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Joseph took responsibility for Mary and Jesus

“When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave Him the name Jesus.” (Matthew 1:24-25, NIV)

Joseph had received clear instructions from the angel. He carried them out carefully. He took Mary as his wife and took responsibility for the Child, who was not his own. In doing so, he also endured the shame that an extramarital pregnancy entailed. The circumstances surrounding Jesus' birth were not exactly ideal, and Joseph could not change that. But he did stand beside Mary as a loyal husband. The birth took place far from home, in Bethlehem, because Joseph and Mary had to go there for a census. Then, King Herod wanted to kill the Child, and the young family had to flee to Egypt. When this Herod finally died, his successor proved to be at least as dangerous. Therefore, Joseph went to live with Mary and Jesus in Nazareth, where they originally came from. There, Jesus grew up, and He “grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor of God was upon him.” (Luke 2:40)

At key moments, Joseph received instructions from an angel, which he meticulously followed each time, even though those instructions repeatedly sent his life into disarray. His role as Jesus' ‘father’ must not have been easy. However, Joseph accepted that role as a command from God.

If you had been in Joseph's shoes, would you have acted the same way?