There is not a single word recorded that Joseph spoke. Most of what we read about him is that of a difficult life because of his taking Mary to be his wife. Sometimes we say, “If it’s not one thing it’s another!” I wonder if Joseph felt that way.

He had to deal with the news that she was expecting a baby (that wasn’t his) before they were married. The announcement of more taxation was a burden to everyone, and the journey to Bethlehem had to be a long hard way to go. What a time for there to be no room in the Inn and to hear Mary say, “The baby is coming.”

Joseph quickly fades out of the Bible story. Not only did he sacrificially care for Mary and Jesus, but the Bible tells us what God saw in him: “He was a just man.”

We could all learn a great lesson from Joseph. He taught us how to deal with news and things that happen to us that we do not understand. It is clear that he first thought Mary had betrayed him. It is also clear that he did not have a short fuse on his temper. If he had, the Christmas story would have been much different. He was a good example of James 1:19 – “Let every person be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.”

Even when he thought she had done him wrong he wanted to do her right. To his credit the Bible says that he “thought on these things.” That gave him time to hear from God that Mary was true and faithful.

Another Advent lesson is that Jesus has come into our world, but to receive Him into our personal lives requires the courage of trusting the Gospel to be true, and the unselfishness of a servant. We see these “Gospel Joseph’s” every day. They are the Christians who live their faith. They work, raise children, care for others, give their all, worry and wonder; but with glory, because they do believe that the One in the heart of their life is Immanuel, “God with us.”

“Father show me where I fit into this plan of yours
How can a man be father to the Son of God
Lord for all my life I’ve been a simple carpenter
How can I raise a king, how can I raise a king?”