07.05.05 Joseph and Mary's Life of Forgiveness - A Biblical Revelation
Joseph and Mary’s Life of Forgiveness – A Biblical Revelation
The Bible narrates the story of Joseph and Mary, the earthly parents of Jesus, two individuals who shared a forgiving disposition as one of their common traits.
In the quiet town of Nazareth, Joseph, a carpenter by trade, had become betrothed to a young woman, Mary, who conceived a child through the Holy Spirit whilst still a virgin (Matthew 1:18–19). It was a situation that would test their trust in God. When Joseph learned of Mary's pregnancy, troubled by the circumstances and knowing he was not the father, the situation naturally pointed to infidelity. However, his forgiving and compassionate nature led him to plan to quietly end the engagement and spare Mary from public shame. But God intervened, sending an angel to explain the miraculous conception (Matthew 1:20–21). Joseph responded by accepting God’s instruction and choosing to trust Mary’s integrity.
No sooner had Jesus been born than they faced another profound ‘forgiveness challenge’. Herod the Great, having been informed by wise men from the East that a King had been born in Bethlehem, reacted by ordering the death of all boys aged two years and under in the city and its vicinity. In response, an angel warned Joseph in a dream to flee with his family to Egypt, where they remained until Herod’s death (Matthew 2:1–23). Historical accounts suggest that the family lived as poor refugees in a foreign land, relying on manual labour for survival while avoiding detection. They are said to have stayed in multiple locations, one of which is believed to be a cave beneath the current Church of Saints Sergius and Bacchus in Old Cairo, remaining there for approximately three to four years. It was only after another divine instruction, confirming Herod’s death, that they returned to Israel, eventually settling in Nazareth, away from the jurisdiction of Archelaus, Herod’s son, who was ruling over Judea. In all this, Joseph and Mary must have exercised forgiveness and pursued healing from the trauma of forced displacement and the threat to their child’s life.
As Jesus grew, whispers about his birth began to circulate, casting doubt on his conception and raising suspicions about Mary’s faithfulness during the betrothal period. This must have been deeply painful for both Joseph and Mary. A clear example is found in John 8:41, where a group of Pharisees implied that Jesus had been born out of fornication. Despite the hurtful nature of such accusations, the couple remained anchored in their trust in God’s Word, fully aware of the truth concerning Jesus’ conception.
When Jesus began his ministry, Joseph and Mary would have continued to face public scrutiny and skepticism. For instance, some members of their community questioned the authenticity of his ministry, as recorded in Matthew 13:55–56 (NKJV): “Is this not the carpenter’s son? Is not His mother called Mary? And His brothers James, Joses, Simon and Judas? And His sisters, are they not all with us? Where then did this Man get all these things?” Such remarks would undoubtedly have been painful, yet the couple chose to remain grounded in their trust in God. Rather than reacting to criticism, they upheld the values that Jesus later taught, including forgiveness and love for one’s enemies (Luke 6:27, 37).
When Jesus was crucified, Mary stood at the cross, heartbroken (John 19:25–27). She witnessed his expression of forgiveness as he cried out, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do” (Luke 23:34, NKJV). Although some scholars suggest that Joseph had passed on by this time, Mary, even in her grief, must have drawn from that same teaching of forgiveness, choosing not to harbour bitterness towards those who had crucified her son.