The Angel Comes To Joseph

Matthew 1:18-25 (ages 7-12)

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

 

         Joseph was engaged to Mary. He loved Mary very much. She was from a family that believed in the god Yahweh, and he wanted her to be his wife. But when Joseph found out that Mary was going to have a baby, he thought about breaking up with her. He knew he was not the father of Mary's baby. But Joseph was a good man and he did not want to bring shame on Mary in the eyes of the people, so he decided to break up with her secretly. But if he broke up with her secretly, she would still have a baby without being married and that was a shame. Yahweh wants both father and mother to be committed to each other in marriage. This commitment makes a family stronger and more secure. 

          Mary told Joseph that she was having a child by the Holy Spirit.  Joseph loved her, and he wanted to believe her, but he wondered if it would be right for him to marry her since he was not the true father of her baby. He knew the book of Isaiah said that a virgin would have the Son of Yahweh. But if Mary was the one chosen by Yahweh to have his son, would Yahweh want him to marry her?

          One night while he slept, Yahweh’s angel visited Joseph, and said, “Joseph, son of David, don’t be afraid to take Mary as your wife.  Her child is from the Holy Spirit.  She will have a Son, and you will call Him Yasha (meaning Savior), because he will save his people from their sins.”  All this has happened so the words of Yahweh that were said through the prophets would come true.

          When Joseph woke up, he went to Mary and told her what had happened.  He obeyed Yahweh’s angel and took Mary to be his wife. He took her home with him, but he did not live with her as a husband until she had given birth to Yahweh’s Son.

          Joseph and Mary were very happy. Joseph was happy to be a stepfather to the Son of Yahweh. Yahweh was always with them, but he was spirit. Yahweh hugged and loved Yasha through Joseph and Mary. Joseph and Mary had more children; so Yasha had brothers and sisters to play with, to share his toys with, and to love and be loved by.

 

 

1.  Joseph was engaged to                             .

2.  Mary was going to have a                                .

3. Joseph did not want to bring                              on Mary by telling everyone that

     she was going to have a baby before being committed in marriage.

 4.  What book of the Old Testament told of a virgin having a son?                        

5.  Who was the father of Mary’s baby?                  

6.  What convinced Joseph that it would be okay to marry Mary?                          

7.  What does the Hebrew name "Yasha" mean?                                                

8.  What does the name "Immanuel" mean?                                                    

9.  Did Mary and Joseph have other children after Yasha was born?