When Joseph found out about Mary’s pregnancy, he must not have believed that she was pregnant by the Holy Spirit but that she had been unfaithful to him. Even though they were engaged and not married, to break the relationship, Joseph would have had to divorce Mary. In fact, adultery in engagement was even…
Now the birth of Jesus Christ happened like this. His mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, and before they came together, she was found to be with a child from the Holy Spirit. And Joseph, her husband, being a righteous man, and not willing to make her a public example, intended to put her…
Mary was probably about 14 to 16 years of age when she gave birth to Jesus. This was a very common age for young women to be engaged and marry in biblical times. So the son of God was the son of a teenage mother. Joseph was probably slightly older, around 30. Joseph and Mary…
Now in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. Having come in, the angel said to her, “Greetings, favored one. The…
Unlike our modern Santa Claus, Father Christmas was traditionally a personification of the holiday who emphasized generosity to others, thanksgiving to God, and celebration of the Savior. ANTHONY MCROY While the modern “Santa Claus” is essentially American, one U.S. tradition never took off in Britain—designating him “Kriss Kringle.” Instead, Britons call him “Father Christmas.”…
