This story is part of Chapter 8 of my forthcoming book, Bless You Bouquets: A Memoiravailable on Amazon.com and from my website at www.bettyjackson.net. I hope it makes the Christmas Story come alive in a new way for you to celebrate the Birth of our King. You have permission to use it with your family, at church gatherings and services, and wherever you think it will bless others. Just give credit to the author and the book Bless You Bouquets: A Memoir.
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Have you ever stopped to think about Joseph?
How must he have felt as Mary, his betrothed, told him about the encounter with Gabriel, God’s special messenger? How many sleepless nights did he spend agonizing over his decision?
“What should I do about Mary?” he must have asked a hundred times. “What will the neighbors say when she’s obviously pregnant? How will I explain this to my family, and to hers?”
Poor Joseph. Of course, he must have been most surprised to hear from God that all would be well.
After this visitation, we’re told he took Mary as his wife without further hesitation, yet did not fully express his love for her until after the Child was born.
Joseph must have been a most protective husband, bending to Mary’s every request, shielding her from every danger. Because he knew of her most blessed status, he must have been so very careful and watchful.
When she left to see her cousin Elizabeth, soon to mother John the Baptist, he must have closed his little carpenter shop, forfeiting days of business, to accompany her on the trip to the hill country. With loving tenderness he must have watched her every move, bewildered yet enchanted by the changes occurring in the woman he so dearly loved.
If she was most blessed among women, he must have felt himself the most responsible of men. How heavy that mantle rested on his broad shoulders.
All was progressing well. Winter was approaching and provision had to be made for Mary’s confinement and Jesus’ birth. He lovingly fashioned a cradle to hold the baby, warm and comfortable, away from danger and draft. With scraps of wood from his commissions, he created playthings and toys which would amuse the child.
Then the hammer blow fell. Wicked Caesar Augustus devised a fiendish plan to collect even more taxes from the burdened citizens. Joseph was to report to Bethlehem to be enrolled, recorded on yet another list, for taxation.
Since all had to return, with their families to cities of their birth, Joseph as head of the family had to plan the 80- mile trip. How would Mary travel? It was so close to her time. What if he defied the edict? What if he refused to go? No. He couldn’t risk imprisonment, just when Mary needed him so.
He hurried home from the marketplace. Mary, upon hearing the order, assured her husband she could travel with him. His furrowed brow relaxed. His manner became calm as she reminded him that God would protect them and that all would be well.
They planned carefully, securing their abode, hoping soon to return. The cradle was in readiness; the baby clothes were carefully arranged, for surely they would be soon needed upon their return. Joseph borrowed a shaggy donkey for Mary to ride. How he wished it had been a chariot instead. How he agonized over the bumps and jars, though he carefully guided the gentle beast over the rough places.
His weariness was plain to her, as hers was to him. Can’t you envision him as he lovingly looked over his shoulder asking, “How are you doing, dear one?” Calmly she replied, “This poor little donkey must be tiring,” not revealing her own discomfort.
The trip was long. As the final day drew on, Mary grimaced, hoping Joseph wouldn’t notice. She knew, as only she could, that her delivery was to be soon. How she longed for Joseph’s warm home, for her friends and family to be near to help. How she wished it had been another time, another place. Hadn’t Joseph enough problems already?
How puzzled she must have been too, knowing she would mother the Son of God, yet aware he would be born far away from home among strangers.
Secure in the faith that God would provide, she remembered her promise: “I am the Lord’s servant, and I am willing to do whatever He wants.”
Off in the distance stood the little town of Bethlehem. As twilight fell and stars began to twinkle in the sky, they neared the city walls. Nearby they saw the shepherds gathering their flocks for the night, and the shopkeepers began shuttering their businesses, finally finished with their chores for another day.
There had been many travelers that day, for early in the morning the census takers would be expecting prompt attention to their orders.
As Joseph drew close to Bethlehem, he hoped there would be room for them in a comfortable, warm inn. There would be food, rest, and refuge from the dusty journey. His travel-weary bones and blistered feet urged his pace to quicken toward the nearest hostel.
Gently he asked the innkeeper, “Sir, do you have a room and food for two weary travelers from Nazareth?” The obviously harried manager curtly replied, “No vacancy.”
On Joseph went, with a sigh, requesting the same from the next place he approached.
“Man, can’t you see I’ve got too many people here already? You’re just too late!”
Slam went the door, as Joseph, bewildered and disappointed, jumped back, quickly taking up the donkey’s rein.
Mary knew without asking what had happened. Silently she prayed, “Lord, prepare a place for your Son’s birth.”
Joseph approached a third inn. From the noise and loud laughter for within, he knew a large gathering was there also. Hopefully, even expectantly, he approached the portal.
“Sir, have you room for us? My wife and I are so weary, and she is great with child.”
The innkeeper was used to people’s hard tales, but the earnest gaze of Joseph, and the expectant, hopeful countenance of his lovely wife moved him with special compassion.
“Listen, friend, I’m the last innkeeper on the street, and it’ll do you no good to look further. Tell you what. I’ve no rooms left— we’ve doubled up as it is— but there is a warm stable out back you may use. I’ll have the groom lay fresh straw and the girl will bring you some food if you’d like. At least it’ll be quieter there than here!”
Joseph, grateful to God and his kind man, thanked him for caring, and returned to Mary.
“It’s not much, Mary, but he has a warm stable where we can stay and he’ll send us some food. I’m sorry I couldn’t do better for you; you look so very tired. Soon you can lie down and rest.”
They entered the stable— really a shed built into a small cave. It was dark and bare, except for a manger filled with fragrant hay. The guests’ donkeys stood munching the hay, and softly cooing doves noticed as the travelers entered.
Joseph gently lifted Mary down, briefly embraced her, and led her to a soft pile of hay in the corner. Wearily she sighed, “Joseph dearest, Joseph mine, isn’t this a strange place for the birth of a King?”
Joseph, in a cold sweat, said, “Mary, do you mean it’s time? What will we do? Who can help? Oh, Mary, I wish things were better for you!”
Mary, assuring him that God would protect them, alternately rested and labored as the time of birth approached. A gentle woman from the inn came to help, and Mary delivered her first-born son, Jesus, and looked upon the face of God Incarnate for the first time.
Joseph, amazed and at the same time grateful that the whole ordeal had ended, shooed the animals away from the manger.
“Mary, it’s not the cradle I fashioned, and the straw is scratchy and dusty, but the child will have a safe place to sleep.”
They carefully wrapped the baby in warm swaddling clothes, and adoringly placed him in the manger.
Almost immediately, there seemed to be a special glow about the place. It didn’t seem quite as dark and forbidding as before. It was as if a glowing Spirit entered the stable, making it indeed the best possible place for the birth of this kingly Child.
The animals softly mooed and murmured. Mary thought it a fitting lullaby, soothing and sweet. There seemed to be radiance about the room, illuminating the manger so Mary could watch every move the baby made.
They rested, peacefully thanking God for their fortunes in His care. They didn’t get to sleep for long, however, for soon they heard a rather timid “Hello-o-o!” from the entryway.
It was the vigilant Joseph who stirred first, wondering at the interruption. Rising silently, trying not to rustle the brittle straw and wake the sleeping mother and Child and the finally quiet animals, Joseph tip-toed to the portal.
There he faced some shepherds who carried staffs and lambs. Thinking they too would be sharing the stable for a few hours’ retreat from the chilly night, he said, “Oh, though it’s humble, you too may find some straw and sleep for the rest of the night.
A quiet protest came from the eldest lad, obviously the leader of the group. “Oh, but you don’t understand. You see, we hear a King has been born here, who will be called the Prince of Peace!”
“Who told you of this?” queried the amazed Joseph, thinking “How could they possibly know?”
“We’re not sure who or even what they were, maybe angels!” said the amazed sheep-tender. We just heard a large chorus singing ‘Glory to God in the highest, and peace on earth to all men,’ and when we looked up, we saw multitudes of angels, robed in white. They told us to follow the star to Bethlehem.”
“Star?”
“Don’t tell me you haven’t noticed! Look!
Another young boy said, “We’ve never seen anything like this star before, have you?”
Indeed Joseph was amazed at what he saw, and stood mutely transfixed at the sight above the stable. As if there hadn’t been enough surprises already! Now the heavens were telling a vivid story!
In hushed tones, the shepherds quickly brought the astonished Joseph back to reality as they asked, all at the same time, it seemed: “Good sir, have we indeed found the right place? Is there a newborn Baby here? We weren’t just dreaming were we? We haven’t sacrificed our jobs and left the fields for nothing, have we? Where is this King of Kings? The angels told us to find him.”
Joseph, acting the part of host now, asked them to wait a moment. “Mary, Mary! I’m sorry to awake you. But you won’t believe what is happening! There’s a huge star in the sky, right above this place. And angels are singing praise to God and announcing the Messiah’s birth. There are shepherds outside who want to worship the Baby. Do you believe this?”
“My Joseph. The Lord has truly blessed us this night. Do let those good people come in to see their Savior. For He is not our Son, but the Son of the Most High.”
Mary, thought Joseph, surely had a way of understanding what was happening. She didn’t seem the least bit surprised. It was as if by pondering Gabriel’s message all these months, she was prepared for this night of strange occurrences. Why was he so bewildered by it all?
And this was only the beginning, as he was soon to discover.
Although Joseph wanted to protect the Baby and mother, to let them rest to regain their strength, he soon realized there would be little rest. Others had also seen the star and followed it to the place where Jesus lay. Soon there were many visitors, and all knelt in awe when they saw the precious Baby and the beautiful mother. And they brought gifts: trays of food, newborn lambs, warm coverings, and handmade tributes.
The innkeeper apologetically entered, suggesting that they use his home. He’d had no idea the Child would be born, and certainly in all his years watching for the Messiah’s appearance, was rather embarrassed that he’d allowed this King to be born in his very stable. Joseph assured the concerned man of their comfort, and that it was all part of God’s plan. The innkeeper, who prided himself on his knowledge of Bethlehem, said,
“I should have known, Joseph. If only I’d thought! You know what the Scriptures said of this place? ‘O Bethlehem Ephrathah, you are but a small Judean village, yet you will be the birthplace of my King who is alive from everlasting ages past’.”
When the Child was eight days old, he was circumcised in the Hebraic tradition, and at forty days presented to old Simeon in the temple in Jerusalem.
Joseph and Mary had another unique experience here when they heard Simeon say: “Lord, now I can die content! For I have seen Him as you promised me I would. I have seen the Savior you have given the world. He is the Light that will shine upon the nations, and he will be the glory of your people Israel!” And the prophetess Anna recognized this as the King who would redeem Jerusalem and Israel.
Joseph again marveled at God’s wisdom of combining the insignificant with the magnificent.
You can imagine he was quite taken aback by the next event which occurred several months later. Magi arrived, on camels, bringing gifts Joseph had only heard existed! They brought gold, frankincense, and myrrh. It was quite a sight to see kings in the house, bending their knees, bowing their crowned heads. Truly the Lord could reach the hearts of even the mighty through this tiny Child.
The Magi wished Joseph well, and drawing him aside, out of Mary’s hearing, suggested ominous things might be happening on the horizon. They were frankly concerned for the welfare of the Child, that Herod might think the Infant Jesus might usurp his power.
Joseph thanked them for their warning, and almost surprised he would say such a thing, said: “You know, I’m no longer amazed at what the Lord can do. He’s protected us so far, and I am convinced we are under His special care.”
Joseph was, therefore, not surprised when in a dream he was told to flee immediately to Egypt to escape the Roman’s killing of the innocents, children born within the last two years around Bethlehem where Jesus was born. The Lord’s protection was part of the plan for this little one.
We’re not told much about Jesus’ youth, but Joseph must have patiently taught the boy the beauties of the world, the responsibilities of belonging to the lineage of David, and the wonders of God.
For it is evident in Christ’s ministry that Jesus had learned the art of making the profound seem simple by telling parables and using commonplace humble illustrations to make evident eternal truths.
I’d like to think Joseph had something to do with this.
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