It's easier to think of the people in the nativity narrative as porcelain figurines than what they actually were, which is stunned people trying to work through some uncomfortable social situations, and some very odd spiritual claims. It's hard to appreciate the stigma the perception of an out of wedlock birth carried in first century Palestine. It was more than embarrassing; it was potentially deadly.
Joseph, Mary's betrothed husband wasn't in on the original angelic conversation that disclosed the Messianic miracle involved in Mary's situation. Matthew's Gospel describes him as a just man. A man of gentle character. "Chagrined but noble." Ben Patterson wrote, "I have a theory about old age. I believe that when life has whittled us down, when joints have failed and skin has wrinkled, what is left of us will be what we were all along." That's something to chew on. Joseph had an innate, godly kindness in his disposition.
Joseph's original understanding of Mary's pregnancy was that she had been unfaithful. Working through the idea that the person who has accepted your proposal is now pregnant and you know it's not you will knock the varnish off of anyone. Before Joseph heard from an angel at all, he had fixed in his mind that he would withhold from Mary the severe consequences that their culture permitted.
C.S. Lewis once wandered into a conversation on comparative religion. A furious discussion had ensued as to whether there was one belief that was unique to Christian faith. "Oh that's easy," said Lewis, "It's grace." That's what Joseph demonstrated so clearly in his reaction in this story. His behavior mirrors God's:
- The Law cries for blood, but he shows mercy.
- In the battle between his legal conscience and his love, his love won out.
- By deciding to marry Mary, Joseph identified vicariously with the shame of her perceived sin. He became a buffer between her and the stinging public disgrace of her situation.
Robert Frost said, "Home is the place where, when you have to go there, they have to take you in." That's exactly what God is like. He takes us in. But He doesn't bypass justice. He satisfied it completely by stepping in for us on the cross (Isaiah 53:4-5). Glenn Stanton wrote, "We serve a God who created our humanity, weeps at the fall of our humanity, became our humanity, and is redeeming our humanity."
These were not porcelain figures. They were people who struggled with the distressing, scandalous details of our salvation. And love won out.
Background: Matthew 1:18-25
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