Jesse Tree, Day 22 – Called to Take on a Challenging Role

When Joseph woke up, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded and took Mary as his wife. Matthew 1:24, NIV

Read: Matthew 1:18-25

Who signs up to be the father of a child that is not his own? Who signs up to believe that his wife is pregnant not by another man, but by a spirit being? Like really? In yesterday’s devotional, we focused on Mary, but let us not for a minute forget that Joseph was also called to take on a challenging role.

One of my favorite depictions of the birth of Jesus is told in a film production entitled,  The Nativity Story.  What I especially like about this imaginative retelling is that it shows us a glimpse of what it could have been like for Joseph to partner with Mary in accepting this great responsibility.

Mary and Joseph were both called to take on a challenging role – be the parents of God’s only son. Joseph was not without doubt when he first heard the dubious news. Can you blame him? And yet after he is visited by the angels, he is convinced that this is God’s will for them. And so his journey in the role of “supposed father” of Jesus begins (Luke 3:23).

Jesus, when he began his ministry, was about thirty years of age, being the son (as was supposed) of Joseph, the son of Heli.

Accepting this responsibility would extend way beyond choosing to marry Mary and not sending her away privately. He was also choosing to be there with her traveling the dusty road to Bethlehem late into her pregnancy. He was choosing to put up with the whispers that might come about how soon the baby arrived after the wedding. There might be questions about whether the baby looked like him or not.

Joseph would be there for the baby’s many firsts–first words, first steps…. Joseph would be the one teaching young Jesus the trade of carpentry. He would be the one gently guiding Jesus as he held the tools of the trade for the first time in his young hands. 

As we reflect on the coming birth of the savior, let us take a moment to think about Joseph. By choosing both Mary and Joseph, God was keeping His promise that the messiah would come through the line of King David (See chart below).  Joseph was chosen for a divine responsibility to be the earthly father of God’s own son.

Just as God had promised, the heavenly king was entrusted to the family line of King David – a man after God’s own heart.

REFLECT: Think back to a time when you were called to take on a challenging role? How did you handle it? How can our full dependence on God enable us to face challenging moments in life?