I believe that we rarely spend time focusing on the scandal surrounding the birth of Jesus. According to the moral teachings of the day, not only did Joseph have every right to break off his engagement with his mysteriously pregnant future wife, but by all accounts, Mary could’ve been stoned in the village square for infidelity. The religious folks of the day would’ve correctly cited that stoning her was justified by thier law. There’s some fire and brimstone for you.

One writer says, “Mary and Joseph were living in a culture that would allow harsh treatment of an unwed woman who became pregnant. The people of that time were no more inclined to accept her explanation that God did it, than anyone today. It is simply a preposterous explanation. God does not do this sort of thing. The thought of it offends our sense of morality and notion of a Holy God in every way.” Imagine how it might go over if you had to explain to your family that you were pregnant (or your fiancé was pregnant), but that your child was “God’s only son.”

On top of Mary’s outrageous claim, I always think about the gossip and the whispering the couple had to endure – talk about scandalous! I wonder if Joseph would’ve been elected to the church board or been allowed to be an usher. Do you think they would’ve let Mary sing in the church choir or teach Sunday school? When everyone doubted them, (and everyone certainly doubted them), they had to trust each other. Joseph demonstrates extreme compassion placing his family and his reputation at risk with his decision to protect Mary and divorce her quietly; that is, until he is visited by an angel. Joseph simply wasn’t as concerned with his reputation and standing in the community as he was with Mary’s well-being.

And that is just the thing… the angel didn’t appear to Mary and Joseph at the same time. In the face of all these problems, they had to believe not just in God — but in each other. Through all the scandal and doubt, the birth of Jesus depended on the trust and compassion of a human relationship. So in many ways, the birth of Jesus is celebrated each time we, like Mary and Joseph, set aside our concerns, our agendas, and our reputations to reach out to one another with a similar compassion and trust. Through all the whispers, condemnation, scandal, and doubt surrounding the narrative of Jesus’ birth — the truth is less religious and more relational than we sometimes imagine. The power of this child’s birth is a shared celebration — that means Christmas is truly between you and me.

Leave a Reply