Once upon a time, in a quiet town called Nazareth, there lived a kind and gentle man named Joseph. Joseph was going to marry Mary, a very special lady. But one day, Joseph felt confused and worried. He thought, “What if I should not marry Mary? What if something is wrong?”
Joseph loved Mary very much, but he heard something surprising. Mary was going to have a baby! This baby was not like any other baby. God had chosen Mary to be the mother of His Son. Joseph did not understand how this could happen. He felt a little scared and unsure.
That night, Joseph went to sleep with a heavy heart. Suddenly, an angel came to him in a dream. The angel’s face was bright like the moon shining in the dark sky. The angel said, “Joseph, don’t be afraid to take Mary as your wife.”
The angel told Joseph a wonderful secret. “The baby inside Mary is from the Holy Spirit. You will name him Jesus. He will save people from their sins.” Joseph’s heart started to feel warm and happy. He knew God was with him.
Joseph woke up from his dream with a big smile. He said, “I will do what God wants. I will take care of Mary and the baby Jesus.” Even though it was not easy, Joseph trusted God’s plan. He was brave because God was helping him.
Joseph’s dream showed us that God speaks to us in special ways. Sometimes, God helps us feel brave when we are scared. Joseph’s love and trust in God helped him take care of Jesus, the Savior of the world.
The stars twinkled above like tiny candles, and Joseph felt peace in his heart. He knew God’s love was bigger than any fear. And so, Joseph and Mary prepared for the baby who would bring joy and hope to everyone.
Questions to think about
- Who came to Joseph in the dream?
- What did the angel tell Joseph not to be?
- What was special about Mary’s baby?
- How did Joseph feel after the dream?
- What can we learn from Joseph’s trust in God?
Message of the story
God loves us and helps us be brave when we face hard things. He has a wonderful plan for everyone.
Bible passage
Matthew 1:18-25 (World English Bible)
18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was like this: After his mother Mary was engaged to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child by the Holy Spirit.
19 Joseph her husband, being a righteous man and not wanting to disgrace her, planned to put her away secretly.
20 But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, don’t be afraid to take Mary as your wife, because the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.
21 She will give birth to a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
22 Now all this happened so that what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet would be fulfilled, saying,
23 “Look, the virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.”
24 When Joseph woke up, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him. He took his wife,
25 but did not know her sexually until she gave birth to her firstborn son. He called his name Jesus.
