Joseph.

My last post was about Mary, and I have had this post rolling around in my head for the last week. But also rolling around in my head was all the information I needed to know for my Finals. So, it had to wait. But Christmas Break is HERE! And I finally have time to sit and write =).

I'm reading through the story of Christ's birth lately. Last week I was reading the passage where it talks about Joseph, and his part in the Christmas Story. I had wondered while reading it what it must have been like for Joseph, to hear that the woman he loved was pregnant.. He and Mary weren't "dating," they were betrothed. This wasn't just a "before the wedding" relationship, it was considered as serious as marriage. Breaking it essentially required divorce. When he found that Mary was pregnant, it had to rock everything he had planned for the two of them.

Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows.

When His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph,

before they came together she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit.

And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man,

and not wanting to disgrace her, desired to put her away secretly.

But when he had considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream,

saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife;

for that which has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.

And she will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus,

for it is He who will save His people from their sins."

Now all this took place that what was spoken by the Lord

through the prophet might be fulfilled, saying,

"Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and shall bear a Son,

and they shall call His name Immanuel, which translated means, God with us."

And Joseph arose from his sleep, and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him,

and took her as his wife,

and kept her a virgin until she gave birth to a Son;

And he called His name Jesus.

(Matthew 1:18-25)

All Joseph knew when he found that Mary was pregnant was that he was not the father. I'm sure she probably tried to explain what the angel had said to her, and I'm sure that there were many people who thought she had lost it. Joseph was stuck with the uncomfortable situation of trying to decide what to do with her... Customs demanded that he divorce her, and he had two options of how to do it. He could either do it publicly and expose her to be disgraced, or privately present her with a certificate of divorce in the presence of two witnesses. His love and care for Mary is shown in his decision to "put her away secretly." This would cause her as little pain and disgrace as could possibly come from the situation.

It says that Joseph "considered" this. I'm sure it wasn't an easy consideration, and even though it doesn't say that he prayed, it does say that he was a righteous man, so I am sure that he spent much time praying. And then, the angel came and confirmed everything that Mary had told him. The Child was of the Holy Spirit, Mary had not broken the betrothal, and the Child was to be called Immanuel. This is what struck me the most. The angel didn't give Joseph every single detail, such as why he and Mary were the ones chosen for this, or how Joseph was supposed to get through what lay ahead. The angel told him just enough that Joseph would have the strength and trust to get through the next 9 months. Joseph was told not to be afraid to take Mary as his wife as he had planned, and that the Child was of the Holy Spirit and should be called Immanuel.

Joseph didn't lie around and think about this. He didn't spend time debating over whether or not this dream was caused by whatever he ate the night before. It says that he "arose from his sleep and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him." He showed immediate obedience. And even though he risked his reputation, he did as was commanded of him and took Mary as his wife, keeping her a virgin until the birth of her Son. The Son that he named Jesus, legally taking Him as His own Son, an heir of David.

Mary and Joseph both showed an incredibly maturity. Mary was probably very young, and yet she submitted herself to the Lord, to do what He asked of her. Joseph was described as a righteous man. He was a man who cared for and loved his wife and desired to protect her, doing what was best for her. The two of them together were given the task of a lifetime, to raise the Child that Joseph would name "Jesus." The Savior they and their people had been waiting for.. And that, to me, is incredible.