Christmas and Work: The Fruit of Ordinary Work

According to Luke, before Mary and Joseph returned to Nazareth, their hometown, they first traveled to the temple in Jerusalem in order to participate in the “purification rites required by the Law” (2:22) and to offer Jesus, their firstborn, to the Lord (2:22-24) with special sacrifices. Then, having “done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth” (2:39).

Though we know that Joseph worked as a carpenter-craftsman, Luke does not talk about the work to which Mary and Joseph devoted the majority of their hours and energy once they returned to Nazareth.

Although we don’t have more specifics on the exact nature of their all their work, we know that Mary and Joseph’s work as parents had a positive result. Luke testifies that “the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him” (2:40). Jesus’ strength, growth, and education were blessed by Mary and Joseph’s work. In their own ways, both Mary and Joseph ensured that Jesus was fed, safe, trained in a trade, and educated in God’s laws.

Now, Jesus surely was privileged in extraordinary ways as the unique, divine Son of God. For example, he was “filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him” (2:40). But it would be wrong to suppose that Jesus’s wisdom was merely the result of a miraculous infusion from the Spirit. Much of what he learned came from his parents, as well as from the community around them. The ordinary work of Mary and Joseph contributed invaluably to the growth and strengthening of Jesus, as well as to his developing wisdom.

Similarly, you and I can make a difference for God through our ordinary work. Yes, we can contribute to God’s kingdom through “church” and service activities as we go on mission trips, teach Sunday School, etc. But, for many of us, our greatest contributions to God’s work in the world will come through our ordinary work. Our work may give us opportunities to feed the hungry, seek justice, share the good news with our neighbors, contribute to creating a positive work environment, or simply bless others through the products of a job well done. The case of Mary and Joseph, faithfully parenting Jesus, reminds us of how much God values and uses what we do everyday for his purposes.

For Further Exploration

If you were encouraged by this reading plan, check out "Life for Leaders", a daily devotional that you can receive by email, at https://lifeforleaders.depree.org, produced by the Max De Pree Center for Leadership at Fuller Theological Seminary.