When It Makes No Sense

Joseph tossed restlessly in search of sleep, but the news so consumed his being that rest came sparingly. The pit of his stomach churned in anxiety as his thoughts bounced from burning anger, to bewilderment, to inconsolable grief. Stunned as if struck by a mighty blow, he felt no sense of direction and his options seemed few. The life he envisioned had radically changed. Then the angel came in a dream with the answer.

The scene captured my imagination as I placed Joseph in his proper place in the Nativity. I saw a man looking affectionately at his newborn son as any proud father would. Yet the baby is not his own. He looks at the child with reverence as if he knows how extraordinary this child is. He does know. He knows the whole astonishing story! His bride had a child by the Holy Spirit, and he was called to serve as the earthly father.

I can’t help but count Joseph among the most remarkable men in the Bible. His faith and obedience should be placed alongside that of Noah and Abraham. God asked Joseph to stand by his bride to be, to love, honor, and cherish her; and he did even when it made no sense to do so. Just as it was for Mary, the nine month wait was long for Joseph too. The girl he loved moved away for a while leaving him alone to prepare the home they would live in. Her return brought difficult questions to answer; and then the journey of some 60 rugged miles to Bethlehem faced them. 

The trip would have been easier if he had left Mary behind; but he didn’t want to be without her nor did he want to leave her on her own at such a time. His life was more than himself. She was a part of it too—and so was the Child. His role was to be there for his bride, to stand by her, to attend to her every need, and to protect her from both danger and disgrace. And he was there to love and serve the Christ Child.

 Joseph was selected for a very special role in preparing for Christmas. He was the model husband who became a model father. But most of all, Joseph was obedient to God even when it made no sense to do so.

This season, we have each been selected for a very special role in preparing for Christmas too. Our roles are different, but we are all called to love and serve the Christ Child. And we are called to be obedient to God even when it makes no sense to do so.

May we do as well as Joseph.

 You are the light of the world,

Richard+

www.reflectingthesavior.org

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