36-38 Mary Joseph on the Run:Master Galley - Plain Truth Ministries

MARY
&
I
love this season when the Nativity Story is presented
as a warm-hearted children’s tale. Whether it’s the
Charlie Brown Christmas classic or memories of my
Sunday school acting career as a bed-sheeted
shepherd, I think it’s wonderful that the story of Christ’s birth is
so accessible that even little ones can revel in it.
However, the apostle Paul wrote, “…When I became a man, I put childish
ways behind me” (1 Corinthians 13:11). So I wonder, is there more to the
story I might see if I read it anew with grown-up eyes
The story sketched out in Matthew 1:18-2:18 and Luke 1:26-<strong>38</strong> is sparsely written
with little elaboration. The authors were not intending to leave a detailed
historical record as we might expect today. They knew their readers understood
the culture and context. We don’t naturally understand their culture and context,
so our understanding is enhanced by details from other reliable sources.
<strong>36</strong> THE PLAIN TRUTH

JOSEPH—ON THE RUN
by Grant Corriveau
We also need to draw from our
own experiences and Spirit-led
imaginations to discern how the
people in the story might behave.
Also, remember that while we view
these events in hindsight knowing
the outcomes, the original cast of
the Nativity Story had no such advantage.
They were real people
struggling through real issues
while following a very real God—
just like us.
“I’m pregnant, but I’m still a
virgin!”
When I read the Nativity Story I
immediately wonder how <strong>Mary</strong>’s
family reacted to the news of her
pregnancy and the divine source.
Did they believe her I doubt it.
Her claim would sound delusional
bordering on blasphemy! Even
worse, they must face the shame of
breaking the news to <strong>Joseph</strong>, realizing
that the entire community
will eventually find out. This is not
just a complication—it’s a disaster.
They know the penalty required by
law for adultery is death. 1
Matthew 1:19 tells us that <strong>Joseph</strong>
is “a righteous man,” which means
he takes the law of Moses seriously.
From within our post-modern culture
we easily miss the drastic
dilemma he faces. Will he choose
to keep the law or violate it Author
Matthew J. Marohl, in his
book <strong>Joseph</strong>’s Dilemma, 2 makes a
compelling case for the danger
<strong>Mary</strong> faces from <strong>Joseph</strong> should he
choose strict adherence to the law
and denounce her.
But even if he divorces her quietly
and <strong>Mary</strong>’s “indiscretion” is not
immediately exposed, she is still at
risk. Sooner or later word will leak
out. When honor is a family’s
prized possession and a daughter’s
chastity a precious commodity,
heaven help anyone suspected of
violating it. There are always
zealots at hand who will consider
it their religious duty to purge
their community through honorkilling.
3 Sadly, such murders still
happen today.
A United Nations Population
Fund report states that, “Throughout
the world, perhaps as many as
5,000 women and girls a year are
murdered by members of their
own families, many of them for
the “dishonour” of having been
raped…. 4
Thankfully western culture today
is more gracious, but I remember
oseph chooses to risk his life and reputation
J to save <strong>Mary</strong> and her child. Ironically, the
very baby who would become grace for us all
was first himself saved by grace.
homes for unwed mothers were
common only a generation ago. 5
Unmarried pregnant daughters
were routinely whisked away and
the child was given away for adoption
to avoid shaming the family.
Things are still extremely difficult
for unwed mothers in some cultures
today. 6
First Century Justice
If we doubt the vehemence of first
century middle eastern justice, we
should recall that thirty years after
his birth, pious enemies of Jesus
would bring before him a woman
caught in adultery, reminding him
of the penalty (John 8:3-4). Stoning
could be applied suddenly and
passionately for many crimes. Jesus
himself was almost stoned (John
10:32, Luke 4:29)—once by being
thrown off a cliff (an alternate
method) while preaching in
emember that while we view these events
...rin hindsight knowing the outcomes, the
original cast of the Nativity Story had no such
advantage. They were real people struggling
through real issues while following a very
real God—just like us.
Nazareth. 7 He even warned his
own disciples: “a time is coming
when anyone who kills you will
think he is offering a service to
God” (John 16:2).
While <strong>Joseph</strong> wrestles with his
dilemma he experiences an angelic
visitation which begins: “Don’t be
afraid…” and presents a shocking
third alternative, “…take <strong>Mary</strong>
home as your wife….” I wonder at
<strong>Joseph</strong>’s courage and faith. Even
with God’s assurance that the child
was of the Holy Spirit and <strong>Mary</strong>
was no adultress, he had many reasons
to be afraid. If his neighbors
believed he had sexual relations
with <strong>Mary</strong> before the appointed
time, harsh penalties still applied.
Some early church writers describe
<strong>Joseph</strong>’s decision this way:
“So <strong>Joseph</strong> determined to conduct
himself now by a higher rule than
the law. For now that grace was appearing,
it would be fitting that
many tokens of that exalted citizenship
be expressed.” 8
“…<strong>Joseph</strong> got up from his sleep
and praised the God of Israel, who
had given him this favor. And so
he began to protect the girl.” 9
<strong>Joseph</strong> chooses to risk his life
and reputation to save <strong>Mary</strong> and
her child. Ironically, the very baby
who would become grace for us all
was first himself saved by grace.
We aren’t given any details of
how this happens. One possible
WINTER 2010 37

I
f I’ve ever questioned why shepherds visited
the manger later that night now I have
an answer. Their fantastic reports would
have deeply encouraged the new parents.
drift in unfamiliar
A surroundings <strong>Mary</strong>
and <strong>Joseph</strong> must have
experienced doubt and
confusion. I would
have. Surely they
wondered, Is this what
happens when we say ‘Yes,’
to you, Lord
scenario might be suggested in the
Jewish Encyclopedia article, Illegitimacy:
“The child of a betrothed
woman is legitimate if she claims that
the child is by her betrothed husband,
and if he does not refute her.” 10 I
don’t imagine <strong>Mary</strong> making this
claim as it would cloud the baby’s
true origins, but I can imagine
someone claiming it for her with
<strong>Joseph</strong> remaining silent to save
her.
However it unfolds, I’m sure
there is hurt, disappointment,
anger and confusion all around. I
suspect that <strong>Joseph</strong> and <strong>Mary</strong> did
not enjoy a traditional eight-day
wedding festival. Family hopes and
dreams were dashed and the sting
of shame permeated the event. I
imagine it was a short ceremony
pierced by dour looks and threatening
glares.
Another Reason for the Dangerous
Trip to Bethlehem
<strong>Mary</strong>’s turbulent spiritual journey
has played out amidst physical
travels, first to cousin Elizabeth’s
home then back again, followed by
the symbolic journey to her husband’s
home. Soon she is enroute
once more to a new home. Ostensibly,
she and <strong>Joseph</strong> must fulfill
the decree requiring registration
in his ancestral
town but I wonder if
<strong>Mary</strong>’s presence in Bethlehem
is really needed She
will only be recorded as a
member of <strong>Joseph</strong>’s household.
11 So, why would she take
this arduous journey this late in
her pregnancy Is this an indicator
that <strong>Mary</strong> is no longer welcome in
Nazareth “Righteous” communities
can become nasty places for
anyone thought disrespecting the
religious rulebook. Are <strong>Mary</strong> and
<strong>Joseph</strong> fleeing pious disapproval
seeking a new future in Bethlehem
We don’t know exactly how long
they are in Bethlehem before the
birthing time arrives but we are
told “there was no room in the
inn.” The word “inn” is based on a
Greek word used elsewhere to indicate
a guest room or an upper
room. This seems like a better
translation than the iconic Holiday
Inn. 12
<strong>Joseph</strong> must have had family to
turn to for shelter. After all, hospitality
was a virtue in that culture.
Homes, though small, often included
a lower room where the animals
were sheltered at night. 13 I
wonder why no one in the upper
rooms made way for a young
woman about to give birth to her
first child Is this another sign that
<strong>Mary</strong> and <strong>Joseph</strong> received a cool
welcome
When the first birth-pangs signal
<strong>Mary</strong>’s imminent labor I wonder if
she wrestles with feelings of abandonment
by God. In a stable, Lord
Surely not a stable! Adrift in unfamiliar
surroundings <strong>Mary</strong> and
<strong>Joseph</strong> must have experienced
doubt and confusion. I would
have. Surely they wondered, Is this
what happens when we say ‘Yes,’ to
you, Lord
But they weren’t left wondering
for long. If I’ve ever questioned
why shepherds visited the manger
later that night now I have an answer.
Their fantastic reports would
have deeply encouraged the new
parents. “I bring you good news of
great joy!” Good news! Great joy! Oh
how they needed to hear that.
Much later that night as God
slept in our world for the first time
as a tiny baby on his mother’s
breast, did <strong>Mary</strong> and <strong>Joseph</strong> gently
touch his little hands and soft skin
and marvel at how dangerously he
had entered their world Though
their perilous journey of faith
would soon send them reeling towards
sanctuary in Egypt to protect
Jesus, did they travel just a
little easier knowing in a way they
never had before that God was
with them Immanuel! Jesus.
Merry Christmas. ❑
1 The Jewish Encyclopedia; Capital Punishment
(www.jewishencyclopedia.com).
2 Marohl, Matthew J. <strong>Joseph</strong>’s Dilemma:
“Honor Killing” in the Birth Narrative of
Matthew (Cascade Books, Eugene, OR, 2008,
p. 54-57).
3 Seland, Torrey. Establishment Violence in
Philo & Luke—A Study of Non-Conformity to
the Torah & Jewish Vigilante Reactions (E.J.
Brill, Leiden, The Netherlands, 1995, p. 67).
4 UNFPA: State of World Population 200.
Chapter 3: Ending Violence Against Women
and Girls (www.unfpa.org).
5 Crittenton, Florence. “Home for unwed
mothers open in Dunlap on November 21,
1899” (Essay 3128. www.historylink.org).
6 Shang-Hun, Choe. Group Resists Korean
Stigma for Unwed Mothers (The New York Times,
Asia Pacific, October 7, 2009 www.nytimes.com).
7 Barclay, William. The New Daily Study
Bible—The Acts of of the Apostles . (Westminster
John Know Press, Louisville, 2003, p. 71).
8 Chrysostom, John. Homilies of the Gospel
of St. Matthew 4-7. (As quoted by Marohl in
<strong>Joseph</strong>’s Dilemma, p. 60).
9 Hock, Ronald F. “The Infancy Gospels of
James and Thomas” Polebridge Press, USA. (As
quoted by Marohl in <strong>Joseph</strong>’s Dilemma, p. 55-59)
10 The Jewish Encyclopedia.com; “Illegitimacy”
(www.jewishencyclopedia.com).
11 Edersheim, Rev. Alfred. The Life and
Times of Jesus the Messiah: Complete and
Unabridged in One Volume. (Hendrickson Publishers
Inc., USA, 1993, Book 2, p. 129).
12 Witherington III, Ben. “No Room in the
What”; Christianity Today online; 12/19/2007
(www.christianitytoday.com).
13 Ward, Kaari, Editor. Jesus and His Times.
(The Reader’s Digest Assoc. Inc., New York, 1987,
p. 93).
Grant is a retired airline pilot who
now lives on Vancouver Island. When
he’s not wondering at the joys of life
as a practicing husband, he’s usually
at the local airport or blogging at
http://wonderwings.blogspot.com.
<strong>38</strong> THE PLAIN TRUTH