The Forgotten One at Christmas

 Christmas time is here! Amidst all the hustle and bustle, present buying, Church service preparation, Christmas Eve / Christmas Day meal shopping, planning and prep, something seems to be overlooked year after year.

All thoughts go automatically to Mary, the virgin mother of Jesus, and of course the Christ child Himself. But how much thought is given to Joseph, who played a small but important part in the Christmas story?

As you know, the angel Gabriel appeared to Mary and told her she was highly favored in God's eyes. She was chosen to be the vessel to carry the Son of God through immaculate inception. She was scared, and worried, and had questions but as a girl of faith (she might have been 16) she accepted this. She wasn't sure how this would all play out, since she was engaged to Joseph and she was going to be pregnant soon, but her faith gave her strength.

However, imagine her trepidation when she actually had to tell her fiancé that she was going to be carrying the Son of God, and hadn't actually cheated on him? And the conversation went exactly as she thought it would: he wasn't going to marry her. But because he was a man of honor, he said he would "put her away quietly" so no one would badmouth her.

Then, Gabriel made an appearance to Joseph in a dream to tell him that he can still make Mary his wife. He explained the circumstances and being a man of God, Joseph decided yes, he would quietly wed Mary his betrothed and become the stepfather to Jesus.

Even with that honor, there isn't a whole lot more about Joseph mentioned. We don't get much more insight into him.

And then: Michael Card wrote a song that sums it up perfectly. Here are the lyrics; and I get no recompense for this, it is all Michael Card. Please feel free to YouTube the song: it's absolutely beautiful.

Joseph's Song

How could it be this baby in my arms
Sleeping now, so peacefully.
The Son of God, the angel said
How could it be?

Lord I know He's not my own.
Not of my flesh, not of my bone.
Still Father let this baby be
The son of my love.

Chorus
Father show me where I fit into this plan of yours
How can a man be father to the Son of God?
Lord for all my life I've been a simple carpenter
How can I raise a king? How can I raise a king...

He looks so small, His face and hands so fair.
And when He cries the sun just seems to disappear.
But when He laughs it shines again.
How could it be?

Chorus

Father show me where I fit into this plan of yours.
How can a man be father to the Son of God?
Lord for all my life I've been a simple carpenter.
How can I raise a king? How can I raise a king...

How could it be this baby in my arms,
Sleeping now, so peacefully.
The Son of God, the angel said.
How could it be?

As beautiful as this song is, I have never heard it sung in a church service. Since I knew I'd never be able to get the key right, I couldn't sing the song. So I asked my good friend Jim Bird if he would sing it as special music during yesterday's service. He was honored to do so, and even dedicated it to my sister Robin. Once she discovered this song, it became her favorite for Christmas. It was just beautiful...thank you Jim.

I hope this has you thinking about the small but necessary part Joseph played in the Christmas story. I wish you all a Merry Christmas.