The Father’s Forerunner

This coming Sunday, we celebrate the Feast of the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple (Luke 2:22-39). There are many things about this account that cause biblical scholars to ponder the question “Why?”

• Why does Luke say, “When the days were completed for their purification” when the Levitical Law required only a purification of the new mother?
• Why did the presentation of Jesus happen at the Temple when this was not required by Levitical Law?
• Why does Luke omit the giving of the Redemption Price (Redeemer of the Redeemer?)

As well as other questions. 

Today, I want to point out a question that I raise is found in verse 33, “The child’s father and mother...”. A literal translation of the Greek (and the Latin) is “The father of the child and the mother...” Why does Luke refer only to Joe in relation to Jesus here? Why not both parents when almost everywhere else the Gospel writers refer to Mary in direct relation to Jesus and not Joe? 

In fact, I think the reason lies in the only other time when Joe and Mary are mentioned together but only Joe is referred to directly to Jesus, which incidentally also happens in the Temple. Mary asked Jesus 12 years after this: “Your father and I have been looking for you with great anxiety.” (Luke 2:48).

Joe is mentioned in direct relationship to Jesus in these two places because they both point to the revelation that soon follows: while many may think that Joe is Jesus’ Father, there is Another who is. As Joe marvels at what is said of Jesus’s coming works of salvation, the Father is the Author of these works. As Joe seeks out Jesus and finds Him in the Temple, the Father who is always with Jesus. 

Joe’s purpose is not to replace Jesus’ Heavenly Father. His purpose is to point out His Heavenly Father. In a way as John the Baptist was the Forerunner to Jesus, Joe is the Forerunner to the Father, preparing the way for Him to be revealed to us. Like John, Joe would proclaim without the least hesitation, “One is coming after me who ranks ahead of me because he existed before me.” (John 1:30).

Accepting to be Chosen

I came across this captioned picture and was absolutely stunned by the message. I think the lesson this message presents to us in describing Joe is this:

Sanctity does not mean choosing God; instead, it means accepting in humility that God chooses us.

Joe did not choose to be the husband of Mary and the earthly father of Jesus; instead, he accepted in humility that God chose him to be this man.  The question for each of us is, “Have I accepted in humility that God has chosen me to be ... ?”

Where is Joe?

It really never struck me until this past Epiphany that Joe is not mentioned in the story of the Magi’s visit (Matthew 2:1-12). Instead, the Matthew tells us that the Magi found “the Child with Mary His mother.” Where was Joe? Did Matthew forget that he was there? Perhaps he was out working or looking for work. Who knows...

But I think this little detail tells us a little about Joe. He was not a “helicopter parent” nor a “jealous husband”. He trusted Mary to be alone with Jesus, and even more than this, he trusted God to keep them both safe. In other words, Joe knew that God did not require him to be the family guardian when he could not; God does not expect the same of us. He knows our limitations, and He provides for us when we are unable.

Just imagine the surprise of Joe when he returned home to find three unexpected visitors who have brought gold frankincense and myrrh. I imagine that Mary greeted Joe at the door, and the first thing that Joe asks is “What’s happening here?”. To which Mary calmly responds, “Oh, you know, they just wanted to bring some gifts for Jesus.”

Perhaps another detail of this story that tells us a bit about his character is the final verse, “having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed for their country by another way.” It seems to me that the Magi stayed the night with Mary, Joe, and Jesus. Jerusalem was less than a day’s walk away from Bethlehem, and so it only makes sense that they stayed the night in Bethlehem. Joe was hospitable and welcomed the strangers to stay the night. In the morning they would be on their way - just not back to Jerusalem.

You are my Beloved Son

We all know that kids like to ask the simple question, “Why?” And in the process of answering “because...” and returning to “but why?” “because...”  and so on, we often are led by kids to the core, the most basic, the fundamentals of what we are teaching them.

I have to believe that Jesus was the same way. After all, “He had to become like his brothers in every way... yet without sin” (Hebrews 2:17, 4:15). Imagine Jesus and Joseph having this conversation:

Jesus: Dad, why did you and mom name me ‘Jesus'? Why not Joseph, or Jacob, or Judah?

Joseph: Because, Jesus, this was the name that the angel told us to give to you.

Jesus: But why did the angel tell you to give me this name?

Joseph: Because the Lord wanted it to be so.

Jesus: But why did the Lord want it to be so?

Joseph: Because He wanted you to know your mission in life from the identity that He has given to you.

Jesus: But what is my mission?

Joseph: The angel told me that your mission is to save us from our sinfulness. This is why you are called ‘Jesus'. Your name means, “The LORD saves.”

Jesus: But why should the LORD give me this name when it is parents who name their kids?

Joseph: Because the LORD is your true Father. I can only echo what He commands of me. He is the true Speaker, you are His Word, and I am only the wall that echos back the Word. You both precede me and follow from me. You were spoken from all of eternity and in this moment of time, I am blessed to repeat what your Father has spoken. I am only a canyon. Perhaps, by the LORD's gift, the greatest and most beautiful canyon because of the mission that has been given to me by name. My name means “The LORD increases.” And I am blessed to give increase to your name by repeating it. But no matter how beautiful the canyon is, it compares as nothing to the Person who beholds it and speaks into it. For the Beauty of the Speaker is His Word, and the canyon has no word of its own—only the Word that has been given to it. You, Jesus, are my word because you have been given to me and I give you back. I can only repeat what God has said to you from all eternity, “You are my beloved son.”

Jesus: So, what you're saying is that my mission in life (to save God's people from their sins) comes from my identity (Jesus) that God has given me because of the relationship that He has with me (His Son)?

Joseph: Yes, that is exactly what I am saying.

Jesus: Cool! Thanks dad!

The Eighth Day

Happy New Year! May it be richly blessed!

By law, Jewish boys were circumcised on the eighth day of their birth. Today, on January 1, the eighth day of Jesus’ Nativity, we celebrate this occasion. But why? For two reasons, I suppose.

1. Circumcision brought Jesus into both sides of the Abrahamic Covenant (Genesis 17:1-22). He always was God, but not always man.
2. This would have been an official sign of paternity on the part of Joe. Thus, this occasion also marks Jesus’ entrance into both sides of the Davidic covenant as well (2 Samuel 7:8-16).

Both are effected by Joe. As God accepted Abraham and David into everlasting covenants, so Joe accepted, as descendant of both Abraham and David, God into everlasting covenant. 

Today is also the day that we recall the bestowal of the Name of Jesus. Here is a flash back to a reflection on the major significance of the little detail of Matthew 1:25, “Who do you say that I am?”