Continuing the Advent posts with excerpts from A Pondering Heart, I want you to meet Joseph the carpenter.
As I researched to write this book, I became more and more enamored with Joseph. He’s only mentioned a few times, but his role in the life of Jesus shouldn’t be underestimated.
I believe God chose Mary in part because she was betrothed to a godly man: Joseph.
This excerpt reveals the moment Joseph first learns the unbelievable story of Mary’s pregnancy.
From Chapter Three:
Darkness fell early. Father and I walked to the village and down a small street far from the town’s center to a sturdy brick building. Joseph’s house (would it ever be mine?), a simple two room box, had sturdy wooden furnishings. Two pillows were nestled together near the hearth. Father lowered himself onto one of them. I stared toward the ground and nearly missed Joseph’s gesture for me to sit on the other pillow.
Father shook his head.
“Thank you,” I said, raising my eyes as far as Joseph’s beard, “I will share with Abba.”
Joseph nodded. “Would you care for wine, Father Heli?”
“Not at the moment.”
I squatted beside Father on the edge of the pillow, my back resting against his side. Joseph folded his legs beneath him and nodded to Father respectfully.
In the light of the candles flickering on the nearby table, I studied this man, my betrothed. Flecks of gray dotted his dark brown beard, which he kept closely trimmed to his face. His skin was sun-darkened and weathered.
Pale brown eyes stared at Father. The planes of his face were broad and masculine, accentuated by his neatly trimmed hair, which hung to the collar of his robe in the back but was brushed away from his face in the front. It wasn’t a traditional haircut, but it made sense for a man who bent over wood and stone, working with tools all day.
The two exchanged greetings and small talk, while I watched Joseph from beneath my lashes. I pulled my shawl further forward to camouflage the inappropriate staring.
“This is more than a social visit,” Father said.
Joseph nodded. “Of course.”
I felt Father glance toward me. I clenched my skirts with suddenly cold hands. Tightness in my chest made breathing difficult.
“Something unexpected has mired our betrothal agreement,” Father said. “In days to come, you will surely hear many unflattering accounts of loose behavior and speculations against my Mary’s character. An honorable man should never learn things in such a manner.”
Joseph tilted his head toward Father, but his eyes swept in my direction. Heat clawed up my neck and burned my cheeks.
“Just over three months ago, Jehovah’s messenger visited Mary.”
A whisper of wind could have knocked me backward at that moment. Father said we would keep the truth from everyone, and yet he was telling Joseph. I glanced toward my future husband, wondering how he would react to the unbelievable account.
His face didn’t change while Father repeated the angel’s declaration. A calloused brown hand smoothed his beard. He cupped his chin in one hand, a finger straying to cover his strong mouth.
Father’s direct approach shouldn’t have surprised me. Of course he would tell Joseph. How else would he explain my condition?
“Mary is with child,” Father said. “Although she has done nothing to violate the marriage contract, the law gives you the right to divorce her.”
Joseph’s brown eyes filled with emotion. I guessed it was disbelief. My experience spotting Anna’s disapproval and condemnation made it easy to rule out those emotions. He rested his gaze on me, and I tried to shrink into my robe, wishing for a larger shawl to hide my embarrassment.
If he spoke to me, what would I say? The whole thing sounded absurd when Father admitted it aloud.
“You realize how incredible this sounds?” Joseph drew each of his words out, as if carefully selecting them.
“Yes. Precisely why no one outside this room knows about it.”
Not exactly true. I had wanted to tell Father about Elisabeth’s prophecy, but the trip had worn me beyond fatigue. Too tired to eat dinner, I had gone directly to bed when I arrived the previous day.
“You are claiming she is carrying the Messiah,” Joseph said.
“I claim nothing. I am simply repeating what happened.”
A Pew Perspective 