“Don’t you know how these things work, Joseph? Har, har, har…”
Coworkers are as merciless as children when it comes to
harassment and mockery. Joseph probably played the workplace raucous over in
his mind. No doubt Joseph was concerned about this from fellow carpenters,
friends and relatives. Certainly, he wrestled
with the idea of dealing with the future inlaws and his parents. In his society, parents chose the mates for
their children. Thus, Joseph was deeply
troubled when he learned Mary was pregnant.
A scandalous development, for sure.
Being the man, he wanted to fix this. He played various scenarios over and over,
trying to see a way out. He loved her and didn’t want to make this a big public
event. He thought of quietly breaking
off the engagement. However, with the angel’s explanation and encouragement, he
decided he would put up with the workplace raucous and any scandalous accusations.
He decided to man up and stand by Mary and the Lord.
How often have I tried to avoid hassles and hardships
because I was afraid of my personal reputation? If God is in it, I can endure
it. As with Joseph, Jesus is at stake.
“Then Joseph her
husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded
to put her away privily. But while he thought on these things, behold, the
angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of
David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in
her is of the Holy Ghost.” Matt 1:19-20.”
© copyright Kevin T Boekhoff
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