Where did Jesus learn about grace? Even typing that Jesus learned anything challenges the mostly Docetic way we learned about Jesus. We muse about what Mary knew. We are sure Jesus knew everything. And then, startled, we wonder if our Bible is broken when we read what Luke includes as he closes out his birth narrative,
And Jesus increased in wisdom and in years, and in divine and human favor.
Wait, what?
Grappling with Jesus’ humanity risks too low a Christology, no?
It is not hard for us to think that Mary taught Jesus her favorite song, the one she sang after the affirmation that the yet-to-be-born John the Baptist leaped in Elizabeth’s womb when the news of Mary’s unwed pregnancy was announced.
Don’t you think that Mary taught Jesus her song of revolution?
He has brought down the powerful from their thrones,
and lifted up the lowly;
he has filled the hungry with good things,
and sent the rich away empty.
We don’t have many of Mary’s words to Jesus in the Gospels beyond her appeal for Jesus to help with the lack of wine at Cana. We have even less than that from Joseph. Not. One. Word.
We do know two important things Jesus may have learned from Joseph. First, Joseph was a carpenter. After traveling to Israel last March, I am inclined to think of Joseph as a construction worker. One of the places we visited was Beit She’an. Archeologists have uncovered the ancient city, a fascinating amphitheater, public baths, and more. Rather than a woodworker, Joseph may have worked with stone. If Jesus had apprenticed with his Dad, he would have likely seen the plays performed at amphitheaters like the one in Beit She’an. It would be there he observed the hypocrites, actors.
Second, Joseph was ready to break the law to keep Mary from shame. When he discovered that Mary was pregnant with not his child, he would have been within his rights to apply Numbers 5 to Mary. In short, Joseph would have taken Mary to the priest. A ritual would have been administered.
When he has made her drink the water, then, if she has defiled herself and has been unfaithful to her husband, the water that brings the curse shall enter into her and cause bitter pain, and her womb shall discharge, her uterus drop, and the woman shall become an execration among her people. 28 But if the woman has not defiled herself and is clean, then she shall be immune and be able to conceive children.
Instead, Joseph planned to divorce her quietly. That is, before the angel's visit, who told Joseph not to fear taking Mary as his wife, Joseph chose grace. Think about it. Who’s to deny that as Jesus grew up, he learned the story of Joseph’s grace? Sure, it is speculation. But anything other than Joseph and Mary losing Jesus on their return trip from Jerusalem is all speculation.
Jesus’ adversaries drug a naked woman, taken in the act of adultery, to Jesus to test his commitment to the law. Would he agree that she should be stoned? Jesus chose grace.
Neither do I condemn you. Go and sin no more.
Grace was sewn into the fabric of his own story.
John also tells of Jesus looking for water at a well. Convention told him that he should avoid Samaritans, particularly women. This woman was a serial monogamist and currently shacking up with a man. Everything about her situation screamed, “Leave her alone.” Jesus chose grace over social sensibilities.
In his recent Advent book, Anticipating Jesus, Brian Zahnd points out that Joseph should be considered for his role as provider and protector. I agree. Joseph protecting Mary includes the grace he had determined to show her from the beginning.
Jesus may have increased in wisdom - and grace - learning from his Dad - Joseph, not a play actor.