NOW WHAT?

Christmas is over.  Now what?  For many people, this means going back to work.  Back to the office.  Back to the ole grind of day after day after day.

Jesus was born.  The wise men were headed to Bethlehem.  King Herod was about to get very upset.  (Nothing new for him.) Matthew 2:11 says that the wise men saw “the young child with Mary his mother.”  There is no mention of Joseph.  That made me wonder why.  Where was Joseph?

Then it hit me.  Christmas was over.  Joseph was at work.

Can you imagine Joseph’s surprise when he looked up and saw wise men coming into town? There would have been support people with them.  No way were the wise men traveling by themselves.  They were busy looking at maps and stars.  They did not have time for normal things like cooking, setting up and tearing down of tents, and cleaning up behind who knows how many camels.  This would have been a parade through the streets.  People would be staring and following them.  But where were they going?  “Oh my goodness,” Joseph thought.  “They have stopped at our house.  I hope Mary is home and not at the market.”

The wise men worshipped the child, presented him with gifts, and left town.  Joseph had a dream.  By night, he took the young child and his mother and left for Egypt.

They fled to Egypt.  Now what? Joseph went to work.

Herod died and Joseph dreamed.  The family left for the land of Israel.  Joseph had another dream and they came to dwell in the city called Nazareth.

The family arrived in Nazareth.  Now what? Joseph went to work.

Other than when Joseph and Mary headed home from Jerusalem, when Jesus was 12, there is no further mention of Joseph.  Some say Joseph died and that is the reason we do not hear of him during Jesus’ ministry.

What do I think?  Joseph went to work.  He needed to take care of his family.

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I think the same thing about Jesus.  For 30 years he studied and learned.  Then one day, he laid down his carpenter tools, shook his father’s hand, kissed his mommy on the cheek, and said, “It is time for me to go to work.  I must take care of my Father’s family.”

And Jesus went to work.