In this talk, we look at the nativity story through the eyes of Joseph -

the quiet, faithful carpenter, and adoptive parent of Jesus Christ. Even in

the version that tells his side, Joseph functions like a “minor character”.

He’s low on the call sheet. He sings in the ensemble. He’s an extra. He,

very literally, has no lines. Yet Joseph never tries to take glory. He has

all of the power, and still, everything he does shows kindness, humility,

and obedience to God. Joseph goes to bed one night and meets with an angel

in his dreams, telling him that the baby to be born is not only a

supernatural work of the Spirit, but will be known as Immanuel, God with

us. In revealing this to him, God shows that he is not only Immanuel, God

with the world, but he is also Immanuel, God with Joseph. Immanuel is God

seeing us, knowing us, and then meeting us exactly where we are. Not where

we appear to be, not where we want to be, but where we are, with what we

need. 

By Tavia Grubbs