privacy in which to deliver a baby! I was frustrated beyond belief when the inn keeper’s wife found us and whispered to me that there was a cavern beneath the inn where the animals were kept and no people were there. If we needed to we could have the straw and manger and privacy where Mary could deliver and the Inn keepers’ wife would help with the delivery. It was there in the in the stable with only that kind woman, the animals, and myself that my son was born.
Soon after the baby made his first cry, was wrapped in swaddling cloth that was to be used for the birth of a lamb, and placed in a manger that a group of Sheppard’s appeared at the entrance to the cave. I could only tell that they were Sheppard’s because of the silhouette of their staffs against a bright light that seemed to flood the entrance to the cave. Their leader spoke, “We were tending our flocks in the field when suddenly there was the light of a great star and angels proclaiming, “Glory to God in the Highest and Peace to men of good will. Unto you is born this night in the city of David a Savior who is Christ the Lord. We followed the light and have come to worship Him!” I ushered them to where the baby was in the manger and they bowed and worshiped Mary’s child. “The Lamb of God” the oldest muttered as they left.
As soon as some to the people were registered and paid their taxes they began to leave to return to the places they had come from. Others began to settle in Bethlehem and it became evident that there would be a great deal of work for a carpenter. The Innkeepers wife had a house that she agreed to let us use in exchange of my services as a carpenter. Besides she was full of curiosity for she declared that my wife was a virgin before and a virgin after the birth, which she knew was not possible, and the declaration and adoration of the Sheppard’s had convinced her that something marvelous had occurred in her stable. Once we moved our things into the house I made ready and carried Mary and the babe in to Jerusalem in order to make the proper sacrifice of two doves for their purification. Mary said it was the thing to do since Jesus was born without sin He was still born under the law. When we arrived at the temple a man whose name was Simeon who had been waiting for us without our giving out the information of our coming. Simeon took the baby into his arms and blessed Him saying, “Lord you are no letting your servant depart in peace according to your word. My eyes have seen your salvation prepared before the face of all peoples, a light to bring revelation to the Gentiles and the glory of your people Israel.” He, Simeon then turned to Mary and said, “This Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel. He will be a sign that will be spoken against. A sword will pierce through your own soul so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed.” Needless to say we were astonished at Simon and his words but we had hardly moved from him when a prophetess by the name of Anna, of the tribe of Asher who was a widow of great age saw the child and told everyone she could that the child was for all who looked for redemption in Jerusalem. We made our offering and returned to Bethlehem where I found my trade profitable and the child having a protected home and adequate provision grow healthy and robust. He seemed to enjoy holding onto my fingers as I pulled Him from his crib and He played with my beard when I held Him. I tell you He is my son and I am His Abba as much as if He had come from my seed!
Then one night the star was seen again over Bethlehem and with its appearance came a large caravan from the east. They were Magi from the far away land of Persia, a group founded by the prophet Daniel when He was in the court of Babylon. They were led by the star to the very house where the child was. Mary held up the boy so that they could see Him. One of them directed his servants, approached the child and bowed in worship, “Gold” he said as his servants placed chests of Gold on the ground. “Gold for the King of Kings, He declared as he backed away his face lowered. “Frankincense” said another as he directed his servants to place large jars containing the spice next to the chests of gold. “Frankincense for the High Priest of God!” he declared. “Myrrh” said a third Magi, “Myrrh for one who will be the sacrifice to take away sins” and he wept as he directed his servants to put the jars of myrrh next to the gold and frankincense.
“Take the beasts” another said, leading aside two camels who were already prepared for mounting, “gather your belongings as we load the gifts back on other animals and leave this night for Egypt. We stopped on our journey by Jerusalem and enquired where the King of the Jews had been born and are sure that Herod plans to follow and kill the child. The provisions and the treasures we have brought can be used to meet your needs and that of the child until the danger has passed. But you must leave tonight; the child will not be safe in Israel. Did not one of your prophets say that He brought His son out of Egypt? So it must be to Egypt that you will go so that your scriptures will be fulfilled!”
The Magi left in one direction and as soon as we could we left in another. We had come just two to Bethlehem, Mary ridding on a donkey, now we left as three sitting on tapestry of shimmering cloth mounted on camels and leading other animals loaded with treasure. We were a small caravan so impressive no thief would dare attack for fear that an armed guard was somewhere near by. Tied to the last camel and following was the lowly donkey that Mary had ridden upon when we had entered Bethlehem. Such was the grandeur and provision of the real Father of my adopted son!
While in Egypt I knew Mary as my wife and the Lord blessed our union with four boys, James, Joses, Simon and Judas and two girls. The boys all had a striking family resemblance to me and had my nature, all except Jesus. I imagine that He had the features of David our great ancestor. Jesus was also different in that I am an unlearned worker. The treasures we carried with us into Egypt allowed Jesus and education and He is a very quick learner. When He learned to speak He spoke, of course our Aramaic tongue but also could speak Egyptian. In His schooling He learned Hebrew from the Rabbis and Greek from the traveling merchants. When He was just a small lad, He would dicker with the merchants to get the best prices. After ten years we received word that Herod had died and that we could return to Israel. We returned to Nazareth, were greeted warmly by those who had wondered what had happen to us, bought a carpenter shop and I built a house for our now large family. Wishing to establish ourselves as Jews, the family whet to Jerusalem to have Jesus presented as a man. The council said that I had to swear that Jesus was the son of my loins and of my seed. This I could not do, of course, so we started back to Nazareth with the rest of the villagers when we discovered Jesus was missing. Mary and I hurried back to the city and searched franticly for the lad. We found Him in the temple and there He was putting the Pharisees through and examination. When we told Him of our concern He simply said, “Did you not know that I had to be about my Fathers business.”
It has now been thirty years since the star shone in Bethlehem and He was born. He, recently, took a trip to the Jordan River to be baptized by the prophet John, who also had a miracles birth when he was birthed by Elizabeth and the Priest, Zacharias when they were past the age to have children. At the baptism, I am told, the heavens opened and the Holy Spirit was seen to descend upon Jesus in the form of a dove and a voice from heaven proclaimed, “This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.” I am now an old man and soon to depart to be with my ancestors. Jesus will soon come and present Himself to you in this Synagogue. You can cast Him out and declare Him unfit and illegitimate or you can accept Him. Your decision will not change His destiny! But, it will greatly affect yours. Reject my testimony and call it the ramblings of an old fool, or call it blasphemy and it matters little. Reject Him and you are rejecting eternal life! You see I call Jesus my Son, but I also call Him the Lord, my God and upon this confession depends eternity!
