Hope in the Heartland
The baby King
(Editor’s note: This is the second part of a four-part series, leading to Christmas.)
Pastor, Gracepoint church
Later, Joseph awoke, his heart pounding. Jumping to his feet, his mind replayed the angel’s message as he charged out the door. Tears ran down his cheeks as he approached the home of Mary’s parents, calling his loved one’s name louder with each step, “Mary! Mary!”
He stopped in the courtyard, trying to catch his breath, but the sight of Mary standing in the doorway stole it away again. Their eyes met, then they ran into each other’s embrace.
“Mary, an angel came to me in a dream,” Joseph said.
“God sent his messenger to me also. Gabriel told me that I would have a …” Mary said.
“… a son,” Joseph said, finishing Mary’s sentence.
They laughed and pushed tears from each other’s cheeks.
“Yes, Joseph, a son. And we are to name Him …” Mary said.
“Jesus,” Joseph and Mary said together.
Their eyes widened with excitement and they repeated the name over and over.
“Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, Jesus.”
With hope reborn, Mary and Joseph walked and talked together for hours. God was fulfilling His promise to Israel.
The Messiah, placed in Mary’s womb by the Holy Spirit, would soon be born. They would see him. They would know him. They would raise him.
Time raced by and they soon married. As the time to give birth quickly approached, news of Caesar’s decree swept through the village. Joseph knew he must go to Bethlehem to register and his nine-months pregnant bride was determined to go with him.