The ancient prophet had announced that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2). And so God moved the entire Roman Empire to force her subjects to return to their home towns for a census, so that Mary and I would be made to return to Bethlehem, our family home. All so Yeshua could be born there.

Then the angel made his second appearance to me (Matthew 2:13), warning me of King Herod's plot to kill this child. I was forced to abandon my family, friends, and work, and flee to a foreign country. Can you imagine how that felt? And to go to Egypt! The last time our people were there, things were hard for us, as you might remember. It made no sense to me, but again, I was obedient.

Still later came the angel's third visit (Matthew 2:19), leading us to return to Israel so this boy could be the Messiah of our nation. This was confusing as well--didn't Herod have family who would want us dead as well? But I was obedient. Then came the fourth visitation from the Lord (Matthew 2:22), leading us full circle back to Nazareth. Not to Jerusalem, where the Messiah would grow up with all the power and sophistication due him, but the tiny town of Nazareth. Again this made no sense, but I was obedient.

There is one other chapter to my life story, not in your gospels.

In our society, the religious upbringing of the children and especially the sons was given entirely to me. I was thus responsible for teaching the Messiah, God's Son, the word and will of the Lord God. For instructing him in the law and the prophets, the ways and word of our God. For teaching him to be obedient to Yahweh as I had been.

It is a great joy to me that my son did in fact obey the will of the Lord as I had. Even when that will led him to Gethsemane and Calvary, to die in your place and mine. He was obedient, too.

But it is my greatest joy that our son learned to address his Father in a way which was completely new for our people. With a title none of our rabbis or scholars had ever given to God before. With the name he first learned to call me: "father." He taught you to pray in the same way: "Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed by thy name." That he could identify his name for me with his name for God--this is my greatest and most humbling joy of all.