Troublesome Topic: DID JOSEPH AND MARY HAVE A WEDDING CEREMONY?

They had a simple wedding ceremony, and she went to live with him in the unfinished apartment he was building. Scripture does not mention this, but we can be confident that there was a simple ceremony because of the things that were required of them as Jews. This ceremony would not have included the presence of a rabbi or priest, nor the typical rituals, adornments and feasting. It would have been the simplest of formulas—possibly as simple as the following pronouncement by Joseph in the presence of two witnesses, “you are my wife, I am your husband.” That was all that was required, although tradition had added many other components to the ritual. All this would have looked very suspect to the people of the small town; it was discovered that Mary was pregnant, and Joseph married her quietly without any of the special traditions. What were they to think other than Joseph must have gotten her pregnant?

On the other hand, imagine the relief and joy in Mary’s heart when, after at least 3 months of inner tension, her story about the angel was believed by Joseph and she was accepted by him. Imagine the bond this created between the two of them, since no one else believed her, not even her parents.

The next lesson is WHAT WAS THAT PLACE WE USUALLY CALL AN “INN”?