My pastor and his wife have a beautiful glowing nativity scene in their garden. However, this morning, Amy informed me that poor Joseph took a battering in last night’s high winds. He was bending precariously, and she had to tell Ian to lie him down. So it looks as though poor Joseph might be condemned to spending Christmas flat on his back.
Have you ever considered the fact that Joseph tends to be the most overlooked character in the Christmas story? How many sermons have you heard where he was the main focus? Does the child intrusted with the task of playing Jesus’ earthly father in the church or school nativity play even get any lines? Mary often has a song to sing, and the shepherds and wise men have speaking parts, but Joseph is told to lead the donkey, look after Mary, and smile.
A few days ago, we talked about the interruption to Mary’s carefully made plans. Well, those were Joseph’s plans too. No doubt this faithful carpenter was already hard at work adding an extra room onto his father’s house in readiness for his new bride when the startling news filtered through. Mary was pregnant, and she was attempting to excuse her scandalous behaviour by claiming her baby was the Son of God.
Matthew’s Gospel talks about Joseph as a righteous man who did not want his fiancé to suffer public disgrace. This speaks volumes about his character. He could have shamed her, or possibly had her stoned. Instead, he intended to break the engagement quietly. Imagine his heartbreak over the likelihood that his trust in Mary had been betrayed. Perhaps she wasn’t the woman she’d pretended to be. Had their whole relationship been based on lies?
Joseph did not act on impulse. The Bible says he considered his options, and while he was doing this, God’s angel appeared to him in a dream, confirming that the baby in Mary’s womb had been conceived by the Holy Spirit. The truth gave Joseph the freedom to carry out his plans, marry Mary, and help her bring up God’s Son.
Perhaps, like Joseph, you find yourself waiting for the truth to be revealed. You are confused about vital life issues and seeking clarification from God. I urge you to persevere in prayer because we serve a God of truth and justice. I also encourage you to open your heart to the greatest truth of all – that Jesus is god’s Son, come in the flesh to save us from our sin and show us the way to enjoy a right and fulfilling relationship with our Father God.
Prayer
Lord, I lift to you today the areas of my life in which I am seeking truth and justice, and I thank you that you know all things.
Song: A Strange Way to Save the World by 4Him
Scriptures to Ponder
John 8: 32: “And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
3John 1:4: “I could have no greater joy than to hear that my children are following the truth.”