Reflections on Advent Part 10

When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel 

of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, but knew her not until she 

had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.  Matthew 1:24-25

Yesterday I met the mother of a two year old to discuss parenting, specifically how to make Jesus real in the every day life of said two year old.  I do have thoughts on that topic which I will likely share at a later date.  But today I am thinking about the parents of Jesus.  Since the gospel isn't about the parents of Jesus there isn't a lot to go on regarding their parenting skills.  But we do have a little bit of insight into their character.  

I personally believe that character is a major part of what drives parenting.  Children watch and learn from their parents, sometimes in some not very flattering ways.  When my daughter was young we lived for a time in Flagstaff, Arizona.  At that time freight trains would ramble through town at all times of the day and night, sometimes up to 40 trains a day.  It was not unusual to get stopped in a traffic tangle due to a particularly long train.  One day while waiting for one such longish train I heard my four year old exclaim from the back seat, "Just get moving already!"  It might not have even been that nice.  As I sat there waiting I knew I couldn't even scold her since she was just imitating things she'd heard me saying.  I decided right then and there that I needed a character adjustment!

The gospel writers give us only brief glimpses into the lives of Joseph and Mary, but they do show us significant ways that each parent responded to God, giving us some understanding into their character.

Matthew, a Jewish tax collector by profession, focuses on Joseph in his Christmas presentation.  The Gospel of Matthew opens with the genealogy of Christ through Joseph's lineage.  In those days, a child's lineage was legally traced through the father.  Joseph's lineage comes from the line of King David, though we know that Joseph was living anything but a royal lifestyle.  He was a poor carpenter.  That genealogy represents some pretty interesting parenting!  Yet Matthew tells us that Joseph was righteous. (Matthew 1:19)  Strong's defines the Greek word dikaios as "used of him whose way of thinking, feeling, and acting is wholly conformed to the will of God."  Joseph loved God.  His life reflected that he loved God.  And when God sends an angel to confirm that Mary's pregnancy is according to His plan, Joseph does "as the angel of the Lord commanded him." (Matthew 1:24)  He doesn't quarrel or find an excuse to offer; he just obeys.  This reminds me of the obedience of Jesus that Paul draws our attention to:  "And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross."  While I am not claiming that Jesus' obedience to His Father had anything to do with Joseph's obedience to God, I would point out that Jesus likely observed his earthly father obeying His Heavenly Father.

Mary, likewise, is commended by Luke, the Greek physician.  She is also in the lineage of King David.  (Luke 3)  We find that she, too, demonstrates obedience when she responds to the angel Gabriel saying, "let it be to me according to your word."  (Luke 1:38)  She accepts God's will for her life without question, other than to ponder her wonder at conceiving a son without human intimacy.

Luke gives us a little more insight into Mary's character because he tells us of her visit to her cousin Elizabeth who is pregnant with her own child long after it should have been impossible for her to conceive.  Elizabeth tells us that Mary has a believing heart.  "Blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.”  Mary believed wholeheartedly that God would fulfill His promise through His Anointed One, the baby she now carried close to her heart.  Her worship song in response to Elizabeth's acknowledging her belief begins with  “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior" and ends with "He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his offspring forever." (Luke 1:46b, 54-55)  Belief and worship are key components to Mary's character.

Joseph and Mary demonstrated their belief in God through worship and obedience. Their character brought them in obedience to God's word, His holy Law.  Jesus' parents  followed every single law that needed to be completed in order for Jesus to be the pure sacrifice for the sin of all mankind. (Luke 2:22-24, 41-42)  

Their character mattered.  My character matters.  And so does yours.  What does your life say about your character?