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And her [Mary’s] husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. (Matthew 1:19)
Poor Joseph. There he was, happy and planning for his wedding. Then, in a single hour, all his hopes were shattered.
But look at how he handles it! He isn’t shouting and screaming about the wrong he believes Mary has done to him. He doesn’t try to pay her back. No, he’s already looking for a way to let her out of the marriage arrangement as quietly as possible, because he doesn’t want to shame her.
Now that’s a good man, humanly speaking. That’s a man who reminds me of his future foster son, Jesus Himself. Because Joseph is willing to bear as much of Mary’s pain and shame as he can, given the circumstances. His main concern is how to protect her. And that is how Jesus feels about us.
Jesus, of course, takes it further—because He’s never going to find out that the bad news about us was all a mistake as Joseph did with Mary. No, we are truly the broken, sinful people we’ve been called. And so Jesus expresses His love for us by showing us mercy all the way to the cross. He suffers and dies for us. And when He rises to life again, He gives that same life to us—who are no longer condemned sinners, but are now His own bride, the forgiven people of God (see Romans 7:4, Revelation 19:7-8).
WE PRAY: Dear Lord Jesus, thank You for loving us and making us Your own, though You knew the truth about us. I love You. Amen.
Reflection Questions:
- If you were in a parallel situation, would you have behaved as kindly as Joseph?
- God chose Mary to parent His Son. Would you say God chose Joseph also?
- What characteristics do you think God was looking for in them both? Why?
Advent Devotions were written by Dr. Kari Vo.
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