Most of the focus at Christmastime is on the birth of Christ itself as that is what the Christmas story is all about. However, we need to also understand what Joseph, and especially Mary, had to go through for Jesus to be born during the time they lived with the customs and mores of the day. This event was extraordinary in more ways than one. This story below is from a viewpoint of a family in Nazareth who were associated with Joseph and, like Joseph, had to come to grips with what God was doing through Mary.
Mary Returns
Approximately 60 miles north of Jerusalem and 20 miles west of the Sea of Galilee lies a small inconsequential town called Nazareth. Running past the town well and across the street, a young girl in her teen’s bursts through the doorway of a small, but well-kept house where her mother is preparing the evening meal. “Ima! Ima!” she shouts. “She’s back! Mary’s back!”
Rebecca whips around, at first afraid her daughter is hurt, but then sighs in relief when she sees her unharmed—just excited. She then sees her youngest daughter, Hannah, follow Rachel into the house, now out of breath, as her younger and smaller legs had quite the workout to keep up with her older sister by about five years. Her cornsilk doll dangles and jostles as she runs to catch up holding it by its cloth arm.
“Gracious, Rachel,” Rebecca says. “You gave me such a fright.”
Rachel stops in her tracks, now looking somewhat sheepish. “Sorry, Ima.” Her eyes then brighten again. “May I go see her? It’s been a little over six months since she went to visit her cousin. She must have so much to tell me of her adventure.”
“Well . . .,” Rebecca begins, glancing at the food she is preparing knowing she needs her daughter’s help to get the meal finished on time as her husband, Eli, will expect.
“Yeah,” Hannah chimes in, “and she’s fat.”
Rebecca scrunches her brow and focuses on her youngest daughter, now noticing the dirt on her cheeks. “What? What do you mean? And how did you get so dirty so fast?” Rebecca wets her thumb with her tongue and begins wiping Hannah’s cheeks.
Hannah squirms. “Ima!” she says with irritation. She then speaks with exasperation. “I said, she’s fat. Her cousin must be wealthy.”
Rebecca shakes her head. “No, they’re no better off than we are.”
“Then why is she so fat?” Hannah asks, looking quite determined to know the answer to her question.
“What’s all the commotion?” Eli asks as he lays some stones down next to the doorway. “I was going to repair our courtyard, but I heard something about being fat.”
Rachel turns to her father. “May I go see Mary? She just got back.”
Eli cocks his head. “Mary?”
Rachel sighs. “Really, Abba. Mary. You know, my best friend, Mary.”
“Oh, she’s back?”
Rachel nods but her look indicates she feels her father is slow on the uptake.
“And she’s fat,” Hannah reiterates.
“Hannah, that’s not nice,” Rachel says in a somewhat scolding manner.
Hannah crosses her arms over her abdomen. “Well, she is.”
Eli’s gaze goes to Rebecca as his eyebrows raise, the tell-tale sign of asking for clarity. Rebecca motions with her head for Eli to come closer. She then turns to the girls.
“Why don’t the two of you go wash up? We’ll discuss when you can go visit at dinner.”
Rachel sighs with disappointment. “Yes, Ima.”
Both girls leave the room.
Eli walks over and says in almost a whisper. “I can only think of one thing that could make a young girl . . .” He does air quotes. “. . . fat.”
Rebecca nods. “My thoughts exactly.”
Eli shakes his head. “Joseph is going to be heartbroken. He’s my best friend. I’ve known him for many years. A good carpenter and craftsman. Very devout. Would have made a good provider. I can’t imagine what he’s feeling.”
“You don’t think . . .” Rebecca starts, but then stops herself. “No, it . . . it couldn’t be.” She cocks her head. “But that won’t stop the rumors.”
Eli’s eyes widen. “Rebecca! I’m surprised you would insinuate such a thing. Joseph is as honorable as they come. He would never engage in such a thing before their union is officially sanctioned.”
“I know, I know,” Rebecca says. “But, think about it, Eli. She leaves right after their betrothal. Now it’s a little over six months, and she’s showing.”
Eli shakes his head. “No. That cannot be a possibility.” He looks at her sternly. “And don’t you go start any such rumor as that. Eldad’s wife can spread a rumor faster than lightning, so don’t you dare even suggest such a thing to her.”
Rebecca holds up her hands. “I would never, Eli! Yet I don’t think I will have to say anything for such a rumor to start.”
Eli exhales hard through his nose in exasperation. “Poor Joseph. He’s likely hurt and confused. He’s talked about nothing over the last six months but him looking forward to making a life with Mary.” He paces for a minute in thought and then turns back to his wife. “A Roman! I bet a Roman took advantage of her.”
Rebecca’s eyes grow wide. “Well, that doesn’t make it any better!”
“It does for Joseph, though. He’ll be able to annul the marriage quickly and legitimately.”
Rebecca puts her hand to her cheek. “Oh, the shame for her family.”
“I’m going to go see Jospeh. He must be beside himself. Likely in shock right now and needs the support.”
“Bring him over for dinner. It’s not good for him to be by himself right now.”
Eli nods. “Good idea.” He kisses his wife on her cheek. “Be back soon.”
With that he leaves, travelling at a quick gait.
Joseph’s Response
Hannah’s chin lay in her palm with her arm propped on the table. “I’m hungry, Ima. Can’t we go ahead and eat?”
“We have to wait for Abba,” Rachel says. “You know that.”
Hannah sticks out her bottom lip. “All I know is my stomach is hungry.”
Rebecca knows she can’t keep the girls waiting all night, and if Eli returns with Joseph, she doesn’t want the girls to hear their conversation. She suddenly sits upright with a big smile on her face.
“I know. Why don’t I prepare a plate for you girls, and you eat your dinner on the roof.”
Hannah suddenly sits up with a quick change in disposition with eyes bright. “Really, Ima? You haven’t let us do that in ages.”
Rebecca quickly puts food on separate plates. Rachel pours water into two clay cups and hands them to Hannah. “Take these up to the roof and I’ll bring up your plate. All right?”
Hannah nods enthusiastically, putting her doll’s cloth arm between her teeth and then takes the two cups, one in each hand, out the door to go up the outside stairs to the roof.
Once Hannah leaves, Rachel turns to her mom. “What’s going on, Ima? I know there’s something you’re not telling me. It’s about Mary, isn’t it?”
Rebecca puts her hand on her daughter’s shoulder. “I’ll talk to you tomorrow about it. I promise.”
Rachel gives her mother a hard look, but then nods. “Okay. I’m Mary’s best friend, so if it is about her, I want to know.”
Rebecca nods. “Yes, I know. I agree.”
As she heads toward the door, Eli walks in with Joseph. Rachel pauses. “Hannah and I are going to eat on the roof. Ima’s suggestion.”
Eli smiles. “Great idea.” He walks over and kisses his daughter on the top of her head. “I’ll come and get you when it’s time to come back down. Joseph and I need to have a conversation.”
Rachel glances at Joseph who gives a weak smile. “Have fun under the stars. Sounds like a treat.”
She smiles back at Joseph and gives a nod to her father. “Yes, Abba.”
“Sorry to be late,” Eli says as he turns to Rebecca. “I waited for Joseph to talk to Mary’s family.” He then leans in close to Rebecca as he passes her, leading Joseph to the table, and whispers, “I don’t think it went very well.”
Rebecca’s eyebrows raise in anticipation of hearing the encounter, but she knows more than to ask a direct question. She simply nods but hopes Eli will elaborate. After serving, she sits at the other end of the table across from Eli with Joseph between them. She wants to be able to see Eli’s expressions as he and Joseph talk.
Eli turns to Joseph. “You never really said what happened. It was a Roman soldier, wasn’t it?”
Joseph looks solemn but simply shakes his head.
Eli takes a sip of the soup broth and then cocks his head. “No?” He glances at his wife giving a wide-eyed look like Joseph’s news proves even more devastating.”
Eli’s hand goes to Joseph’s arm. “Don’t tell me it was by a fellow Israelite.”
Rebecca gives a slight gasp but tries to quieten it with her hand going to her mouth.
Joseph simply shakes his head again.
Eli gives another glance at Rebecca, giving a slight shrug. He then turns his attention back to his friend.
“Joseph, tell me. What happened? Who is the culprit?” He pats Joseph’s forearm. “I’m with you. We’ll face this together.”
Joseph looks up slowly, focusing on Eli. “She said it was no one.”
Eli sits upright, head jerking back. “What? No one. How?”
Rebecca tilts her head slightly, giving Eli a look of disbelief. She knows it can’t be no one.
Joseph did not take his gaze off Eli who then starts to look uncomfortable. “She said she was visited by an angel shortly before she left to visit her cousin Elizabeth and was sometime later impregnated by God’s Spirit.”
[The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. (Lk 1:35), NIV]
Eli glances back at Rebecca. She knows her eyes are now as wide as they could possibly be. He gives a slight nod and focuses back on Joseph, saying quietly but with a tone of disbelief, “And . . . you believe such a thing?”
He gives a shrug. “To be honest, I’m not sure what to believe. Scripture does tell us of such a thing.”
[Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. (Is 7:14), NIV]
“Well, yes,” Eli says, sounding doubtful. “But why would such an honor go to Mary? Who is she—or anyone in Nazareth for that matter? No one in this village is important enough to bear such a blessing. Wouldn’t it need to be someone of prominence so our Messiah could gain the influence and following needed to overcome Rome, and set Israel up as a nation to be superior to all nations.”
“She said the angel Gabriel told her the child would be called Son of the Most High, God would give him the throne of his father David, and his kingdom would never end.”
[You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end. (Lk 1:31-33, NIV)]
Eli scrunches his brow.
Rebecca thinks this all so bizarre.
“Yes,” Eli says, “but how is that supposed to happen?” He puts his hand back on Joseph’s forearm. “Is she just using Scripture to get out of a stoning?”
Joseph squints. “Stoning?” He glances from Eli to Rebecca and back. “Who said anything about a stoning?”
“What choice do you have, Joseph? You either admit you are the father, which you aren’t, right?”
Joseph shakes his head.
“Or you admit the child is not yours and that means she broke her purity vow which has a penalty of death by stoning.”
A look of horror comes over Joseph’s face. “Eli, you know I have loved Mary for quite some time. She has always been an honorable woman. I can’t have such a thing happen to her.”
“But her purity has been ruined . . .” Rebecca starts, but then catches herself.
Joseph shakes his head. “Doesn’t matter. If I don’t accuse her, she will not be stoned. I will divorce her and let her live.”
“So much shame to bear, though,” Eli says.
Tears well up in Joseph’s eyes as he puts his head in his hands and begins to shake his head back and forth. “I don’t know what to do . . . or how to handle this.” He looks back up with tear-stained cheeks. “I still love her, Eli, despite what she did, or what someone did to her. I know I can’t go through with the marriage now, but I still care for her.”
“You’re not angry?”
“Of course I’m angry!” Joseph blurts out emphatically. “Happiness has been ripped from my heart and has left it raw and bleeding.” He shakes his head. “But she’s not to blame. I know our custom is for a woman to protect her purity, but how can a woman do such if a man wishes to take it from her?”
Joseph suddenly stands. “Thank you, Eli and Rebecca, for your hospitality. But I’m not hungry. I just want to go home and be alone.”
Eli stands. “I’ll walk with you.”
Joseph shakes his head. “No. Thanks anyway. I just want to think.”
Eli nods and they both watch Joseph leave looking more forlorn than they have ever seen him before.
Joseph Accepts His Role
Eli comes in and plops down at the table where Rebecca and Rachel are kneading dough and gives a sigh.
“How did the town council meeting go?” Rebecca asks.
Eli shakes his head. “Not well.”
He glances at Rachel. “Sweetie, can you give your Ima and me some time alone to discuss?”
Rachel gives her mom a pleading look.
“Uh, Eli, she already knows everything.”
Eli’s eyes widen. “Everything?”
Rebecca nods.
“Is that wise? I mean. She’s still young.”
Rachel sighs and sits next to her father, wiping her hands on a cloth. “Really, Abba. I’m only a year younger than Mary and I saw you talking to Jesse’s parents the other day. That was about me, right?”
“Well . . .” He gives a glance to Rebecca as if to say, ‘help me.’
She simply gives a shrug. “Well, she has a point, Eli. In another year, she’ll be going through something similar.”
Eli sits up straighter. “Similar? Well, I certainly hope not!”
Rebecca gives a dismissive wave. “Oh, you know what I mean. All the township scrutiny she’ll be subjected to. They talk about you because of something you did or didn’t do. We protect our daughters, which I certainly agree with, but then don’t really prepare them for what marriage is really like. And the women of the town, rather than support, criticize until the new bride learns to develop a backbone and stand up for herself. We can do better for Rachel.”
“I hear you, but I don’t think anything would have prepared Joseph or Mary for this scenario.”
“No, probably not,” Rebecca says.
“But why not?” Rachel asks. “Isn’t it part of Scripture?”
“Now, Rachel,” Eli begins, “This is different.”
“Is it? I don’t mean any disrespect, Abba, but I had a long talk with Mary.”
Eli sits more upright. “You went against my wishes?”
“No!” She shuffles in her seat. “I mean, yes. I . . . I guess.” She gives a slight shrug. “Mary was so desperate for an ear. I just had to, Abba. I just had to. Joseph has you to talk to, but she has no one. None of the women in this town will talk to her or try to understand her point of view. They shun her at every turn and won’t even be seen at the well with her. They feel her guilt is cut and dry. Some even question why she’s still alive.”
“What?! Who? Who would say that?”
“The wives of the men who are saying the same thing,” Rebecca says. “You must admit, Eli. Not many are on their side.”
Eli sighs. “And probably even less after today.”
Rebecca stops her kneading and sits while wiping her hands with a damp cloth, giving Eli a questioning look. “What happened?”
“He admitted the child was his.”
Rebecca sucks in a breath. “No!” she says in disbelief. “Why would he do that?”
Rachel looks from her mother to her father and shakes her head. “Why wouldn’t he? After all, he is the child’s earthly father.”
“That’s a strange thing to say,” Eli says. “What did Mary tell you?”
“Abba, she’s scared. She knows the angel told her she would bear the Messiah. He even told her what to name the child. Why can’t everyone just believe her?”
Eli puts his hand on his daughter’s shoulder. “Dear, it’s just, that is not how babies are made.”
“But this is not any baby. It’s the prophesied baby. You’ve told me the story so many times. Didn’t you believe what you told me?”
“Well, yes, of course. But to have that fulfilled here in our small town with people of no consequence? That seems a little . . .”
“Strange?” Rachel asks.
Eli nods.
“Don’t you think Mary and Joseph feel the same way? Abba, you’ve told me of many prophets who went against what was popular with people to tell the message God gave them. Is this any different?”
Eli rubs his chin but then chuckles. “You sound somewhat like Joseph today.”
“What do you mean?”
“He said he has no idea why God chose him but that night after he left our house after talking with Mary’s parents, an angel also visited him in a dream and told him the same story the angel told Mary, and even said the child would take away the sins of his people.”
[An angel of the Lord said: You are to give him the name Jesus because he will save his people from their sins. (Mt 1:21, NIV)]
Eli’s eyebrows raise as he cocks his head. “And that went over poorly with the council, I might add. Yet ever since his dream, he’s been adamant that the child, while not his physically, is his because God deemed it so. Therefore, he is not going to go against God just because some . . .” He does air quotes. “. . . narrow minded old men . . . would not believe that Scripture could be fulfilled in their lifetime.”
Rebecca’s hand goes to her cheek. “Oh, my! He didn’t really say that, did he?”
Eli chuckles. “I cringed when he said it. But I have to say, I admire him for his stance. He believes this wholeheartedly. He’s going to take Mary to Bethlehem for this new census that’s been imposed on us.”
Rebecca’s eyes narrow. “Why does he have to go to Bethlehem?”
“He’s from the tribe of Judah and a descendant of King David,” Eli says, with a chuckle to follow. “I knew I always liked him. That makes me a friend of royalty.”
Rebecca smiles. “Well, I don’t think that gives us any advantages, though.”
“But that proves it, don’t you think?” Rachel asks. “It’s like you tell us, Abba. The Messiah will be a descendant of King David but the curse on King Jehoiachin, who is in the Messianic lineage, put many Jewish leaders in a quandary to explain it.”
Eli looks at his daughter with admiration. “Rachel, that’s profound. So, by Jospeh claiming the child as his own, this makes him a legitimate heir of King David, but not from the lineage of King Jehoiachin.”
Rachel nods, giving a smile.
“And how did you get so smart?” Eli asks as he chuckles. “I may have to reconsider marrying you off to Jesse.”
Rachel puts her hand on her father’s forearm. “Oh, please don’t, Abba.” Her cheeks turn a blush. “I think you made a wise choice.”
Eli looks at Rebecca and they both grin.
After gaining her composure, Rachel asks, “So, what happens now?”
Eli cocks his head and gives a small shrug. “It’s all up to God now.”
Leaving Nazareth
Eli continues his discussion with his daughter and wife. He knows Joseph has a long and dangerous journey ahead of him.
“How long will it take them to reach Bethlehem, Abba?” Rachel asks.
Eli tilts his head in thought. “Hmm. Several days, for sure. Even longer with Mary being pregnant. Yet I know Joseph is anxious to get away from all the stares and whispers directed toward them by many of the townsfolk.”
Rebecca shakes her head. “A lot of risk with her being with child, though.”
“Perhaps. But there will be many traveling in their direction. There is always more safety in numbers.”
Rebecca nods. “True. That’s at least a comfort. But where will they stay once they get there?”
“Joseph and Mary will stay with one of his relatives in Bethlehem until the census is over,” Eli says.
“As long as she doesn’t deliver while there,” Rebecca replies. “Our purity laws can make things complicated.”
Eli pauses in thought. “Well, if God has given them this commission, I’m sure he can work out the details of the child’s birth as well.”
“Midgal Eder,” Rachel says.
“What, dear?” Eli asks as he gives her a questioning look.
“Remind Joseph of Migdal Eder. You told us many times that some of your religious teachers said the prophet Micah was predicting the coming Messiah would be born at Migdal Eder, the watchtower of the flock. Isn’t that near Bethlehem?”
Eli nods. “Yes, just outside the city limit, I believe. That’s where the Bethlehem shepherds take care of the temple sheep the priests use for their various offerings and feast days. These shepherds ensure the sheep are without any blemishes so the priests will accept them for temple sacrifice.”
“Maybe that’s where Joseph is supposed to go so his son can be born,” Rachel says, giving a shrug. “Sounds like the right place.”
“I’ll certainly mention it to him. It could at least be a contingency plan.” He chuckles. “You surprise me, Rachel. I never knew you paid so close attention to the stories I tell you and Hannah. Speaking of Hannah. Where is she?”
“Oh, she’s next door playing house with some of her friends.”
“Hmm,” Eli says as his eyes twinkle. “Maybe you should get some tips from her then of how to be a homemaker since she’s getting so much practice for domestic duties.” He then raises his eyebrows and says in a teasing manner, “Jesse wants the very best, you know.”
Rachel gives her father a silly face. “Not funny.”
Eli reaches over and kisses her on her forehead. “The two of you will be good for each other. He’s a hard worker and you’re a brain. You’ll make him look good to all his peers.”
Rebecca nods. “And he’ll adore you all the more.”
“And if the Messiah is finally here,” Rachel says, “then it seems we’ll be living in awesome times.”
“Interesting times at any rate,” Eli says. “Let’s have an early dinner and get ready for bed so we can see Joseph and Mary off on their journey to Bethlehem in the morning. Joseph wants to get an early start tomorrow. My guess is that they will not have many supporters for that.”
“It’s so far for someone in her condition, though,” Rebecca says.
“True,” Eli agrees. “But it will give them time to know each other better and get any hard feelings out of the way. They will only have themselves to lean on. That has to be a good thing, doesn’t it?”
Rebecca nods. “Yes, I suppose so. Both dangerous and exciting at the same time.”
“I just can’t wait to hear of her adventures when she gets back and tells me of all the different types of people she met while there,” Rachel says. “You think they’ll meet anyone of importance?”
Eli rubs his chin in thought. “Well, I don’t think anyone more important than the Messiah, for sure.”
Rachel smiles. “Then maybe God will let others know our Messiah is here so they can visit him.” Her eyes widen. “Like shepherds, for instance.”
Eli’s eyes narrow as if he is in doubt of her statement. “What makes you say that? How would they know?”
Rachel looks at her mom. Rebecca shrugs. “Don’t look at me. You two seem to be the ones putting this puzzle together.”
Rachel turns back to Eli. “Well, I’m sure God can inform them somehow. Yet if Mary’s son is born at Migdal Eder, the watchtower of the flock, then the shepherds will most likely know they are there and become curious to their visit and will go see why they have come.”
Eli gives a slight nod. “Perhaps. Also, I do recall some of our Jewish teachers reading some passages from Psalms and Isaiah which indicate, or at least imply, kings from the east will bring gifts. I recall the passage in Psalms saying: ‘Young camels of Midian and Ephah. All from Sheba will come, bearing gold and incense and proclaiming the praise of the LORD’ (Is 60:6, NIV). Some say this refers to King Solomon.”
“Oh, like the Queen of Sheba who brought gifts to him?” Rachel asks.
Eli nods. “Precisely, but the tense of the words by Isaiah seem to indicate some future time of such an event. He said, ‘Herds of camels will cover your land, young camels of Midian and Ephah. All from Sheba will come, bearing gold and incense and proclaiming the praise of the LORD’ (Is 60:6).”
Rachel’s eyes widen. “Like now?”
Eli cocks his head. “Could be. Maybe we’ll hear what happened on their journey once they get back.”
“Well, I can hardly wait,” Rachel says, looking excited. “I just know it’s going to be epic.” She pauses, but then blurts out, “Can you believe it? Our Messiah is almost here! How much more epic can it get?”
They each hug. Rachel goes to get Hannah, and Rebecca begins getting dinner completed. Eli sits in thought. He always believed Scripture but is now realizing that he is going to be living Scripture now.
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Visit Books & Words to Inspire by Randy C. Dockens
