I enjoy reading the Christmas story. It is one of my favorite moments of Christmas each year. I like to consider what it was like for those who experienced Christmas firsthand. What was it like to be greeted by an angel? How bright was the star? What was it like to bow at the manger and wonder what was to come of this baby?

I have always wanted to know more about Joseph – especially how he experienced all of this emotionally (I love a good romance – I also love the movie The Nativity Story). Did Joseph love Mary? Did he experience all of the emotions that were experienced by others who saw firsthand the story of the Christ Child unfolding?

Did he experience hope when the angel of the Lord told him to name the baby Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins (Matthew 1:21)? Joseph was from the line of David and he was a righteous man. He would have recognized that the prophecy was being fulfilled through the birth of this baby. He would have eagerly been waiting for the Messiah to come. Now he had a front row seat to the fulfillment of this promise of salvation for his family – for himself.

Did he experience peace like Mary did as she “treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart” (Luke 2:19)? Isaiah 26:3 says, “You will keep in perfect those whose minds are steadfast because they trust in you.” It seems he must have trusted in what the angel said because “he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife” (Matthew 1:24).

Did he experience joy like the Magi did when they willingly surrendered their own lordship to the Lordship of their true King and Savior? If there is truly joy in surrender, I believe Joseph felt joy. Joseph planned to divorce Mary quietly, yet he surrendered that plan to God when the angel of the Lord came to him and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 1:20).

So let’s find out the answer to my first question – Did Joseph love Mary? If we look to 1 Corinthians 13 for the definition of love, I believe we will all agree that Joseph was patient and kind, not self-seeking, not easily angered. Love protects – Joseph kept his little family safe from harm when King Herod tried to destroy this new King. Love is not proud – by taking Mary as his wife he was willing for people to think that this baby was his, that he was not the righteous man they had believed him to be. He surrendered his reputation – now that’s love.

The best word I can find to describe Joseph’s actions is obedience. He listened for the voice of God, his heart was in the right place so that he heard what God had to say, and he obeyed – following exactly what God told him to do. I have experienced firsthand, therefore I believe, that obedience out of love brings hope, peace and joy.

What is God asking you to do? Do you need a word from the Lord today? Draw near to God, enter into His presence and listen to what He says with a heart willing to obey. It is the best recipe for hope, peace and joy this Christmas.