A strange way to save the world

Sure he must have been surprised
At where this road had taken him
'Cause never in a million lives
Would he had 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 in 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...


Now I'm not one to second guess what angels have to say
But this is such a strange way to save the world
...this is such a strange way to save the world...Saving the World


I think of this song as the response to Mary, Did You Know. Not much is mentioned of Joseph in the Bible, but he is officially on my list of people dead or alive to have dinner with. An angel comes to you and tells you your betrothed is with child, and not just any child, but the Son of Man, and you are to name him Jesus. How do you deal with that info? Do you go to a close loved one and share this information to make sure you're not crazy? Seemingly he took it all in stride. As Mary and Joseph traveled to Bethlehem did they discuss the upcoming birth, all that it meant and what laid ahead of them?

Who knows if Jesus' earthly father ever asked why me, but definitely loved ones, friends, neighbors asked why them. Mary and Joseph seem like to ordinary people who were blessed with something so incredibly miraculous.

Men shoulder so much responsibility. They are the leaders and providers of their families. I can't imagine on top of that pressure, knowing the child you're instructing, disciplining is God's Son. No pressure there, I'm sure.

Years ago, I saw a picture in Family Christian Store of Joseph building something and at his feet is a toddler Jesus imitating his father. Jesus was hammering directly in the window and the shadow cast was of a cross and a halo above his head. I loved it instantly. It said so much to me. It reminded me of the brilliant, impossible to find Star Wars: Episode One poster of Anakin standing in the desert and his shadow is that of Darth Vader. Both pictures so simple, yet so elegantly foreshadow the future and all that laid ahead. I'm not even a Star Wars fan, but I would love to have a copy of that poster. The picture of Joseph and Jesus serves as a reminder that He understands my human-ness because He was once human. Albeit, a perfect human.

What must have been like to hear people refer to the Saviour as your son? There's this line in the wonderful Jesus Christ Superstar that goes, "Like his father carving wood He'd have made good/Tables, chairs, and oaken chests would have suited Jesus best/He'd have caused nobody harm; no one alarm," the line always reminds me that to some people even with the ministry and the miracles he was solely and simply the carpenter's son.