Time of Trial

Do you know that the story of Christ’s birth that most of us probably consider "gospel truth" doesn’t occur at all in two of the four gospels? John and Mark include no accounts whatsoever of Jesus’ birth or childhood. Furthermore, the story we think of as "gospel truth" is really two stories shuffled together. Matthew’s account of Jesus’ birth and Luke’s account are quite different; there is very little overlap. So we take a passage from one, then a passage from the other and interleave them. For example, the heavenly host of angels appears to the shepherds only in Luke; the magi occur only in Matthew. But think about it, the angels and the Magi serve similar purposes. Both announce to the world, make known to the broader world beyond the manger, what this birth really means. That’s an important part of the story. Was it, in fact angels or Magi or both who were the heralds of Messiah’s birth? It’s hard to say, but there most certainly were heralds or we might not be here today.

This morning’s piece of the story is from Matthew. The angel who appears to Joseph in a dream isn’t in any other gospel. But, remembering this morning’s story, listen to a different story from Luke’s gospel: "The angel Gabriel was sent by God to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph. And he came to her and said, Greetings. Do not be afraid, Mary. Now you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High. And of his kingdom there will be no end." And Mary said, "here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word."

Sound familiar? This last Sunday in Advent is sometimes known as "Mary’s Sunday." And last year, we heard Mary’s story read from the gospel of Luke on this day. But even in the church, from time to time, men are given equal time. So listen again to Joseph’s story as we heard it this morning… Mary, who was engaged to Joseph, was found to be with child. Her husband planned to dismiss her quietly, but an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph. Do not be afraid. The child conceived in Mary is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins." When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him. We call Luke’s story the annunciation to Mary. We call Matthew’s story, the trial of Joseph.

The trial of Joseph. The stories really are remarkably parallel. And in a sense they are different views of the same story—the story of the incarnation. They are the story of individual lives anticipating the birth of God. They are about human fear before the awesomeness of God. In both, the angel’s first words are "Do not be afraid." The stories are about human confusion and uncertainty. And, ultimately, both are about human acceptance of God’s will. These two stories, one in Matthew and one in Luke, about angelic pronouncements are the same story—the story about how human beings react to the unplanned but imminent birth of the Son of God in their lives. The annunciation to Mary. The trial of Joseph.

Despite the fact that I am a woman, Joseph’s story is more accessible, more real, for me. The trial of Joseph. This is not to say Joseph was "on trial" in the sense of a criminal trial where his guilt or innocence was being judged. To call this story the trial of Joseph is to highlight that it was a trying time for him. It was a difficult time full of choices and temptations, an ordeal. Life is full of such trying times.

In the new translation of the Lord’s Prayer, we pray that our Father in heaven may save us "from the time of trial." This is a better translation of the Greek word, peirasmos, translated in earlier versions as "temptation." But perhaps both meanings can help us understand Joseph’s position. It was for him a "time of trial." It was a time fraught with temptation.

Think how tempting it must have been for him not to accept this child into his life. First of all, he found himself with a pregnant fiancé. Yes, marriage customs were different then, but that only made Joseph’s position worse. In Joseph’s day the betrothal was the formal, contractual joining, although the couple did not live together until after the later marriage ceremony. Mary, therefore, was not just guilty of indiscretion or lack of judgment. Mary’s crime, apparently, was adultery, a direct violation of the Seventh Commandment, potentially punishable by stoning and certainly grounds for divorce. How could he, Joseph, an upright man pursue a marriage with such a woman? He was a man who took his religion seriously and tried to live according to the laws of Moses. Surely his own self-image as a religious and upright man tempted him to put Mary away. Not to mention what absolutely everyone in the small town of Bethlehem would think and say about him and Mary. His relationship with all of his neighbors and kin was at stake. Surely, it must have been tempting to keep Mary and her child out of his life.

You see why I see Joseph’s story as our story. This baby who was to be born threatened Joseph’s carefully built self-image. This baby threatened Joseph’s standing among his friends and peers. The decision on whether or not to accept this child and his mother in to his life must indeed have been a time of trial for Joseph. A time of temptation. Surely, Joseph was tempted not to take this child into his life.

And that was before the angel appeared to Joseph in a dream. I can’t help but wonder if the angel didn’t make the decision even harder, the temptation to avoid this child even more powerful. Any baby in the house would change Joseph’s life forever. Presumably, anticipating marriage, Joseph expected the potential turmoil of children. But now, all of a sudden, he was faced with the chance, the possibility, of avoiding that disruption to his accustomed existence without incurring any judgment or stain on his character. It must have been just a bit tempting. And then to hear that this baby was conceived by the Holy Spirit. This baby would be the bearer of God’s own presence. In Joseph’s house. Every minute of every day! Joseph wouldn’t be able to breath or blink without God knowing it. Everything he did and said would be witnessed by the Son of God. Joseph’s every bit of impatience, anger, lapse of faith, every touch of greed or gluttony, would occur right under God’s nose. Joseph would never get a moment’s relief. Raising a boy is challenge enough. But raising a boy who looks at you with the eyes of God! Who would not be tempted to avoid that particular opportunity?

In fact, it is hard to imagine any reason why Joseph would choose to go ahead and take Mary as his wife and take her baby into his home and into his life. Surely Joseph was tempted not to take Jesus into his life.

Aren’t you? Tempted not to take Jesus into your life? Jesus will change your life. This baby will disrupt your familiar existence.  Your carefully crafted self-image will be challenged. And who knows what the neighbors will say if you actually start living like a Christian! And this baby will bring God’s presence into every breathing moment of your life, reminding you that you are accountable to God for absolutely everything you do or say… all the choices you make.  Aren't you tempted not to take Jesus into your life?

The annunciation to Mary; the trial of Joseph. Stories about human being’s reaction to the news that the Son of God is about to be born into their lives. Both stories begin in fear as Mary and Joseph tremble before God’s angelic messengers and their message. You remember how the stories end… And Mary said to the angel Gabriel, "Let it be with me according to your word." And when Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took Mary as his wife.

We are in the midst of our time of trial. Right now. We have until tomorrow evening—longer it seems than either Mary or Joseph were given—to make our decision. The coming of the Christ child has been announced to us. We face the temptation to refuse Jesus entry into our hearts and homes. We know the outcome of Mary and Joseph’s trials. Ours hang still in the balance.

Sermon Index
Comments are welcome.  Send to krisorr@att.net