That song always thrills me. I love both the lyrics and the music. And it offers such provocative questions. Just how much did Mary know?
New Testament readers know quite a bit about Mary. She keeps appearing in the narrative. She’s there, of course, both before and during the birth of Jesus. Later, she and Jesus meet the wise men. Then she flees with Joseph and Jesus to Egypt to escape Herod’s infanticide. She’s there when Jesus, at age 12, stays behind in the Temple. Next, we see her turning to the adult Jesus to solve the wine problem at the Cana wedding party.
Mary and His brothers try to see Jesus later in His ministry, but are prevented by the crowds. She is present at His crucifixion. Finally, the Book of Acts reports she is with the Apostles and other believers after the ascension when a replacement is chosen for Judas. While there’s no later mention of her in Acts, there’s also no reason to believe she, alone among believers, skipped Pentecost, that she didn’t hear the preaching of the Apostles, or wasn’t part of the Jerusalem church.
Like the song, we can all speculate about what Mary knew when Jesus was a newborn. In the long run, though, I would have to believe that Mary could eventually say “Yes!” to all those questions.
But what about Joseph?
As a parent, and especially as a father, I have great curiosity about Joseph. We all know that biology, alone, does not make a person a parent. You have to be present and do the job of raising a child; that’s the true test. I find myself wondering what kind of father Joseph was to Jesus.
There’s a lot less known about Joseph. Once the Bible finishes with Jesus’ childhood, Joseph disappears from the story. We know he had his own Angelic communications; three of them. He was assured Mary’s pregnancy was of God and told Jesus was the savior. Next, he was warned to flee to Egypt ahead of Herod’s infanticide. Finally, he was advised to return to Israel once it was safe.
Everything else is supposition.
From his actions, we can infer some good things about his character (for example: we know Joseph searched for 12-year old Jesus when He stayed behind at the Temple). We can confidently assume Jesus followed Joseph into the trade of Carpentry. It seems to me that there’s enough written or implied about Joseph to conclude he was a good person and likely a good father to Jesus.
Parents —at least, those who are paying attention— develop a sense of what their children may become; an awareness of their children’s strengths and potential challenges.
But what of the fundamental questions of that song? Did Joseph know that Jesus could perform miracles? An angel had told him Jesus was sent by God to save His people. But did he understand the fuller implications of it all? That Jesus was to be “the ruler of the nations,” was “Heaven’s perfect lamb,” was the “Lord of all creation,” was, in fact, “the great I Am?”
And did knowing impact his actions and words as a man raising a son? If so, in what ways? I wish I could ask him.
Joseph, did you know?
_________________________
PHOTO: Adobe Spark Post and Adobe Photoshop Express
_________________________
READINGS FOR THE COMING WEEK
Fourth Sunday of Advent (December 22, 2019)
https://lectionary.library.vanderbilt.edu//texts.php?id=4
Isaiah 7:10-16
Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19
Romans 1:1-7
Matthew 1:18-25
_________________________
We’re deep into Advent, less than a week until Christmas Day. It is the perfect time for you to join us at DaySpring’s Lectionary Breakfast. We gather at 8:00 Friday morning at Our Breakfast Place (formerly named The Egg and I), corner of Franklin and New Road in Waco.
Our scriptures are moving into the Christmas story. Our discussions, as always, are thought-provoking and our conversations are laced with laughter.
Join us for an hour like no other.
Blessings,
Steve
No comments:
Post a Comment