Daily Devotion for December 25, 2024

Devotion:

For an audio version of this devotion, click here.

Read Matthew 1:18-25.

Last night at the Christmas Eve Candlelight services, we heard the story of Jesus’ birth from the Gospel According to Luke. In that narrative, we hear the story with the focus on Mary. This morning, we experience the story from the Gospel According to Matthew, this time from the vantage of Joseph, the forgotten one. But one who was very important to Jesus. When the narrative begins, an obviously pregnant Mary comes to Joseph with this fantastical story about an angel and the Holy Spirit informing her that she is carrying the Son of God himself. It was too much to believe! Joseph was hurt, he felt betrayed, but he must have loved Mary very much. By Jewish law, he could have had her stoned to death at the worst, or he could have rejected her which would have led her to become homeless and shunned by her village. But with no malice toward her, he was determined to divorce her quietly instead of bringing shame upon her. Doing so would give her a chance for a new life in a new community, possibly living with distant relatives. I doubt that he slept peacefully that night. As he slept, he had a dream where he was visited by an angel who told him that this child was the Son of God and that he would be named Jesus. Joseph follows God’s command to care for Mary and the Child and he does that to the best of his ability.

We don’t know much about Joseph. In fact there is more information about shepherds and wise men in the birth narrative than there is about Joseph. Outside of the first and second chapter of Matthew’s Gospel, we never hear of him again. Most of what we know about him comes from extra-biblical sources. We don’t know much. But we know this: Joseph’s act of compassion for Mary allowed Jesus to grow up in a family that loved him and helped mold him into the person that he was meant to be.

So when you arrange your manger scene, put the shepherds and the wise men around the baby Jesus. But don’t forget Joseph. He earned his place beside the Christ child. Because Joseph – the forgotten one, who just sort of hangs around the stable like a doorman or something and doesn’t have any lines in the Christmas pageant – has much to teach us about the Christmas story, and about unwavering faith. Merry Christmas!

Personal Worship Option:

Pray, “O God, as I reflect upon the story of Jesus’ birth, help me to be like Joseph. Help me to overcome my doubts and fears and follow you without hesitation. Let my life be filled with the light of Christ and let me share that light with everyone that I meet. For unto us is born this day in the city of David, a savior, who is Christ the Lord. Amen.”