On the Third Day of Christmas....

Song: A Strange Way to Save The World
Artist: 4 Him

I feel like Joseph is an easy character to "forget" and/or "neglect" when it comes to the Christmas Story. We tend to always think about the shepherds or the wise-men, Mary and of course, the baby Jesus. Maybe that's because there are so many beautiful, popular songs written about these characters. Joseph is a special and important figure of that first Christmas. When I think of Joseph I think of his quiet humility. He was "a just man" (Matthew 1:19) who loved Mary his wife, even after finding out about her pregnancy (Matthew 1:19-21). He cared for the Christ child with all the loving tenderness of a father, although he knew he wasn't really his father. His love is evident in the way he looked at and thought about Mary. The way he searched and searched for a place to where she would be safe and comfortable to deliver her child (Luke 2:4-7). He lived a clean and righteous life, so that when the wicked King Noah threatened to hurt the baby Jesus, the Lord was able to alert Joseph of danger and lead him and his little family to safety (Matthew 2:13-14, 19-23).

I love this song because I love that we get a perspective from quiet, humble, faithful Joseph. That we get a glimpse into what must have been some of his thoughts and feelings. I learn what humble faith is from Joseph. I learn acceptance to do the Lord's will and allow others to do what the Lord has asked of them also. I learn that the good works you do, although they are quiet and can often go unnoticed or unappreciated, are just as important and needed. That they make a difference. (See Matthew 1:18-25 and Luke 2:1-7).

Loving

Gentle

Compassionate

Hard worker

Accepting

Caring

Tender

Humble

A Father-figure, Teacher and Friend (Carpenter)

I'm sure he must have been surprised
At where this road had taken him
Cause never in a million lives
Would he have dreamed of Bethlehem

And standing at the manger
He saw with his own eyes
The message from the angel
Come to life, and Joseph said

Why me, I'm just a simple man of trade
Why Him, with all the rulers of the world
Why here, inside this stable filled with hay
Why her, she's just an ordinary girl
Now I'm not one to second guess
What angels have to say
But, this is such a strange way to save the world

To think of how it could have been
If Jesus had come as He deserved
There would have been no Bethlehem
No lowly shepherds at His birth

But, Joseph knew the reason
Love had to reach so far
And as he held the Savior in his arms
He must have thought

Why me, I'm just a simple man of trade
Why Him, with all the rulers of the world
Why here, inside this stable filled with hay
Why her, she's just an ordinary girl
Now I'm not one to second guess
What angels have to say
But, this is such a strange way to save the world

Now I'm not one to second guess
What angels have to say
But, this is such a strange way
To save the world (a strange way)
This is such a strange way
Such a strange way
A strange way
To save the world



*For another beautiful song from the perspective of humble Joseph, listen to Joseph (I Was Not His Father, He Was Mine)