Happy Monday, Friends!
“When Herod died, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, ‘Get up, take the child and his mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who were seeking the child’s life are dead.’ Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother, and went to the land of Israel” (Matthew 2:19-21).
Nowhere in the Gospels does Joseph speak, he doesn’t even respond verbally to the angels in his dreams. He responds only through his actions. Other than he is of the family of David (Matthew 1:6 and Luke 2:4) and that he is righteous (Matthew 1:19). Everything else that we know about him is largely based on the lives of others.
I had a friend in college named John (a pseudonym). John was my first introduction to an evangelical: he constantly quoted scripture, carried a Message version of the Bible everywhere he went, listened only to Christian music, and had a simple, uncomplicated faith in Jesus. At that point in my life my faith was academic, intellectual, based more on adherence to certain dogmas and doctrines than on experience with Jesus. I didn’t quite understand John’s faith, but I admired how easily it came to him. Like John, Joseph is often presented as an example. He’s lauded as a patient, quiet spouse to Mary and earthly father to Jesus. His simple, unwavering faith in God is a model for all of us. John was one of the first people to model that kind of faith to me.
As I’ve gotten older and experienced Jesus in different ways, I have come to believe that faith isn’t about where we find Jesus, it’s about finding Jesus. Wherever we find Jesus, we have still found Jesus.
Let us pray: God grant us the courage to seek and find Jesus. When we look in the wrong places, guide us. When we look in the right places, grant us welcome. When we wander, grant us courage to keep searching. And when we see someone else in need, grant us the grace to be Jesus to them.
Blessings, friends, on your week! Please let me know if there is anything I can do for you.
Faithfully,
Ben