06.05.05 The Story of Joseph and Mary's Boundaries Biblical Revelation

The Story of Joseph and Mary’s Boundaries – A Biblical Revelation

Joseph and Mary lived in Nazareth, a small town in Galilee. The couple had a remarkably deliberate and consistent practice of boundaries, which could explain why they were handpicked to play the role of Jesus’ earthly parents. The tendency to observe such limits was rooted in the couple’s Hebrew culture, given that the Jews would front boundaries as essential for maintaining moral order and communal wellbeing. Those boundaries would support relationships and accountability, as well as reinforcing restraint where due.

Firstly, Joseph and Mary adhered to relational and sexual boundaries which Jehovah had set to guide how intimacy should be handled. One of those limits was embedded in the betrothal process, where the couple was not expected to have any intimate relations during this period. The process involved a formal agreement between families, a defined period of separation and public recognition of intent, all designed to safeguard dignity and responsibility in their community. The couple had fully observed the stipulated boundaries. Therefore, the discovery of Mary’s pregnancy must have come as a shock. Thereafter, God instructed Joseph to take Mary as his wife; but being the boundary person he was, the man did not consummate the marriage until after Jesus was born (Matthew 1:25).

The second category of boundaries that Joseph adhered to was designed to protect the dignity and reputation of his wife Mary. Joseph demonstrated those limits by making sure that he shielded her from public shame. Mary’s pregnancy was a secret that he was determined to keep to himself. So, knowing that the child was not his, he resolved to divorce Mary quietly (Matthew 1:19). However, after receiving divine instructions through a dream, Joseph heeded God’s voice by taking Mary as his wife, as already mentioned.

Thirdly, Joseph and Mary put in place family boundaries, which are evident in how the couple handled their private and family life. Historians estimate that the small Jewish village of Nazareth had a population of only 100 to 400 people, which meant that everyone knew each other. They also report how family ties and public recognition were highly valued. It was in such a setting that God trusted the couple with an assignment where some information needed to be kept with utmost confidentiality. For instance, Joseph and Mary fled to Egypt under cover (Matthew 2:13–23). Throughout Jesus’ early days, the family kept his life private to the extent that there is hardly anything written about him during that period. As Jesus grew, Mary kept matters in her heart rather than broadcasting them which is another vivid indicator of abiding to set boundaries (Luke 2:19; Luke 2:51). When Jesus was found teaching in the temple in Jerusalem, his parents did not reveal the boy’s identity to his listeners (Luke 2:41–52).

Last but not least, Joseph and Mary observed boundaries expressed through obedience to God. The limits were so firmly established that the couple would follow them promptly and with no questions asked, irrespective of the restraint, discretion or personal sacrifice that would be required (Matthew 1:24; Matthew 2:13–14).

Joseph and Mary’s narrative is a clear indicator of the importance that God attaches to boundaries in the execution of sensitive assignments such as the one for bringing up Jesus Christ. Their adherence to those boundaries must have greatly contributed to Jesus’ successful completion of His mission on earth (John 10:10; John 19:30).