There are very few people in the Bible whose stories aren’t a little bit tainted by their own actions. We appreciate those people because it allows us to see ourselves and know that God works through imperfect people. In the genealogy from yesterday’s reading, we saw several examples of this. But today is different. Today, we hear the story of Jesus’ birth from Joseph’s perspective. And when we put ourselves in Joseph’s place, his story is one that makes us wonder if our own faith could stand up to similar challenges.
When we read that Mary and Joseph were engaged, we don’t recognize what that meant for them culturally. Ending an engagement wasn’t a matter of just making an announcement; it required a certificate of divorce. Notice that the text says Joseph was counted as righteous for intending to divorce her quietly. In other words, he was perfectly justified and, in fact, expected to divorce her after learning of her pregnancy.
Scholars report that Jewish law demanded a man divorce his wife if she were found guilty of adultery. By staying with Mary, Joseph was essentially confessing to being the father of her baby, which brought shame on him and his entire family. In reality, the one accused of having no restraint raised the bar by waiting until Mary had healed before being intimate with her.
I admire Joseph for many things, including his role as a stepdad. Godly stepparents are truly heroes. I also admire that Joseph was willing to be completely misunderstood to do what was right. In a world of hot takes and endless arguments that get nowhere because no one is really listening, we see that Joseph was willing to let people be wrong about him and go on with life.
Joseph’s shame on earth likely felt suffocating at times, yet he endured out of his love for God and his commitment to Mary and the baby who would save the people from their sins. Just like Jesus redeems us all, Joseph’s story is redeemed, and history knows him as a hero who helped raise the son of God.
Reflection:
- What stands out to you from Joseph’s story? How does this story speak to your heart?
- Spend a moment thanking God for those who helped teach and guide you. Consider reaching out to one of them today to say thank you.