Saturday Sermonette - Joseph

Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to custom. Luke 2:41-42, NKJV.

I have to admit I haven't given much thought to Joseph, Mary's espoused husband and Jesus's stepfather. I've probably paid more attention to the donkey who gave Mary a ride to Bethlehem.

We've been studying Joseph in our weekly Bible study at church, and one thing that's become pretty obvious--God did  pay attention to who he chose to be Jesus's earthly father. Joseph was a pretty amazing man.

He was a man who paid attention to the Jewish laws and customs. He took his family to Jerusalem every year for the passover, and he was very much aware of the laws concerning betrothals and marriage.

He also obeyed the laws of the local gendarmes--otherwise he wouldn't have been headed for Bethlehem at such an awkward time.

He was a carpenter. Now, there wasn't a lot of wood to spare in Israel. Most houses were built with rocks or bricks. They didn't have a lot of wood furniture. Most Jews slept on the floor, but the wealthier slept on pallets or wooden beds. Tables were only about eighteen inches high, and diners leaned on their elbows or pillows and ate with the free hand. Chairs, again, were for the wealthier. Doors were made of wood, though. Apparently Joseph knew enough about the fine art of carving and finishing wood to earn a living at it.

He taught the Son of God the trade he'd been taught, probably sharing bits of personal and professional wisdom as they worked.

Most of all, he was a man of compassion. When Mary told him she was pregnant, he didn't want to have her stoned (as was definitely his responsibility). Instead, he tried to think of a way he could divorce her without it resulting in her probable death or at least total ostracism by her friends, family, and community. Joseph knew the baby wasn't his.

But! He was also a man who believed in and listened to God! When he found out this was the Son of God, he was in awe. He took Mary into his home, making her his wife. Even if a public celebration wasn't held, a man could take a woman into his home and announce she was his wife--and that made it official. Or maybe they just went ahead with the ceremony--the Bible doesn't really say. It just says "he took to him his wife."

Thank You, God, for the care You took in finding just the right earthly father for Your Son.