Nazareth was an insignificant small-town set in the hill country just a few miles from the Sea of Galilee. It had a population of about 400 people who were mostly Jewish in heritage.
Everyone knew everyone else. Any news would travel fast in this little village. The Hebrew word for Nazareth means “”branch.” This could relate to the prophesy in Isaiah 11:1 “There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit.” The story of our Savior begins in this town. Through angelic visits, Mary would receive the news about her immaculate conception. Her betrothed husband, Joseph, would also be approached by an angel in a dream. The angel assured Joseph that Mary’s child would be from God. It had to take a lot of faith, trust and courage for him to believe this, but he did.

Joseph was a carpenter by trade. His hands were likely rough from chiseling away at a piece of wood or stone all day, but they were also strong from handling those materials. Some suggest that he was a skilled stone craftsman as well since wood wasn’t in great abundance. In any event, he was considered an artist. He taught his stepson, Jesus, the trade as they worked together in those early years.

Joseph was used to working hard. He probably had been doing it since he was a boy himself. Things were going well for him. He was engaged to a young woman; he had a trade; he was a man on the move. Life was good. Then something happened that would change his life forever. The angel of the Lord appeared to this average “Joe” with an announcement that would change the course of history. Like Mary, he accepted what the angel told him with a heart of faith even though the whole idea was incomprehensible to him.

There are so many times in our lives that we feel secure and then something happens to completely throw us off guard. I pray that I could have even an ounce of the faith that Mary and Joseph displayed when being confronted with such shocking news. Joseph could’ve walked away from Mary and follow the Jewish law which stated he could divorce her from their marriage contract, but that would mean that she would likely be stoned to death. His love for Mary kept him on the right path. His confrontation by the angel sealed the deal. He would take on the role of stepfather as was directed by God Himself.

God, give me strength in the knowledge that you control my life and thus give me peace because I know you are the best one to be in charge.