Christmas Series
05/23/2019, by John Kincaid
Lesson 2071: Joseph Learns of the Census - Luke 2:1-3
When Joseph agreed to marry, he made at least 3 commitments, obedient to God:
- Accept Mary as wife and Jesus as son – the responsibility of a family right away.
- Give Jesus the legal birthright to the throne of David – Joseph’s firstborn son.
- Joseph accepted Jesus by faith as Messiah, before he saw Simeon at the Temple.
After the wedding, when the news of the census came, it solved 2 serious concerns.
Imagine Joseph at the mailbox: his family has to appear in Bethlehem on a certain date.
"No, that’s too close to Mary’s due date! The baby would be born in Bethlehem!..."
No one in Nazareth would know the baby came less than 9 months after the wedding.
The familiar prophecy of the Messiah's birthplace (not Nazareth). Micah 5:2
Joseph was deeply moved by the timing of the census as providence of God's plan.
Any lingering doubts that Joseph may have had about Mary's story were swept away.
He had already accepted it by faith. Now he knew it was true: his son was Christ the Lord.
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