Joseph | English Devotion | NHFCSG

Joseph

"This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly." (Matthew 1:18-19)

We know so little about him, the father of Jesus. Joseph probably died long before Jesus' adult ministry, because he is only mentioned in the birth and childhood stories of Jesus.

Named after the ancient patriarch who used his success in Egypt to save his family and a future nation, this Joseph was a carpenter who lived in the town of Nazareth.

It may have been that some great grandfather had moved from Bethlehem in Judea up to the north where Jews at that time were establishing their presence among the pagans of Galilee.

 So when a Roman ruler called Caesar Augustus wanted a census, Joseph had to go back to Bethlehem, though his wife was well along in her pregnancy.

The most important thing we know about Joseph is that at the right moment in his life, he was full of faith and grace. He found out that the woman he was engaged to be married to was pregnant, and though Mary had the benefit of the message of an angel who explained her unique conception, Joseph hadn't been visited yet.

All he had was Mary's word. So what was that conversation like? No, she hadn't slept with another man. Yes, she was pregnant.

And yes, a spiritual being had told her that she would conceive by a unique act of God--and as if that wasn't enough--the child in her womb would be the Savior of the people.

Why did Joseph believe her? Why did he change his first plans to quietly divorce her so as not to expose her to public shame (engagements were so serious then, to break one off amounted to a divorce), and instead take her as his wife--and then abstain from sexual relations with her until the birth of the child?

I ask myself, if I were in his shoes, would I have believed Mary? Here is something for all of us to think about at Christmas.

Think of Joseph. Think of him looking into Mary's eyes, hearing her account, knowing in his heart of hearts it was true, and having the courage to act on that faith knowledge even though he may have had doubts. As nonsensical as it seemed, he believed it.

 As much as the idea of a virginal conception violates every norm of what we know about real life, he knew it was possible with God.

As risky as it was to stay with Mary and be branded by others as the hapless dupe of an immoral woman, Joseph decided to put everything on the line.

That is true faith. And it is true grace. It wasn't just that he believed Mary; he believed God. That God could; that God might; that God would.

Prayer for today: God, give me an iron-strong faith that at the birth of Jesus you really did enter this world--my world--and you are still working powerfully in it.