Joseph's tale
“The news from my betrothed Mary, when it came, filled me with dismay,
as a respected carpenter in the village I could not afford a scandal.
I believed her to be a God fearing and honest young virgin maid,
now she was telling me that she was to be with child;..miraculously!
In order to avoid the inevitable disgrace that this would produce,
I was determined to break off our engagement privately,
but a message from the Lord, in a dream confirmed her words as truth,
and so began the wonderful tale of the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Mary then became my wife, but she remained pure until the birth of her promised son.
As such whilst with child, she visited her elderly, cousin Elizabeth,
amazingly, she too, in her old age, had conceived and was soon to deliver her son John,
She acknowledged the special nature of Mary's child and in response Mary thanked and praised her Lord.
Being of the lineage of David, I went to the town of Bethlehem the call for a census having been made.
Thus it was that prophecy was fulfilled and the incarnation took place whilst we were there,
the angels announced this to the shepherds ,who were led to worship the babe.
Following the birth in the poorest of circumstances I found us a home in which to wean the child.
Some twelve to eighteen months later, Mary and I received a surprise visit.
Arriving at our home in Bethlehem was a caravan bringing a group of Magi with an extraordinary tale!
They had travelled for many miles and addressed Mary's son as a king; worthy of their worship!
presenting him with symbolic gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh
They reported how a sign had indicated to them the birth of a king in Israel
which had led them to make the journey; Informed by Herod of a prophecy regarding Bethlehem,
they had been led by the presence of a star to acknowledge him as the promised king of Israel.
Warned by the Lord not to return to Herod who meant to harm the child they returned home by a different route.
On not hearing from the Magi, Herod was still determined to remove his perceived rival.
Basing his decision on the time when the Magi thought the birth had taken place he ordered the death of boys up to two years old.
Once again I received a message via a dream to flee from Bethlehem before the soldiers arrival.
As a family then we stayed in Egypt until learning of Herod's demise we returned to Nazareth.”
The final reference to Joseph by name, is when as a diligent parent he takes the family to Jerusalem..
It is recorded that Jesus was twelve years old causing consternation by remaining in the city.
Having been found as he declared ' about His father's business ' we read that Jesus returns with them as an obedient son.
As an adult, Jesus is referred to as the carpenter’s son but Joseph is not mentioned by name again;...his role having been fulfilled.