Advent Devotional - A Husband's Heartache
Perhaps one of the least mentioned figures in the Christmas story is actually one of the major characters in Matthew’s account of Jesus’ birth. Joseph. Joseph? Yes, Matthew’s Gospel gives us the birth of Jesus from the eyes of His “step-father.” Joseph teaches us much about humility and faith. He is a hard working Jewish man. He is excited about the soon to be marriage with Mary and has even entered legal contract separable only by divorce. I see him counting down the days. How crushed he must have been to hear that Mary was expecting. No doubt tears were shed as he came to the conclusion that the woman he had been working to provide for had been unfaithful and is now with child by someone other than himself. What other conclusion could he come to? And so he decided to quietly end their marriage contract without making a show to many people to help keep Mary from public disgrace. His concern is still for her and the perception others might have of her