Protecting Jesus
Another of my favorites as we celebrate the past 21 years of the GDA... and the birth of Jesus. Merry Christmas ~ Marty
Protecting Jesus
“When Joseph woke up, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded and took Mary as his wife.” - Matthew 1:24 NLT
We had a mean storm blow through our area all day Christmas Eve eve that was filled with some heavy, heavy rain, some thunder and lightning, and some ground winds. And heavier storms are predicted for today… Christmas Eve
Last night, sometime between the two power outages, as I went outside to try and exam if we had sustained any damage from falling limbs, etc., I noticed that our little front yard Nativity Scene had been blown around/knocked down by the storm. So, I made note to properly set them back up..
So, after my examining the house and yard the best I could in the dark, I slushed through the wet yard to reset the Nativity. I soon realized that Mary sat in her place as if nothing had happened... and the Baby Jesus was set in his proper place…and that’s when I realized where Joseph was and how he had fallen.
Joseph had fallen in such a way that his body laid over top of the Baby Jesus. Protecting Him from the howling wind and the driving rain. The Baby Jesus did not have to be moved or repositioned, Joseph had seen to that.
The plastic Nativity Scene Joseph was a pretty clear reminder of the role that the “real” Joseph must have played in Jesus’ life.
We can read in Luke 1 how Mary had been highly favored by God. But if we read in Matthew 1, we can see that Joseph also was called by God. Called to take Mary as his wife... called to be the earthly father of God’s Son.
In the text, we see Joseph’s righteousness and obedience, as well as his self discipline and self control. All traits that he will teach Jesus in his childhood.
As Joseph’s earthly father, it was also his role to protect and even defend the baby Jesus from the world around Him as He grew into manhood (think about their flight into Egypt).
Which leads me back to my windblown Nativity.
Nativity Joseph also reminded me of the need to be able to defend my faith... defend Jesus from the storm of the public arena. Joseph reminded me of how I need to be able to protect and defend my faith in Jesus, especially in these days and times when “Christian” seems to be a bad word, and Christian values are questioned and ridiculed - not only in third world countries but in my own country... even in my own community.
Nativity Joseph protected the Baby Jesus from the Christmas storm. It’s up to you and me to take Joseph’s example and with righteousness, obedience and self discipline, defend all that having faith in Jesus represents.
Keep the Faith... Carpe Diem
