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Mary and Joseph's imperfect Story
- rowlandkr8
- Dec 15, 2022
- 4 min read
You said what?
Yes. Mary and Joseph's imperfect story.
The Christmas story of Jesus is always special each time we hear it. We are reminded of the birth happening in Bethlehem. Precious Jesus in a manger. The star of Bethlehem guiding the three wise men. A baby is born. The Savior of the World. Immanuel (God is with us).
I love the birth of Jesus story. We love the story.
But. . .
I want us to back up a little bit.
Because I don't want us to skip over a big part of this story. A part of the story that I can relate to so much. A part of the story I believe that we all can relate to. The process. . .
Mary and Joseph were engaged!
Jewish marriage involved three steps.
two families agreed for a man and woman to become united
they would make a public announcement stating "they are engaged" and would wait until marriage before a sexual relationship
they would be married and live together.
Well. . .
That didn't go quite as planned for Joseph and Mary.
families agreed!
We have announced we are engaged!
As any newly engaged couple, you can imagine how exciting this may be for new couples. Wedding planning, decorations, cake, etc.
Now. . . It may not have been as glamorous in A.D. 60s compared to the 2022s but getting everyone together was probably quite difficult as UPS didn't work the same way then.
Then. . .
We read in Luke 1:26
Through the engagement, an angel Gabriel came upon Mary and told her she would conceive a child and He will be called the Son of God and will reign over Israel forever.
Can you imagine Mary?
I want to pause on that because this is a big part of the process. . . Can you imagine Mary's thoughts?
Wait, angel. Hold on a second? You are telling me I am going to have a baby. . . when I am a virgin? And hang on. . not just a baby, but the King of Kings? The Lord of Lords? Who will rule over Israel forever? Called the Son of the Most High? Do you understand what people will think of me? I am a virgin. How they will stare at me in public? How they will react when they find out? How my family will react? My friends?
When we are in the midst of the process we ask 1000+ questions.
Why is this happening to me? Why me? Out of everyone else, me? You call me to do what? I don't even know how to do that? When??
Can you imagine Joseph?
I would have loved to sit in this conversation. . . I can only imagine how Joseph's reaction would be.
Because if we are really honest with ourselves. . . it probably was a little rough.
You are what Mary?? How?? When?? What?? That doesn't make sense?? Why?? Us?? Out of all of these people, us?? Tell me exactly what happened?? No, tell me what happened again?? Did you?? There is no way?? None of your story makes sense??
When we are in the midst of the process we also get asked 1000+ questions.
Why you?? Are you sure?? When?? How long?? He wants you to do what?? That doesn't make sense?? Why you??
The story of Jesus birth is not "perfect" in the sense of this was not how Mary and Joseph planned to have a baby. This was a 180-degree change in plans. They might have had it all planned out. We get married. . . wait a couple of years and start trying. . . Have one. A couple of years later, have another.
Sounds familiar? We often try to plan it all out for the "perfect timing", that "perfect scenario" then trials and triumphs turn us around, our world becomes upside down, and what we thought we knew... now we don't.
But. . .
It's in the process that The Lord turns things into Good
It's in the process when our character grows
It's in the process that we become stronger
Romans 5: 3-5
We can rejoice too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his Love.
Joseph's human instinct was to step away. He didn't understand the process. He didn't understand the future. All he knew was none of it made sense and he decided to leave Mary quietly.
Doesn't that sound like us?
When we don't understand we like to walk away. When life gets hard we like to grab for something better. We like to avoid it. We like to hide from it. We like to keep quiet. In the midst of the confusion, we like to run away.
But it is in the process where we need to be. We may not like it. It will be uncomfortable. It will be hard. It will be tearful. But that is where we need to be for God to work through us to show us what He has planned.
It was in the process that an Angel appeared to Joseph saying "do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins."
and through obedience, Jesus was born.
We admire success stories not by skipping through to the end and reading the finale. But we admire success stories because of the process it took to get there. The struggles, the triumphs, the heartbreak. We admire the courage. We admire the strength. We admire their character.
But. . . it takes being in the process to fully embrace the ending.
I pray this week you let yourself sit in the process. Don't run, hide, or avoid it. I pray that you let the process dwell allowing your hearts and ears to be open for what the Lord has to say. Listening intently. I pray you learn to trust the process. He has something Good in your life. That I know. That I am confident in. He loves you.
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