The Carpenter and His Bride: The Birth of Hope

By Paula K. Parker

Description:

Simeon ben Anaiah, a revered elder of his people who awaited the consolation of Israel, was famed for proclaiming that "every baby's birth is the birth of hope." But when a young couple from Nazareth present their newborn son at the temple, Simeon realizes his prophecy has been more than fulfilled, for the birth of this child truly is the birth of hope for the whole world.

Yet this tale begins before the birth of the child named Jesus. The Carpenter and his Bride offers a beautiful, stirring—at times surprising—account of the love story between Joseph and Mary as they walk the journey of complete obedience to God’s plan of salvation for humanity through His Son.

Joseph is a carpenter, but more than that, he is an artisan who is called upon to work on the construction in nearby Zippori, one of Herod’s capital cities. Mary is a demure young woman with a quiet spirit and a yearning toward all things beautiful and artistic. Each is drawn to the other's servant heart, until they both realize that their gentle friendship has grown beyond simple affection into full-fledged love.

Book Takeaway:

The story portrays Mary and Joseph as ordinary people, chosen by God for an extraordinary task.

Awards:

Why the author wrote this book:

I have felt drawn to Mary and Joseph since I gave birth to our first child on Christmas Eve. I began researching the history and culture of that time, as well as delving into Bible research surrounding the birth of Jesus. I learned things I had never heard in my 60 years of being a Christian, mostly because many of these things had only recently been discovered. I decided to write their story.