Joseph the Carpenter

The Birth of Jesus Christ

This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit.¹⁹Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.

²⁰But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. ²¹She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins."

²²All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: ²³"The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel"—which means, "God with us."

²⁴When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. ²⁵But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.
~ Matthew 1:18-25

Let's put this scenario in today's time. There's so much infidelity going on in today's society that it makes me sick. What's been on the headlines this week: Tiger Woods and his admissions of infidelity... him taking his wife and 2 kids to Sweden to work on being a better parent, husband and to work on himself.... 13 women have come forward admitting to affairs with Tiger. That's only one example of what's going on this world. There's so many I could list off.

No man had ever slept with Mary. God incarnate placed His son Jesus into her womb. In those times a woman could be stoned for becoming pregnant before marriage. Mary was carrying God's son and Joseph, not knowing or believing that this was true, loved her so much he chose to do the honorable thing and not have Mary stoned but to divorce her quietly. An engagement was legally binding in those days and was totally different than how we go about getting ready for marriage. God intervened and Joseph obeyed. He took Mary as his wife and had no union with her until Jesus was born. Wow!

Look at how many teenagers are having sex before marriage. Look at how many couples live with each other to see if they're compatible for marriage. How many marriages are falling apart or have fallen apart because of extramarital affairs either by the husband or wife. Divorce is so predominant in today's society. It's quite sad.

Joseph could have walked away from Mary. He could have chosen to make a spectacle and have her stoned and her pregnancy exposed publicly. Mary could have walked this journey by herself and suffered alone. Joseph chose to stand by her and shared the "shame" she would have endured by this pregnancy. That's a man! Not many men would do that today. How many of us would wait that long to have sex? It's advertised and glamorized on TV that sex before marriage is okay. The temptations are there and were real I'm sure for Joseph and Mary once they were married yet he chose to have no union with her until Jesus was born.

The true Christmas story is truly from God. No one could ever carry a child conceived by the Holy Spirit on their own. Joseph and Mary walked this journey by God's strength. That sure is a testimony of God's power and amazing strength.

Joseph the carpenter was a role model that we can look to. How many of us are willing to walk the other way when things get tough and challenging.... sometimes embarrassing... so we run and hide. How many of us would choose to walk the road that's got rough terrain, even though we know there's gain by walking the tougher journey. I find that difficult myself. It's easier when things go smooth and my way. I am in a place where the journey is tough yet I long for the simpler life I had without as many challenges. Yet, knowing I'm growing deeper in love with Jesus in this journey would I still trade it? Today I realized that I wouldn't. I praise God for showing me the strength of Joseph.... I have alot to learn from him.