One of the cornerstones of our faith rests on something so remarkable and inconceivable that I’ve always just skimmed over it and chalked it up to a miracle that I just can’t understand or comprehend. I’m referring specifically to the virgin birth and all the circumstances surrounding it. Reading the account of Matthew 1 & Luke 1, our English translations tend to paint a pretty picture of an angel coming to Mary, announcing that she’s going to give birth to Jesus.
Ok, have you ever just stopped and thought through that scenario? Ever played it out in your mind to see what that would have looked like? Not only to Mary, but to her fiancée, Joseph, and everyone they told their story to? Phillip Yancey writes:
Today as I read the accounts of Jesus’ birth I tremble to think of the fate of the world resting on the responses of two rural teenagers. How many times did Mary review the angel’s words as she felt the Son of God kicking against the walls of her uterus? How many times did Joseph second-guess his own encounter with an angel — just a dream? — as he endured the hot shame of living among villagers who could plainly see the changing shape of his fiancee?
I’ve always wanted to know more about Joseph. Why God didn’t see fit to tell us more about His earthly, adopted Father is something I’ve wondered about, espcially when other various and assundry characters are mentioned — even balaam’s donkey got a shout out. Seriously though, what kind of father was he? Obviously, the guy could never measure up to Jesus’ real father. And speaking of expectations… how would you have liked to have raised — literally — the perfect child? A mortal man trying to be the best father he knew how to be, to a kid that was never wrong or made any mistakes. I mean, he had to be an incredible man of faith. Think about it… first thing we hear about Joseph, he’s just found out his fiancée is pregnant. The Bible says in Matthew 1:18:
Joseph discovered she was pregnant. (It was by the Holy Spirit, but he didn’t know that.)
Sorry, but the first thing that popped in my head was why didn’t God send an angel to Joseph the same time he sent one to Mary? Was it a test of his faith, to see what kind of man he was and how he would respond? If so, to say he passed with flying colors would be an understatement. And then the angel finally arrives and tells him that the Holy Spirit made her pregnant. I can’t imagine the flood of thoughts and emotions that Joseph went through. When I get to heaven, I can’t wait to meet this guy. For a man that’s first introduced to us as simply, “Mary’s husband” – I truly believe he’s one of the unsung heroes of the Bible, for so many reasons.
And what about Mary (no pun intended)? Being told you would be giving birth to the Son of God. Yes, God – you know the one that created everything and everyone? Yeah, that God. I don’t know if it’s just our English translation or what, but it kind of makes me smile how this whole account of the birth announcement went down. It’s just stated as fact – which it is – but if we’re allowed to read between the lines I can’t fathom the tremendous weight of responsibility these two teenagers carried on their shoulders. Historians say Mary was probably 15-16 and Joseph probably in his late teens? No matter how old you are, I can’t imagine handling that news, let alone the responsibility… and the fact it was delivered by an angel! I mean, I know angels appeared to men more often back then, but don’t forget there were 400 years of silence between the Old & New Testaments. It was like, “Oh hey Gabe! Long time no see! How’s God been treating you?” Uh no, it was probably more like the account of the shepherds in the field, they were “sore afraid”. Yeah, I don’t know about you, but just the shock of an angel knocking on my door would be enough to have done me in.
So in case you missed my previous post, Choosing to See, I’m slowly going through the Gospels and the life of Jesus, in addition to reading “The Jesus I Never Knew” by Phillip Yancey. It’s been a lot of fun so far… and yeah, I’m only one chapter in! Love it.
Have you ever spent any time thinking about Jesus’ birth announcement? How would you have reacted? And what’s your take on Joseph?
It’s funny, ever since Christmas my kids want to specifically read “Jesus’ birth” in their children’s Bible every night before bed. They don’t want any other story; they want that one. I find their simple comments sometimes pretty refreshing: “Wow, Jesus is God!” or “Everyone is loving Jesus right now”.
That’s really cool man. That’s actually something I’ve been praying and asking God for in my own life… to restore my childlike faith and allow me to see him fresh again. Like Jesus said in Mark:
“Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.”
My little guy’s only 2, but it’s so cool to hear of kids meeting Jesus for the first time.
bro you’re banging out these posts…awesome! Dude I don’t know how I would react to Jesus’ birth announcement if I were in Joseph’s position. I think I would be like “uhhh…is this for real?!” and then check to see if I were dreaming. That’s BIG news, and both Joseph and Mary handled it with great maturity, especially considering their ages. I have much respect for Joseph….you don’t get news like that everyday.
Yeah, that’s the same reaction I would have and I seriously doubt his reaction was any different – God just didn’t see fit to include the “in-between the lines back-story” in the Bible. I’ve always had this dreamy image of Mary & Joseph, that they just accepted the news with open arms, without objection — but they were human just like us and had the same emotions and reactions to things we do. Can’t wait to ask them about it when I get to heaven