Hey Joe, What Do You Know?

An article from the 12/14/16 Weekly Update by Tim Keller

Last week we recapped the story of Mary and her very real encounter with God at the time of the announcement of her pregnancy. The story was real, even raw.

Joseph’s experience wasn’t exactly a stroll in the park.

Joseph was a righteous and godly man who was engaged to a woman he loved. When she announced to him that she was expecting a child it must have felt like someone had sucker punched him in the gut. He had done nothing wrong and yet his world had come apart at the seams.

Do you think Joseph lost his passion for being so righteous? Do you think he considered an all-night drinking binge to dull the ache his heart was feeling? He wouldn’t have been human if the thought didn’t cross his mind. Yet, we want to make Joseph out to be the guy that didn’t struggle with this news, but fully trusted God without a moment’s hesitation. If that seems unreal it’s because it is.

Joseph’s dream became a life-changing detour taking him away from thoughts of ditching Mary to trusting her and her account of how the pregnancy came about.

Joseph didn’t just have to trust a perfect God; he also had to trust an imperfect woman. The fact that he did both tells me all I need to know about this man who would be the earthly father of the Son of God.

How hard it must have been to actually place his entire life on the line in trusting the message he had received from God. Did he suffer sleepless nights? Did he consider just running away and starting his life all over someplace else? We don’t know, but the reality of his trauma almost demands that we consider it, and appreciate him for the fact that he stayed and did the right thing.

Doing the right thing is not an easy proposition and we’d be wise to etch that truth on our brains. Speaking the truth, confronting evil, being faithful, making sacrifices and loving like Jesus isn’t for sissies. The life of godliness is filled with pain and hardship. It’s far easier to be selfish, external and hedonistic.

This might explain why there are so few Josephs around these days and why we should appreciate them when they appear.