Baffled us, but WOW Mary and Joseph.

Just when I thought Jesus' birth narrative and its interpretations couldn't get any more special or better for me, it happened yet again, just like every year: new revelation or emphasis, or some could say a new take on the birth narratives of Jesus, the special Child the world never realized was needed to be born, for such as these times.

My wife and I created a tradition last year to meditate on devotionals together during the Advent season of Christmas. The past few days, we have been talking a lot about Mary and Joseph, but this time how it hits us differently. Maybe because we are pregnant and are about 10 weeks away, or that we are living on a limited income, or because we have waited the last 18 months for my work permit in the U.S. to be approved (which finally came on Thanksgiving Day).

In many ways we are baffled:

1 - God's election of the most righteous individuals to parent Jesus. Joseph was committed to obeying the law of God (Matt. 1:19) and was embracing the righeteousness of the law in His actions by quitely embracing the uncertinity of the situation. Mary on the other had was "chosen, blessed among the women, virgin, betrothed," (Luke 1:26-33; 1:42) and to a man who was ritheous and passionate about the law of God, acting swiftly in faith, and letting God do what He does best, being God! Just this past 20 months of my life has been very challenging in many ways, questioning my life choices, calling and ministry, faith, and questioned God, in my lowest moments where everything in my life was strethed thin, I have made some poor choices and said some poor things to myself and my wife (not very righteous of me, especially as someone being called to ministry).

WOW Mary and Joseph.

2 - Willing to birth Jesus in a manger, the synonym to manger I think is contamination. Hayley and I know they tried to find a better place than a manger, but still, I believe it takes a lot out of new parents to have even a thought like that cross your mind, especially being a mom in her birth pains and a dad who is helpless. Being the germophobic husband, who is not able to provide for the family financially in this season, and a dad-to-be who wants to do everything to be the best dad ever, it's unfathomable, in my helplessness, to see my child born in the manger and my wife having to endure that.

WOW Mary and Joseph.

3 - Their obedience to God in the miraculous conception of Jesus, showcasing their courage and character, in accepting their personal situation and mostly each other without giving up, especially in a world where they could be undoubtedly excommunicated and/or socially oppressed. My wife asked me, "what would you have done in this situation without the message from the angel?" "I have to be honest, the first thing that comes to mind is divorce." Joseph could have run so many scenarios in his brain about Mary and her conception, but he thought about divorcing her quitely to not bring disgrace to her publically, even though he had the cards to play. Instead, he received the message from the Angel, he married her, became a great husband and a great father. With Mary, scripture says that she believed in all the things she heard would take life and form (Luke 1:45). Wow Mary and Joseph, you baffle us. I wonder how Mary's and Joseph's first meeting went after the life changing news, some awkward silence? Embracing each other? Or maybe Joseph with a big smile giving double thumbs up, just enough to comfort Mary? I bet they both had each other's backs, like any marriage should.

To conclude my thought, we could argue, what they did was involuntary, and kind of forced to be in it. But they life prior to being chosen for this never heard or seen before circumstances, opposses it. Perhaps their long obedience to God and His law before comes in handy in times uncertain as theirs. Obviously, they needed to hear the message of hope and affirmation to step into it, but kudos Mary and Joseph for setting a high bar for us as followers of Jesus Christ. We all need the message of hope that Jesus is here this Christmas with you and I, so He can do something unimaginable with your life and your story, no matter how baffiling they can be. I pray that hope in God and faith in Jesus with obeidece towards His radical ways be our WOW factors as we celebrate this Christmas and continue to spread the WOW through our testimonies forever.

Merry Christmas to Y'all!