Five-minute read.
All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:
“Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us).
When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.
Matthew 1:22-25
Often, we forget about Joseph when retelling the story of Christ’s birth. A man of great faith, when Mary became pregnant, it caused quite the dilemma for Jesus’ earthly father. Betrothal in Jewish custom meant engagement. Promised to Joseph in marriage, Mary must keep herself pure for him until the marriage ceremony. However, when she became pregnant, it equaled adultery, punishable by death. Joseph planned to quietly divorce his betrothed until the angel appeared with the divine message. The moral dilemma Mary’s future husband faced tested his character.
Joseph chose to believe.
When the carpenter woke from his dream, he obeyed God’s command. Packing up his young bride, Joseph led her to Bethlehem for her to give birth. I wonder what they talked about on the trip? Did they talk at all? Did the heavenly hosts’ visits diffuse the couple’s tension or build it? Traveling 65 miles from Nazareth to Bethlehem, the trip took four or five days by foot. Ninety-six hours of the silent treatment would get old fast. Hopefully, the couple spent that time marveling at the Lord’s work.
Receiving a calling from the Lord takes faith to complete. Like the Nazarene couple traveling to Bethlehem, we fulfill the call one step at a time. First, like Joseph, we must choose to believe and then trust as we put one foot in front of the other. During the trip, God wants us to love one another, encouraging and uplifting our travel companions, not tearing them down. When Ron and I make a trip together, it goes much better when we work together. Mary and Joesph’s journey to Bethlehem required a decision to follow God, even though they didn’t completely understand the mission.
Choosing to believe, Joseph wanted God’s will over his own. Despite the scandalous circumstances surrounding his fiancée’s pregnancy, Joseph’s quiet faith and obedience moved history forward and helped bring salvation to the world. The last mention of Joseph happens during the Feast of Passover when they made the annual pilgrimage to Jerusalem (Luke 2:41). Again, we see Jesus’ earthly father put spiritual welfare above all else, taking the family to the temple to participate in the feast. Matthew tells us Joseph had three other sons and at least two daughters with Mary (Matthew 13:55-56), but then disappears from scripture, not present at Jesus’s crucifixion. A man of faith, Joseph lived his life obedient to the Lord, putting aside his desires to fulfill God’s purpose.
Living for Jesus takes sacrifice. We must put aside our desires daily, pick up our cross, and follow the Savior. Like Joseph, we may not understand, but we can obey and trust, knowing all things work for the good of those who believe and love the Lord.
Prayer:
Lord, thank You for Joseph’s faith and obedience in the Christmas story. Please help us remember we all have a role to play in history. What seems insignificant to us can have significant consequences. Let us complete our divine tasks well as we seek You.
IJNIP. Amen
