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Michael K. McMahan| The Gaston Gazette

This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins. (Matthew 1: 18 21)

You are a young man a few years out of college. As you grew up around the construction industry, you prefer working with your hands to sitting at a desk. You have built a small business contracting carpentry work to large corporate home builders. You are up early. You work hard. It is all good, but one thing is missing.

And there she is. Eight years younger, but very mature, an administrative assistant with one of the big companies who contracts for your services, smart and pretty, and kind. You are in love with her when you first see her.

In a very short time, you discretely slip a ring on the third finger of her left hand. Surprised, tears spring to her eyes. You say, Will you marry me? She nods through those tears. You hug one another and both say, I love you, and you laugh.

Two weeks later there is a knock at your door. You hear her voice. You straighten your shirt and wish you had brushed your teeth after breakfast. You open the door and she is sobbing.

Whats wrong, you say as you help her into your small apartment. You set two straight chairs facing one another and sit in front of her, holding both her hands.

She sobs, but soon wipes her eyes and says, Not long before we met, she sobs, takes a deep breath, and says, I made a mistake. Im pregnant.

Emotions pelt you from every direction surprise, confusion, anger, disappointment, and, as you see her trembling in front of you, compassion and love. You stand and pull her to her feet. You hug her as she places her face on your shoulder and sobs quietly.

You know four things. She is the person you want to be with for the rest of your life. She is hurting. You love her. It will be her baby and you will love the child as you love her.

In a different culture two thousand years ago a successful young man who was faithful to the law and to Yahweh, and was known to be a good and kind person was chosen by a family who loved their daughter to be her husband. He was a carpenter, or more likely a home builder like my friends Doug McSpadden and Bob Rouse.

Soon he learned the young woman to whom he was to be married was pregnant. Because he had compassion for her and respect for her family, he decided he would quietly withdraw from the marital arrangement. But something happened.

Matthew expresses it as a visit from an angel in a dream. It was a dramatic event for Joseph, an epiphany. It told him Mary was a devout young woman. She was not only worthy of his respect and honor, the child within her would be special.

So, it is one of the great characters in the Bible accepted the responsibility of protecting and loving Mary, the mother of Jesus, and caring for Marys son as his earthly father.

We know so little about him. It is likely he died at a relatively young age. Otherwise, Jesus might have begun his ministry sooner than at the age of 30. The later date may indicate that Jesus needed to provide for his mother and family because of Josephs death. We do not know. But we know Joseph was a faithful husband and father. We know he was a righteous and deeply good man, a man I believe was chosen by God for a role that few men on earth at that time could have fulfilled.

At this time of year, especially, we should be thankful for the life of Joseph, the husband of Mary, the earthly father of Jesus, the protector of both. In our thanksgiving we should be grateful for all fathers, regardless of their circumstances, who respect and honor the mothers of their children and provide for their families as Joseph did for his.

As you think of the baby, Jesus, and his mother, Mary, remember the deeply good man who loved and cared for them both and pray a special prayer that fathers everywhere will follow his example.

Michael K. McMahan is a resident of Gastonia and regular contributor to The Gaston Gazette.

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When thinking of baby Jesus, remember the role Joseph played - Gaston Gazette