Sometimes the right thing to do is the wrong thing to do. Like this story.
The Levitical law was pretty clear that a woman with child outside of marriage was to be dealt with—and harshly. In fact, she was to be stoned, a horrific way to be executed. Joseph was a “righteous man,” a statement not about his practices but a description of his standing before God: He was in right relationship with God. Joseph understood that what should happen was for Mary to be exposed publicly—and killed. That was the “right” thing to do under the law.
But Joseph believed such punishment was wrong and determined to handle the matter quietly, protecting Mary from public disgrace (and death). Since we know how the story ends, we see that the wrong thing to do was the right thing to do. There you have it. Sometimes the wrong thing to do is the right thing to do.
A few years ago, about a month before Rich became the Pastor of this church, we were all set for the staff Christmas party. It was a big deal, and because everyone had worked so hard during this interim time, a grand celebration was planned. I was helping to host this party when I got a call from Lib, who told me she was being sent by her doctor to the Emergency Room. “I’ll be right there to take you,” I said. Then a bit of an argument ensued. Lib wanted me to stay for the party; I insisted that I come to her.
Long story short, I was quickly hot-footing it north on Roswell Road to get her, blazing down that hill that ends in front of Pike Nursery, when the blue lights came on and pulled me over. I explained to the officer what was going on. When he looked dubious, I handed him my business card to say that I’m not in the business of telling lies. He let me go with a warning. Legally it was the wrong thing to do, but morally it was the right thing to do. Legally, speeding (yes, I was!) was the wrong thing to do, but relationally, it was the right thing to do.
One of the surprises of the story surrounding the birth of the Messiah is that God turns so many things upside down. This reality does not give us license to run out and do whatever we jolly well please, flagrantly break laws, and ignore cultural expectations. But it does tell us that human lives have higher value in the eyes of God than do laws. So said the One who knew: “The Sabbath was made for people, not people for the Sabbath.” (Mark 2:27)