This year I’ve spent some time thinking about why God chose Mary and Joseph to parent Jesus. He could have placed His Son anywhere. He could have brought Him into a family with power and prestige. At the time Mary and Joseph are visited by angels, they’re poor. There was nothing outwardly noticeable about either of them that would have led anyone to suspect that God would use them to bring to fruition the great prophecy from the Old Testament that, “Therefore, the LORD Himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son and shall call His name Immanuel.” (Which means, God with us)
At the time of Mary’s conception, the world is a dark place and Israel a deeply fractured nation. The LORD hadn’t spoken to His people in 400 years. There was political persecution at the hands of the Romans and religious oppression coming from two separate Jewish factions. There was the heavy legalism of the Pharisees and the less than hope-filled doctrine of the Sadducees. They in a sense represented two parties that fostered nothing but division among the people. Sound familiar?
But back to my main point. Why Joseph? Why Mary? There are several things to consider when we look at this couple, some interesting personality traits to weigh out. Take the time to study Matthew 1:18-25 and Luke 1:26-38. These verses help us to understand that God knew exactly what He was doing in selecting these two humble individuals. In the case of Joseph, we have a simple carpenter whose fiancée comes to him to let him know that she’s pregnant out of wedlock and the baby isn’t his. Now right there, in the society they lived in brought major problems. Both Mary and Joseph will become pariahs, social outcasts for life in light of this sort of scandal. Then Mary puts the cherry on top by telling Joseph that the baby was conceived through the power of the Holy Spirit. In the moment that probably doesn’t bring Joseph a whole lot pf peace.
In the first chapter of Matthew’s Gospel, we’re told that He decides to divorce Mary. Quietly. We’re told that Joseph is a just man, unwilling to put Mary to shame in spite of how it looks and how it will ultimately reflect back on him. As he considers these things, Joseph falls asleep and an angel appears to him. And the angel assures him that everything Mary has shared with him is true. Mary will have a Son, you will name Him Jesus, and He will save mankind from sin. Joseph wakes up and, without any question or hesitation, he takes Mary into his home and refrains from consummating their relationship until after Jesus is born.
Just…compassionate…humble…obedient…loving…patient…faithful. Sounds like the makings of a pretty good husband and dad, right?
Look at Mary, Luke 1:26-38. Most Bible scholars place Mary’s age at between 15 and 18 when the angel Gabriel appears to her to let her know that she’s going to give birth to the Messiah. He tells Mary that she is “favored by God” but doesn’t explain to her what that even means. Mary’s troubled by these words, but not afraid. She asks Gabriel how it is that a virgin can have a baby and Gabriel explains in detail. And then this very young girl says to the angel, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.”
Humble…obedient…faithful…innocent…trusting and concerned for the wellbeing and the feelings of her husband once he receives this news. These may be the best indications we have as to why Mary and Joseph. Their abiding faith in God while living in a place and time where maintaining that degree of faith was far from easy. Coupling that with the deep love and respect they had for one another made them in fact the perfect choice to raise here on earth, the Son of God.
Historically speaking, we know very little about Mary and Joseph. We know that Mary remains a part of Jesus’ life through His death and resurrection. Joseph disappears without explanation from scriptural text when Jesus is still a boy. But the precious little we do have is more than enough. More than enough to show us all how to love and honor one another. More than enough to demonstrate the joy that comes from faith in God no matter what the world around us may look like. And finally, through Mary and Joseph we see that living in obedience to God will bring glorious light and salvation to even the humblest life.
Mary and Joseph were simple, normal everyday people who loved the Lord and each other with all they had and for that reason, above all others, God entrusted them with His only Son. And the light of salvation that comes from that Son is yours and mine today if we live, love, honor and obey as Mary and Joseph did.
Merry Christmas!