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How Old Was Joseph When She Had Jesus

Joseph’s Dreams

Joseph receives divine guidance through dreams several times. Those dreams, which all relate to Jesus, contain some clues about Joseph’s age when Jesus was born. In Matthew 1:20-21, Joseph experiences a dream that addresses his concerns about Mary’s pregnancy and gives him the peace of mind to marry her. An angel appears to Joseph in the dream, assuring him that the child conceived in Mary’s womb is indeed from the Holy Spirit and that he should not hesitate to take her as his wife. This dream served a crucial purpose in reassuring Joseph of God’s plan and his role in raising Jesus. It dispelled any doubts he might have had and affirmed his responsibility as Jesus’ earthly protector and guardian. This suggests that Joseph was mature enough to accept such an important responsibility, but it doesn’t mean that Joseph was mature in the sense of being an older man – only that he was spiritually mature. The second dream happens after King Herod issued a decree to kill all male infants in Bethlehem. Joseph receives a warning in a dream to flee to Egypt with Mary and Jesus (Matthew 2:13). Joseph’s obedience to the dream’s instructions saved Jesu’s life and allowed the Holy Family to find refuge in Egypt until Herod’s death. The dream highlights Joseph’s wisdom to rely on God’s guidance and follow God’s directions. It reveals Joseph’s spiritual wisdom, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that Joseph was an older man. The third dream takes place after Herod’s death, which historical records place around 4 BC. This suggests that several years likely passed between the second and third dreams, but that Joseph was still likely a young man because only a few years had gone by between those dreams. In the third dream, an angel of the Lord tells Joseph to return to Israel (Matthew 2:19-20). The angel assures Joseph that it’s safe to go back home, as the danger posed by Herod has passed. Finally, when Joseph planned to return to Judea, he received another dream warning him to change his plans and go to Galilee instead (Matthew 2:22). Joseph’s obedience to this dream led him to Nazareth, where Jesus spent his childhood and early ministry. All of those dreams show Joseph’s mature faith, but not his age.

Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/Romolo Tavani

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