In the telling of the Christmas story, Joseph often gets overlooked. Luke gives us more information about the actual birth of Christ, and so it is to Luke we most often turn for the reading of the Christmas story. Luke tells it so clearly in the fewest words possible. However, Matthew gives us insight into what it would have been like for Joseph and Mary from a different angle. That first Christmas was surrounded by scandal, and both Joseph and Mary had to battle its fallout.
Mary was in a tough spot. She was pregnant and not by any man, but who would believe her story that God had done this to her? We are not told whether her parents believed her. It’s unlikely they did, since she left right away to visit her cousin for several months, a long, dangerous journey for a young woman.
When Mary shared with Joseph what had happened to her. She must have explained how Gabriel appeared to her and what he said. The angel had informed her she would become pregnant and have a son. The Holy Spirit would make this happen. Joseph loved Mary, but this would be a strange story to swallow if you heard it from the woman you are engaged to be married to.
Walk a moment in Joseph’s shoes. What emotions he must have experienced: anger, jealousy, and, indeed, confusion. Matthew doesn’t tell us, but, knowing something of human nature, we can imagine he was going through an emotional whirlwind. One minute, he thought he could accept it, and then another, he couldn’t. He asked himself, “Am I being hoodwinked if I go through with this?” This is no way to start a marriage.
He must have had some sleepless nights. He just could not put the pieces together. There was Mary’s story, and there were people who were saying things, probably even family. Joseph gave the matter serious thought and finally resolved to do what was best for both him and Mary. Joseph felt he couldn’t just disregard God’s Law and marry Mary. It just wouldn’t be right. He finally chose to privately divorce Mary so as not to publicly humiliate her, but he would not compromise his conscience.
That’s when the Angel Gabriel appeared to Joseph and confirmed Mary’s story, telling him to name the child Jesus because he would save his people from their sins. Joseph obeyed the angel and took Mary to be his wife, but did not live with her as man and wife until the child was born. The lives of Mary and Joseph were intertwined with scandal, but they were also chosen to be God’s vessels to care for his Son. They overcame the scandal and were faithful to God in fulfilling God’s purpose for their lives. This is the part of Christmas that is often overlooked.
