Joseph… A Midwife?

Christmas finally came and it was probably unlike any we have had before. (2020 has certainly been unique – to say the least.) During this time I was reflecting on Joseph -who was a wonderful step-father and a committed man of God. I was thinking about the role he played while Mary was giving birth. The story goes that she and Joseph couldn’t even get a room, and they ended up camping out in a stable or cave, or something like that.

Now the Bible doesn’t specifically say this, but I have to believe that Joseph helped in the delivery of his step-son, Jesus.  Joseph was perhaps one of the few male mid-wives in the New Testament!  (That kind of involvement in family life for a man in that culture and in that time period would most likely have been unheard of!)

I know that the Bible doesn’t say this directly, but it also didn’t say that some other midwife, or female helped in this delivery.  Could Mary have done it all by herself?  That is unlikely.  I was present at the birth of all four of my children, and even though my wife is amazing, she (like any other woman) needed a hand in the deliveries.  (A hand…and maybe some oxytocin…)

When you think about Joseph participating in this delivery, it speaks to something quite profound with regards to the role of men in their families that goes beyond provider and protector.   It comments about men being present for any aspect of family life. 

Joseph’s example is a complimentary reminder to our identity as modern men in this generation.  From what I’ve observe men partner with their spouses in taking care of the home and the children.  We do so in a way that has been in stark contrast with our predecessors from the 1950’s and even the 1960’s. 

So whatever and however God desires us to participate in our home and families, as men, we need to do it as the will of God.  It may be delivering a child (hopefully not) or making lunches.

One more thing, Joseph was a man of sexual integrity and I deeply admire that about him.   He never touched Mary (till after the birth of Jesus), and it was not because he was commanded not to, but he put his own sexual desires behind the well-being of his wife and God’s plan.  

Speaking of sexual integrity, one of these days I might write about what the Bible says about this topic -there are some surprising scriptures you may never hear being read on Sunday mornings…  Trust me, I’m telling you the truth.  (Try Genesis 38 for size…)

Although Christmas has just past, we can still reflect on the birth of the Saviour Child and the miracle that happened with his mother. I also like to listen to Joseph and how his role speaks to men, even to this day.