Nativity: Joseph’s Struggle
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For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment. James 2.13 Dear Heavenly Father, we stand in awe of the mercy you demonstrated when you sent your Son to be born in a manger, to live among us, and ultimately to give His life for our redemption. We are forever grateful for this unparalleled act of mercy, a divine gift

that forever change the course of humanity. Father, let the spirit of Christmas remind us to extend mercy as freely as we have received it from you. As we give gifts to our loved ones, let us also give forgiveness to those who have wronged us, understanding to those who have misunderstood us, and kindness to those who may be in need. Teach us to celebrate Christmas not just with festive cheer, but

with genuine love and mercy that mirrors your heart. Let mercy triumph over judgment in our lives, transforming our hearts and the hearts of those around us. In the name of Jesus Christ, our Savior and King, we pray. Amen. Thank you for praying with me today. Get ready to dive back into this tale of adventure and hope in the stories of the Messiah with Rabbi Schneider.

The midday sun hung heavy in the sky, its scorching rays beat down on Joseph's back. He worked to the sound of rhythmic chiseling against the stone scraping of wood.

It was a symphony of his dedication to his craft and devotion to his family. The life of a craftsman wasn't glamorous work, but he found joy in it. He cherished his trade. He enjoyed molding something useful and beautiful that would bless others. Today, he swung his hammer with even more joy than usual. He ground the bricks with more finesse than usual and precisely sanded every beam. He wasn't shaping just another project.

He was making the foundation of his and Mary's future home. While Mary aided her cousin Elizabeth with her pregnancy and birth, Joseph toiled under the sun, shaping their future. Each sound of his hammer falling onto the chisel was a note in the symphony of their shared dreams. In his mind's eye, he saw tiny feet scampering across the stone floor and heard the echo of laughter ringing through the rooms. He envisioned holding Mary close, their eyes resting fondly on their children at play.

"'Joyful anxiety gnawed at his heart. "'He longed for Mary's return. "'His gaze wandered to the winding roads above. "'His eyes saw a lone carriage approaching. "'Shading his eyes against the blazing sun...

He discerned the figure of Mary. His heart surged with joy, and he dropped his hammer, hurrying towards her. "I can't wait for her to see the progress I've made on our home," he thought, a smile playing at the corners of his mouth as he dashed towards her. She was a long way away. He watched her from a distance get off the carriage and briskly walk home with her parents. Their heads were down and shoulders hunched forward. Yet Joseph was too excited to notice such things. His heart was aflutter with anticipation.

To see her eyes widen in surprise, to hear her laughter fill the air, to watch her lips curve into a grin at the sight of their burgeoning home, these were the moments he yearned for. He stopped at the well to clean himself. After steadying his hands and breath, he approached her father's house and knocked at the door. Shalom, and welcome to another Christmas episode of Stories of the Messiah.

I'm Rabbi Schneider from Discovering the Jewish Jesus and your teacher through this amazing tale of faith and triumph. Today's story is inspired by Matthew 1 verse 19 when Joseph discovers Mary is pregnant. Joseph is a central figure in the Christmas story we all know, but is often overshadowed by the more prominent characters. Yet I believe Joseph, or in Hebrew Yosef,

is an unheralded hero of great character. In this story, we find Joseph at a poignant crossroads, grappling with feelings of betrayal while standing on the precipice of a divine intervention that would change the course of the world. The birth of Jesus was filled with key moments when everything should have been thwarted.

One of those moments will happen in this story when Joseph has the right to stone Mary for adultery. Joseph will find himself in a position many of us have found ourselves in. We all have had moments when we can lash out in anger and show judgment or choose the path of mercy. Often the way of compassion is the more challenging trail to tread.

Joseph could end all of his hurting problems by showing merry judgment. But the measure of a man's character is often revealed not in how he uses his power, but in how he restrains it. Jesus said, "'Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.'" Meekness does not mean weakness. It means power under control. Will Joseph lash out and use his authority to end merry?

Or will he show meekness and mercy, ushering in the greatest story ever told? Let's find out now in the cinematic retelling of Matthew 119. Afterwards, we'll unpack the deep and hidden themes of this mysterious story. The journey home from her cousin's home seemed to drag on forever.

"'Mary was reeling with anxiety, "'counting her every heartbeat on the way back to Nazareth. "'A storm of emotions welled within her, "'but she had no choice but to go home. "'Sure, she thought of running or remaining with Elizabeth, "'but that was not the path God had chosen for her.'

The cart dropped Mary off at the corner of the city gates. She was back in Nazareth. Her feet were heavy with the burden of the secret she bore. Yet, she held her chin high, her spirit bolstered by the divine promise nestled within her. Her siblings were the first to see her arrive. They ran to her, jumping in the air and squealing. She managed a brief smile before locking eyes with her parents.

Her mother covered her mouth and her father tightened his fist. They could see what the children couldn't. Mary was with child. Mary followed her parents silently to their house. Her father shut the door. Mary breathed in and whispered a silent prayer.

Mary...

What have you done? Before Mary could answer, her mother grabbed her by the shoulders with tears in her eyes. Your virtue, Mary! Why have you done this? What happened? Mary's lower lip began to quiver, but she knew she had to remain strong or else they might portray guilt. She wasn't guilty. She was the opposite of guilty. She was chosen above all others. She cleared her throat and looked her parents in the eyes. Before I left for Elizabeth's,

Disbelief and anger came upon them.

You've brought shame to us and to Joseph, and you shame God even more with your story! Her father yelled. His voice was cracking from a mixture of anger and betrayal. The sharp sting of their accusations left a bitter taste in Mary's mouth. She tried to explain, her voice filled with the desperate hope that they would understand, but the storm of their wrath drowned her out. Just then, there was a knock at the door. Mary knew that knock. The

The same knock would greet her every day at dusk for a stroll through the garden. Mary's father opened the door. Behind it was Joseph, beaming with anticipation to see his bride-to-be. His smile was quickly interrupted when he saw Mary's hand on her midsection.

Mary! he whispered.

Why? Mary could barely stand the look of betrayal on his face. She tried explaining everything to him, but the story seemed too outlandish. Mary's father, a stern and righteous man, made his judgement. Joseph, she has wronged you. You have the right to punish her, even to stone her if you wish. Her words were cutting to Mary's soul. Her own father had just permitted Joseph to execute her.

Her fate was now in the hands of a man whose face was about to burst with grief. Joseph's gaze moved from her father to Mary, the silent question lingering in his eyes. Then, with a wave of anger and despair, he turned and walked away. His departure left a chilling silence that hung heavily in the room. Mary and her parents were left wondering what he would choose. Joseph went to be alone. He stormed past the site where he had built the foundation for their new home.

With sadness weighing heavy on his shoulders, he hiked into the hills and watched the sun descend over the plains outside Nazareth. Betrayal gnawed at Joseph's heart. He stood on the grass inside, watching the final rays of light recede from view. The sun's final rays painted the sky above a lush and vibrant pink. Beneath the torrent of Joseph's emotions, there was an undercurrent of anger towards God. "'Have I not been loyal?' he whispered. "'I have toiled to build our home!'

I have shown restraint and kindness. Pain shot up Joseph's heart and lingered in his throat as he spoke. He stood and yelled at the wind. I did everything I was supposed to do. I remained faithful. I obeyed your commands. What have I done to deserve this? His voice cracked and then he crumbled to the ground and wept. A thousand thoughts whirled around in his mind as he grappled with the reality before him.

He was torn between the laws of the land and his affection for Mary.

His honor demanded he react, yet his kindness whispered another path. He was at the crossroads of judgment and mercy. Which path would he choose? "Why should I show mercy?" he thought. "What good has being good done?" In the depths of his turmoil, Joseph was a just and righteous man. Thousands of small decisions to do the right thing every day had already forged a character within him. He sighed and watched the colorful horizon give way to the darkness.

The coolness of the evening began to settle over the grassy valley below. Joseph closed his eyes and whispered, "I have made them my choice." He would not subject Mary to public shame, nor stoke the fires of scandal. He would divorce her quietly, mercifully. Even as he grappled with the shards of his shattered dreams, he chose kindness over revenge, mercy over judgment. It was a decision that echoed the depths of his character and the unwavering strength of his heart.

The night was filled with his silent and somber resolution. Under the exposed stars, Joseph laid back on the grassy slope and drifted off to sleep. As a Jewish believer, I am passionate about history, customs, and the culture surrounding the biblical characters. You can find more resources on Jewish customs and how they relate to the gospel on my website, discoveringthejewishjias.com.

According to the Jewish tradition of the time, betrothal was as binding as marriage. It must have felt like a painful betrayal when Mary revealed that she was pregnant. Mary, however, stood firm in her truth, telling the divine message she had received. Her resolve in this challenging situation is admirable, but it also sets the stage for Joseph's crucial decision. Despite his initial feelings of betrayal,

Joseph's actions reveal his remarkable character. The scripture describes him as a just man, implying his righteousness and adherence to the law. However, he was also unwilling to disgrace Mary publicly, indicating his compassion and mercy. At the time, according to Mosaic law, he could have had Mary stoned for adultery. Instead, he decided to divorce her quietly, choosing mercy over judgment.

This decision was monumental in his personal life and the broader scope of God's salvation plan. Joseph's mercy mirrors God's mercy towards us, a core theme of the Christmas story. But God, through an angelic dream, would soon intervene, ensuring Joseph's understanding cooperation with his divine plan. As we reflect on this portion of the Nativity story, Joseph's example is both an encouragement and a challenge.

He stood at the crossroads of judgment and mercy and chose the path of mercy, unknowingly echoing the profound mercy God offers to us through the birth of Jesus. This Christmas, let us strive to model Joseph's example in our own life. When we feel betrayed or hurt, may we have the strength to choose mercy over judgment

remembering that God shows mercy for us, gifting us a son to guide us toward love, forgiveness, and reconciliation. Let's bring our will into alignment with God's will, and as a result, finding ourselves ascending in the Spirit into a deeper fellowship with Him. Now, the Christmas story isn't only about the miraculous birth of Jesus.

but also about the people God chose to be part of that miracle. Just as Joseph had a crucial role to play, we too have a role to play in God's divine narrative. Like Joseph, may we be willing to embrace life's unexpected turns, bearing in mind that in so doing, we become part of God's grand story of salvation and mercy.

In our next episode, Joseph will be face-to-face with the same angel that stole Zachariah's voice and heralded the coming of Christ. Joseph's loyalty and character will be tested, and the journey to the manger will be underway. You can explore more about Jesus in the Old Testament at DiscoveringTheJewishJesus.com.

Also consider checking out my recent book, Messianic Prophecy Revealed, Seeing Messiah in the Pages of the Hebrew Bible. You can get your hands in it via my website. Now, if this podcast impacted you, please take a moment to leave a comment and review. Doing so will make sure others discover these life-changing stories. And be sure to download the Pray.com app to make prayer a priority and experience the Bible in new ways.