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Joseph and Mary have an anniversary, too! And we celebrate it January 24th . We may think of an espousal or betrothal as an engagement, but it was more than that in the time of Joseph and Mary. Back then, it was the beginning of a marriage. The Gospel of Matthew explains that “when [Jesus’] mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph” and “found with child”, “Joseph her husband” was going to “divorce her quietly.” [Matthew 1:18-19] The Gospel not only calls Joseph Mary’s husband, but shows he was going to divorce her. And one cannot get a divorce unless you are married.
Even with all of this, it seems odd to put an emphasis on Joseph and Mary before Jesus was with them, right? Actually, the emphasis of the marriage between Joseph and Mary is about Jesus. It shows that God the Father did not send His Son as an orphan. He sent Him into a family. One that would care for Him and protect Him from the moment He entered into their care through the womb of Mary. The words of Isaiah are fulfilled in her.
“ ’Behold, the virgin shall be with child and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel,’ which means ‘God is with us.’ “ – [Matthew 1:23, Isaiah 7:14]
But it goes beyond that. Mary is the one who gives flesh to God. The immortal becomes mortal within her womb. A creature nurtured the Creator. She became the Mother of God. Indeed, she nurtured her Son after His birth as well. As a sinless virgin, she was a perfect vessel for Jesus to enter into our sinful world. He being sinless, yet taking our sins upon Himself on Calvary. Her heart that “contemplated”, as the Bible tells, the mysteries of Jesus must have been already contemplating Her God before she was called upon to carry Him within Her.
Joseph is specifically called out as being “Son of David” in Matthew and “of the house of David” in Luke in their infancy narratives. Lineage was recorded through the father and for Jesus to be “Son of David”, His father needed to be “Son of David.” So, Joseph passes His lineage to Jesus. Without it, the words in 2 Samuel would not have been fulfilled.
“[T]he word of the LORD came to Nathan: Go and tell David my servant … [W]hen your days have been completed and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring after you, sprung from your loins, and I will establish his kingdom. He it is who shall build a house for my name, and I will establish his royal throne forever. I will be a father to him, and he shall be a son to me.” [2 Samuel 7:4-5,12-14]
Sorry to overanalyze, but I enjoy this little known feast and enjoy celebrating it. It comes to us a day after we mourn the atrocities of abortion with Roe V. Wade. Sure, we must mourn such atrocities, but we also know that God is our God and we celebrate His goodness knowing that one day our morning will turn into gladness. [Psalms 30:12]
Joseph and Mary, happy Anniversary. May you always take care of me like you did Jesus and help all marriages to stay or become happy marriages.
