And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. Matthew 1:19
Every character in the Christmas account was placed there intentionally. Joseph is often overlooked and what he has to teach us is important. Matthew tells us that he was a righteous man, faithful to the law. Some translations use the word just.
When I hear the word justice, I think about someone getting what they rightly deserve - the law being applied equally without favorites. Joseph, a man who knows and follows God’s law, is faced with a decision on how to deal with a pregnant Mary. The law clearly states that a woman found in adultery is to be stoned - and as yet, to this point in the narrative, he has no reason to believe that wasn’t her situation.
Hinting at his deeper character, Joseph chose to deal with Mary privately and without causing shame. He chose compassion. Did this violate a strict interpretation and application of the law? Joseph might have leaned on Isaiah where God acts in gentleness and compassion and it is called justice.
He will not cry aloud or lift up his voice, or make it heard in the street; a bruised reed he will not break, and a faintly burning wick he will not quench; he will faithfully bring forth justice. Isaiah 42:2-3
Joseph’s understanding of justice is an example for us all. And it can be no coincidence that God chose a man of this character to raise the One who would fulfill Isaiah’s prophecy. Justice is intricately woven together with mercy towards the weak and powerless in the mind of God. Or, as Abraham Heschel, the Jewish philosopher, said, “God’s compassion is concealed by His justice and His justice is concealed by His compassion.” Joseph had plenty of both. I hope we do, too.
1 Response