By F. D. Adkins
The other day, as I stared at the nativity scene on the table in my living room, I began to think about the family unit as part of the Christmas story. God sent His Son into the world as a baby and put baby Jesus into the care of an earthly mother and father. With that thought in mind, I decided to dig a bit deeper and look at the scriptures surrounding the birth of Jesus from the standpoint of the family.
We’ve all seen many depictions of the nativity with Jesus in the manger and Mary and Joseph hovering over Him. But for a moment, close your eyes, and envision this scene as the shepherds did. Luke 2:16 (KJV) says, “And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.” It doesn’t say that they found Mary with the baby. It says they found Mary and Joseph with the baby. They found a family. And I know how I felt when I got to hold each of my children for the first time, and I remember my husband’s face when he held each of our children for the first time, so I imagine when the shepherds arrived, they found Mary and Joseph glowing with excitement and huge smiles stretched across their faces.
Now that we see this close family unit shown to us in the birth of Christ, let’s look at the verses that revolve around Mary and Joseph individually because these are the people God chose to care for and teach His Son.
First, let’s look at Mary. Mary is strong in her faith. She loves God, and God’s Will is her first priority. Her life is not about pleasing people or what others think of her. Mary is all about serving God. Here, Mary is pregnant out of wedlock, knowing good and well what Joseph and everyone else in town will assume. But when the angel appears to her with the news, Mary doesn’t hesitate or worry about her reputation. “And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.” Luke 1:38 KJV. In other words, ‘Yes, Lord.’
As I write this, I can’t help but reflect on how many times I know God has called me to do something, and I have resisted until He finally has had to give me a nudge. Mary didn’t need a nudge. Mary faithfully praised God. In Luke 1:46-47 (KJV), in a visit with her cousin Elisabeth, Mary speaks these words, “… My soul doth magnify the Lord, And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.”
So, we know Mary was a faithful servant and loved God with her whole heart. But what about the man God placed in the position to be Jesus’ earthly father? Well, we know that he was there by Mary’s side with Baby Jesus when the shepherds came. But the following verses show us a man dedicated to obeying God’s commands, and notice in each example, there is no hesitation or procrastination. Joseph is instructed by God, and Joseph immediately takes action accordingly.
- “Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife.” Matthew 1:24 KJV
- “And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him. When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt.” Matthew 2:13-14 KJV.
- “But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, Saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead which sought the young child’s life. And he arose, and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel.” Matthew 2:19-21 KJV.
Finally, for the last part of my study, I am going to jump a few years ahead to when Jesus is twelve years old, and He travels with His family to Jerusalem for the feast of the Passover. After the feast, they leave to go home. Mary and Joseph are traveling in a large group, and they have been moving for about a day when they realize that Jesus isn’t with them. Mary and Joseph turn back to look for Jesus. And of course, they find Jesus in the temple, but it is the words of Mary when they find Him that clue us in about their parental love for their child. “…behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing.” Here again, we see the love of a family. They have traveled together as a family unit for the feast. And then, we see two parents in a panic and filled with sorrow when they can’t find their child.
I suppose my thoughts may come across as a bit scattered but let me share my takeaway from this study.
The Christmas story gives us a Biblical example of the family structure, the bonds that a family should possess, and the characteristics that we should exhibit as parents. We have a father and a mother that are together at the time of this child’s birth, and then, later on, we see them traveling as a family unit. Obviously, being together as a family is important. And Mary and Joseph are both faithful servants of God, always putting God’s Will first in their lives. As parents, we should be teaching our children by example allowing them to see our love for God.
