December 21, 2015
Scripture Reading: Matthew 1:18-19
“This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.”
Questions for Reflection:
To understand the dilemma that Joseph faced, it is helpful to understanding the ancient Jewish betrothal process. The first stage was the selection of a spouse. This decision was often made by the parents. The parents of the groom would approach the parents of a young woman to arrange the marriage. The couple at this point would become engaged. The second stage would begin after the official contract had been drafted and agreed upon. Once the contract was in place, the engagement could only be broken by a divorce. The couple would get married in a formal ceremony approximately a year after the engagement process began. The party could last up to a week. Mary and Joseph were not yet married, but they had entered into the formal engagement.
This passage teaches us much about the character of Joseph. How does Matthew describe Joseph’s character in relation to the law? What does Joseph’s intentions for how he is going to respond to Mary’s pregnancy suggest about his character and personality? Michael Wilkins in his commentary on the gospel writes:
“The character and compassion of Joseph is revealed in this dilemma. Matthew distinguishes between Joseph’s purpose (NIV ‘did not want’) and desire (NIV ‘he had in mind’). Joseph intends to maintain his personal righteousness, yet his desire is also to have compassion for the woman to whom he is engaged, even though he considers her an adulteress.”
While much is made of the choice of Mary to raise Jesus, it shouldn’t be lost on us that God chose Joseph to raise His son as well. Joseph’s graciousness, grace and desire to love a woman in a difficult place would be reflected throughout Jesus’ ministry. While maintaining his commitment to the law, Joseph plans to show grace to Mary. What can you learn from Joseph’s example? How can you follow Joseph’s example when you feel others may have wronged you? How can your attitude and your actions glorify God and point others to Jesus?