CHAPTER NINETEEN/ Joseph Protected His Family

 Months earlier, in his hometown of Nazareth, Joseph found his live changed forever after his engagement to the daughter of Heli. Joseph knew Mary as an innocent, faithful young woman. But then he learned that she was pregnant. He intended to divorce her secretly to protect her from scandal. However, an angel spoke to him in a dream explaining that Mary was pregnant by means of Jehovah's holy spirit. The angel added that the son she bore would save his people from their sins." He further reassured Joseph: "Do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife home." - MATTHEW 1:18-21.

Joseph, a righteous and obedient man, did just that. He took on the weightiest of assignments: raising and carrying for a son who was not his own but who was most precious to God.  Later, in obedience to an imperial decree, Joseph and his pregnant wife went to Bethlehem to register. It was there that the child was born. 

Joseph did not take the family back to Nazareth. Instead, they settled in Bethlehem, just a few miles (about 10 km) from Jerusalem. They were poor, but Joseph did all he could to protect Mary and Jesus from want or suffering.  In a short time, they took up living in a humble home. Then, when Jesus was no longer a baby but a small child-perhaps over a year old-their lives suddenly changed again.

Next time: CHAPTER NINETEEN/Joseph Protected His Family - Continue

From the jw.org publications