Heaven’s First Announcement: Joseph & Mary’s Story

The birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ, is celebrated every December, but unlike any ordinary birthday, Jesus birth is surrounded by miracles that still leave us in awe. When we look deeper into the Christmas story, we don’t just see a baby in a manger — we witness heaven touching earth, angels breaking the silence of the night, and a divine plan unfolding before humble hearts. These are moments of wonder that stretch far beyond what the human mind can fully comprehend.

At the heart of Christmas is the greatest announcement ever made — good news delivered from heaven to earth. Not to kings or scholars, but to simple shepherds watching their flocks by night:

[Luke 2:10 NIV] 10 But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.

Throughout this season of December, we will uncover the deeper truths found in the birth of Jesus, beginning with Mary’s faith, the shepherds’ encounter, and the journey of Mary and Joseph — discovering how heaven’s good news transformed ordinary lives forever.

The birth of our Lord began with Mary’s faith and Joseph’s Obedience and Our Saviour who is God’s Only Begotten Son.

Mary’s Good News Message

In Jewish culture of that time, betrothal (engagement) was far more binding than what we understand today. A man and woman were legally considered husband and wife, even though they did not yet live together. Only after the betrothal period was complete would the marriage be fully united and publicly celebrated.

Both Mary and Joseph belonged to the house of David, fulfilling the prophetic requirement that the Messiah would come through David’s royal line. The Old Testament had already foretold that the Messiah would be born of a woman (Genesis 3:15), through the seed of Abraham (Genesis 22:18), from the tribe of Judah, and from the family of David (2 Samuel 7:12–16).

At this time, Mary and Joseph were pledged to be married:

[Matthew 1:18 NIV] 18 This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph…

Heaven’s Message to Mary

[Luke 1:31-38 NIV] 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over Jacob's descendants forever; his kingdom will never end." 34 "How will this be," Mary asked the angel, "since I am a virgin?" 35 The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. 36 Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. 37 For no word from God will ever fail." 38 "I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May your word to me be fulfilled." Then the angel left her.

In Luke 1:31–38, the angel Gabriel appeared to Mary with a message that revealed both God’s plan and Mary’s calling. [Luke 1: 31 NIV] “You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus.”

Now imagine what this moment must have felt like for Mary.

• Throughout Scripture, encounters with angels were never ordinary experiences. Men like Zechariah, Moses, and David were overwhelmed when they encountered God’s messengers, and Mary would have felt the same awe and trembling in that holy moment.

• To be told that she — a virgin — would conceive and give birth to a son was beyond human explanation. Even more astonishing was the instruction to give the child a specific name: Jesus — a name filled with divine purpose and destiny. This was not just surprising information; it was a life-altering revelation.

• The angel then went on to reveal five eternal truths about Jesus — truths that perfectly align with Old Testament prophecy and confirm that this child was not just a Son, but the promised Messiah.

• Jesus will be great ([Luke 1:32  NIV] “He will be great”) — not simply great among men, but supreme in nature and authority (Philippians 2:9–11).

• Jesus will be called the Son of the Most High ([Luke 1:32  NIV] “will be called the Son of the Most High”) — declaring His divine sonship (John 1:1–14).

• Jesus will be given the throne of David ([Luke 1:32  NIV] “The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David”) — fulfilling God’s covenant with David in 2 Samuel 7:12–16.

• Jesus will reign forever ([Luke 1:33  NIV] ”and he will reign over Jacob's descendants forever”) — pointing to His role as eternal King (Daniel 7:13–14; Revelation 11:15).

• Jesus will His kingdom would never end ([Luke 1:33  NIV] “his kingdom will never end.") — confirming Christ’s rule is eternal, unshakable, and undefeatable.(Isaiah 9:6–7).

Mary’s response to this shock turns to a question in [Luke 1:34  NIV] “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”,

• Mary’s question did not come from unbelief, but from a heart of humble inquiry. She was not doubting God’s power; she was seeking to understand God’s process.

• There is an important contrast between her response and that of Zechariah in Luke 1:18. Zechariah asked, “How can I be sure?” — a question that revealed doubt. Mary, however, asked, “How will this be?” — a question that showed faith seeking understanding, not proof.

The Divine Explanation

Angel answers how it will happen [Luke 1:35  NIV]  The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.

There Spiritual Truths releveled in the Birth of Jesus

1. Holy Spirit’s involvement – the conception is supernatural. Divine birth is thru the Holy Spirit’s conception. This is supernatural cannot be fathomed by mind. Nothing like this is heard or happened earlier here.

2. Power of the Most High will overshadow you – God’s creative glory, just like at creation (Gen 1:2). Will be on Mary as she is most favoured person to give place for the Womb to God’s Own Son.

3. The child will be holy — the Son of God – the birth is divine, sinless, and pure. As the birth is not from human origin, it’s directly thru the Holy spirit.

Faith That Opened the Door for a Miracle

If any of us had received such a message, our response would likely have been a flood of questions. We would want clarity, timelines, and assurances. In truth, much of what the angel said was beyond human understanding — and Mary, too, could not have fully grasped all of it. Yet, what makes her response remarkable is not how much she understood, but how completely she trusted.

[Luke 1:38  NIV]   "I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May your word to me be fulfilled."

• The Good News - miracle required Mary’s consent: “May Your word to me be fulfilled.” God’s promises often wait for our surrender.

This teaches us a vital truth — God’s promises often wait for our surrender. While God is sovereign, He invites human cooperation (James 4:6; 1 Peter 5:5). Mary’s humility opened the door for the miracle. [1 Peter 5:5 NIV] 5 In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”

Joseph’s Good News Message

[Matthew 1:18-25 NIV] 18 This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. 19 Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. 20 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream 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. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins." 22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23 "The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel" (which means "God with us"). 24 When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. 25 But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.

• Just as God spoke to Mary, He also spoke to Joseph through a dream (Matthew 1:18–25). In those days, Jewish betrothal was legally binding, and breaking it required divorce. A pregnancy during this period could bring great shame and severe consequences under the Law (Deuteronomy 22:13–21).

• When Joseph discovered Mary was pregnant, he chose mercy over judgment. The Bible describes him as righteous and compassionate [Matthew 1:19 NIV] Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly

• God intervened through an angel, saying: [Matthew 1:20 NIV] But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream 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.

• Joseph was commanded to name the child Jesus, meaning [Matthew 1:21 NIV] “He will save His people from their sins”

• All of this fulfilled the prophecy of [Isaiah 7:14 NIV] — “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son… Immanuel (God with us)”

• Joseph responded with immediate obedience. He took Mary as his wife and honoured God’s plan (Matthew 1:24–25). His life teaches us that true faith is shown through quiet trust, mercy, and obedience.

Jesus – The Only Begotten Son

Divine Genealogy (Begotten Son from Holy Spirit)

The Word “Beget” = to father / to produce offspring.

The Word “Begotten” = born of someone (especially used for Jesus to show His divine origin).

• Every child born into the world is a totally new creature. But Jesus Christ, being eternal God (John 1:1, 14), existed before Mary and Joseph or any of His earthly ancestors.

• [John 1:1, 14 NIV] 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ... 14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

• If Jesus had been conceived like any ordinary child, He could not be truly God. That is why His birth was unique. He entered the world through an earthly mother, but His origin was divine — conceived by the Holy Spirit, not by an earthly father.

• By a miracle of the Holy Spirit, Jesus was conceived in the womb of the virgin Mary (Luke 1:26–38). He took on human form so that He could live among us, reveal the Father to us, and ultimately redeem us.

• When the Bible calls Jesus the only begotten Son, it is pointing to His divine origin — that His life did not begin in Bethlehem, but in eternity.

• This is the wonder of Christmas: God became man, without ceasing to be God.

Five Lessons from - Heaven’s First Announcement

1. Gods Plan starts with simple Obedience – Both Mary and Joseph Obeyed Angels word, even though their mind was too young to understand the whole divine plan. The Obeyed. Obedience to God is first thing if God has to use you or me. Obedience to him without asking questions. As you say so Lord is the attitude we have to have.

   1. [Luke 1:38 NIV] 38 "I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May your word to me be fulfilled." Then the angel left her.

   2. [Matthew 1:24 NIV] 24 When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife.

2. Faith trusts God even when the situation seems impossible - Mary did not reject God’s word. She asked, “How will this be?” not from doubt, but from wonder and faith. Luke 1:37  “For no word from God will ever fail.” This teaches us that faith does not require full understanding, only full trust. Proverbs 3:5–6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart…”

3. God reveals His glory to humble hearts, not proud ones – Both Mary and Joseph were humble to God, Heaven’s announcement did not go to kings or religious elites, but to a young, humble girl and later to shepherds in the fields. God is hand is on those who humble themselves.

4. Jesus Christ is our Begotten Son – Jesus was given to the world as God’s own Son, entering fully into human life and experiencing our struggles, yet overcoming the power of sin through the cross to bring salvation to us. There is no other ‘begotten’ one like Him, for Scripture declares [John 3:16 (KJV)] “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son…”

5. Christmas is the revelation that God came to save us – The name Jesus reminds us that He is the Savior from sin — the promised Messiah. He was not born merely for us to celebrate, but to break the chains of sin and lift the heavy burden of guilt from our lives. As Scripture declares in [Matthew 1:21 NIV] “Jesus, Because he will save his people from their Sins”