It's the third Sunday of Advent and another candle has been lit. Christmas is only 9 days away!
Please do not feel obligated to read the following piece. Reading it is purely optional. I've been very blessed to have studied Biblical background and culture and have incorporated some my studies into this piece. Some of this information might be new to you.
The workshop echoed with the sounds of chisels and masonry tools. Another building project for Herod demanded our complete attention. But the other craftsmen and I were thankful for the work. The wages, though not much, would allow us to pay the Roman tax and put food on the table. I was especially thankful for the income for within the year I hoped to celebrate a marriage with my betrothed. But when her father appeared at the worksite at the closing of the day, I knew there was a problem. We walked for a while toward Nazareth in silence.** I could tell his news was a heavy burden and I wondered what could be so foreboding that it kept him silent for so long. When he finally spoke, I wished he had remained silent forever. Miriam* had been found with child. A million questions raced through my mind, none of them flattering. And yet this news made no sense. There was never a hint of scandal in her upbringing or reputation. I determined that in spite of my hurt and disappointment that I would call off the wedding without any repercussions toward her family.
My sleep was troubled that night. I wrestled with my feelings and affections toward Miriam and battled with my anger and hurt. If I'd still been working my energy would have been channeled into my chisel, but there was no relief in sight. I felt as if I was wandering in a land of shadows, murky and void of dreams, when suddenly, I was startled by a vision of the brightest creature I'd ever seen. I knew immediately it was an angel of the Lord. Surprisingly, he spoke to me such words of reassurance I did not believe them at first. Do not be afraid! The news concerning Miriam was not tragic news but quite the opposite. This was the handiwork of God and by His power He was about to save His people from their sins. I knew that tongues would wag as the months progressed. I knew there would be talk about Miriam; about myself. But there would always be talk. It was the prophet's words that mattered most to me now. "Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel, God with us."***
Many years ago, Michael Card composed and recorded a lullaby entitled Joseph's Song which beautifully portrayed the perspective of Joseph as he gazed upon the Christ Child. "How could this be?" it began. Having had two sons of my own and being one of the first people to know they were going to propose to that "special girl", I know how significant this event is in a young man's life. I can imagine the overwhelming feelings that Joseph must have dealt with after Mary was found with child during the course of his betrothal. Betrothal at that time was just as binding as marriage and considered just as legal. To learn that Mary was pregnant was tantamount to discovering she had committed adultery. Yet, Scripture tells us that Joseph learned the truth about Mary's child by Divine revelation and that he went through with the marriage in spite of the stories that must have been circulated around Nazareth. Such is the story of how a simple craftsman came to be the earthly father of the King of the Universe. Beautifully described in Michael Card's song, it was a role that certainly must have both amazed and unnerved him.
Although we do not hear much about Joseph after Jesus' childhood, we do know that his lineage plays a very important role in the life of Jesus. The verses just prior to Joseph's story in the Gospel of Matthew (1:16-25) are an extensive list of Jesus' family tree, tracing His roots all the way back to Abraham. Perhaps the most significant ancestor of Jesus is one of Jacob's sons, Judah. Like most of his brothers, Judah did not have a stellar track record in the walk of faith. Yet, when his father Jacob was on his deathbed he blessed Judah with the promise that "the scepter will not depart from Judah". As the nation of Israel grew, the line of Judah emerged as the lineage of kings through the anointing of a young shepherd boy named David. David's descendants reigned from Jerusalem until 586 B. C. When the Babylonian Empire conquered the nation it appeared that David's line had come to an end. But the promises of God, are not to be taken lightly nor for granted. God's timetable never functions as human ones do. When He promised David that a "son" of his would reign forever, He was not referring to an earthly reign, but an eternal one. Human frailty and death however, preclude immortality. So, how could a descendant of David have an eternal reign? Joseph's line has the legitimate claim, but Joseph was finite like the rest of us. God's solution was that Mary, although from a different branch of David's family tree, was also a descendant of David. Since there are earthly parents, there is a legal claim to the throne. But because Jesus is the Son of an Eternal Father, He is therefore an eternal Son, a descendant of David who reigns forever.
* The name Mary is an English transliteration of the Greek name Marias, which in turn is a transliteration of the Hebrew name Miriam.
** Many people believe that Joseph was a carpenter, after all that's how he's depicted in all the stories we know from the Bible, so it must be true, right? Well, the actual word used to describe Joseph means "craftsman" and it was generally used in conjunction with trades such a masons and blacksmiths. There were not many carpenters in Israel, because there were not a lot of trees! On the other hand there were plenty of rocks- and Herod the Great was known for his many building projects- all made of stone. One such project was the city of Sepphoris which was located near Nazareth and would have provided ample work for a craftsman such as Joseph.
*** Isaiah 7:14
The third Sunday of Advent focuses on joy, but it was hardly a joyful occasion for Joseph when he first learned of Mary's pregnancy. However, he proved to be a faithful man and went through with the marriage. Can you imagine how the tongues wagged?! It is Joseph's story that we think of when we light the third candle, the candle of joy. And it is a fitting word for the third Sunday of Advent because Christmas is not too far away!
@allie912 Thank you Allison! This is my passion and your comment is a gift to me!
@cortens Thank you so much Julie. It is truly my desire to lift up His Name.
@lyno Thank you Lyn!
@bkbinthecity Thank you so much Brian! I really appreciate the time you took to read this.
@salza Thank you Sally! I am grateful that you are enjoying my writing.
@alia_801 Thank you so much Alia!
@sangwann Thank you Dione for taking the time to read my Advent piece- I know it's a lot! But I really do appreciate it!
@dmortega Thank you so much Dorrena! I have really enjoyed the "free" Sundays and being able to post these pieces. I'm even more blessed that my 365 family is gracious enough to read them! Thanks again for putting together a perfect challenge for December.
The only new thought here for me (old church secretary) is that Joseph might not have been a carpenter. Where did you study? Tom and I lit our candle of Joy in church on Sunday.
Love the warm smooth shot... can't believe we are so close now
@prttblues Thank you Bev!
@hudamor Thank you so much Huda!
@cdonohoue Thank you Cathy! I hold a BA in Fine Arts from Bethany College, I attended the Institute of Jewish Studies at Philadelphia Biblical University and earned my MDiv from Alliance Theological Seminary (that's where I learned Hebrew and Greek). I've taken three study tours to Israel and one to Greece. I love learning about Biblical custom and culture- as my bookshelf attests- so I'm always trying to incorporate that into my writing and teaching.
@automaticslim Thanks Andy! The first two weeks of this subject matter I didn't have to think much about the composition, but it hit me all of a sudden this Sunday that I needed a new pov!
@worthitall Thank you Rashella!
@filsie65 Thank you Phil!
@daisy Thank you Kathryn!