Mary - Chapter 10 - The Wedding

NOTE: THESE CHAPTERS ARE NOW AVAILABLE IN A MUCH IMPROVED, EXPANDED BOOK, "A SWORD SHALL PIERCE YOUR SOUL" from FriesenPress

Joseph sometimes found it hard to concentrate on his work in the following days. He wanted to please his employer and do the best he could. He also wanted to learn from him and even others he saw working around him. Someday he hoped to be able to work on his own. He felt good about the skills he was acquiring working with stone, plaster and wood. There was so much to learn. Someday he hoped he could also learn to work with marble. 

Something else he saw in the finer buildings he had occasion to be involved with was the fine work of the mosaic tilers. Their artistry amazed him. Sometimes he felt uncomfortable with some of that work though. These artisans often incorporated human figures into their murals and floors and in Joseph’s mind that was against the law of his people. They were not to make any image of anything human, lest it become an object of worship. He felt especially guilty when thee mosaics were built on the background of floors and walls he had helped make. He made sure to pray and ask Jehovah for forgiveness if this made him break the law by preparing the surface for this work. He would also try to remember to include a prayer about this with the sin offerings he would bring to the temple in Jerusalem when he would go there with his family.  

But his thoughts continually strayed to his personal life. He thought about the angels’ visits to Mary and then himself. He thought about how fortunate he was to have become engaged to Mary. She was not only beautiful, she had the most pleasing disposition. She was ever polite, courteous, obedient and helpful. She was always so positive. Now that they were betrothed, he got to spend more time with her and there was nothing about her he did not love. There was also something so innocent and trusting about her that it stirred his deepest feelings of wanting to care for and protect her. He sometimes wondered how much of that might be called for in the days ahead. Most importantly, he was challenged by her faith. Girls were not allowed to go to synagogue school as he had been fortunate to do until he was 12, so they did not get to hear the scriptures read other than on synagogue on Shabbat. That made it all the more amazing that she knew as much about the stories of Israel and about the law as he did.

Finally, there came the day when he was already seated with Anna and Mary, ready for the evening meal, when Joachim walked in and announced, “It’s all arranged, in 1 week you young people will be married!”

Mary gasped and leapt to her feet to throw her arms around her father and kiss him, “Oh, Papa, I am going to be the happiest wife in the world. And I just know Joseph is going to be a wonderful husband and father,” she added, turning her warm smile on Joseph.

In their moments together, Joseph, impressed by the significance of this pregnancy that was ostensibly underway in Mary, had promised her that they would not need to consummate their marriage until after the child’s birth. Mary had been utterly impressed by this expression of Joseph’s commitment and self-discipline; it only deepened her love and respect for this quiet young man from Nazareth. 

That week flew by. Preparations were made for a small gathering of their two families and some close relatives and friends. When the day came, Joseph and Mary, who were now staying with his parents in Nazareth, were given brand new clothes to wear. Then they all walked solemnly across the village to the synagogue. The young couple were given seats of honour at the front of the synagogue, facing the leader of the synagogue and the local rabbi. The rituals of a first century Jewish marriage were followed, ending in a prayer to Jehovah for a blessing on the couple and a wish for many children. When the brief ceremony was over, Joseph stood up and, taking Mary’s had in his, led the happy throng back to his parents’ place. Some of the villagers had joined them with pipes and tambourines as they went merrily along, dancing in front of the couple. As they walked, Joseph and Mary also heard the blessings from all they passed. When they arrived back at Joachim's place their two families were joined in a small feast by some of their closest friends' families. The two families still wanted to keep things as low key as possible.

There had been questions about why so soon when the engagement had only been a couple of month earlier. Joachim and Jacob had simply affirmed to all who asked that this was revealed to them as the will of The Highest One. That unusual answer usually caught the questioners so off guard they scarcely knew how to press the issue further. In any case, when they did, the two fathers were steadfast in their decree and offered no more.