Matthew
1:18-25
18 This is how the birth of Jesus the
Messiah came about[a]: His mother Mary was
pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found
to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. 19 Because
Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet[b] did not want to
expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.
20 But after he had considered this, an
angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of
David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is
conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She
will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus,[c] because he will save
his people from their sins.”
22 All this took place to
fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23 “The
virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel”[d] (which means “God
with us”).
24 When Joseph woke up, he did what the
angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. 25 But
he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave
him the name Jesus.
Consider This!
A couple
of poor people about to be made richer than any riches on earth could give. Someone,
prophesied about, would actually come into being. They were the very type of
people that would be eager to have a Messiah come into their lives, especially
at their time in history. But, I think, the Messiah came into their lives in a
way that they least expected for a Messiah to arrive.
Christ
came to save mankind from their sins. This birth is to be adored. This birth isn’t into original sin; this birth
is perfectly NOT in original sin and free of sin. Jesus came to save mankind from their sin perfectly;
not as one IN our sin.
A little
background at this point may help our understanding of this situation. The time
between what was called betrothal and marriage was of uncertain amount of time.
Like any engagement today would be for various lengths of time. But among the Jews of our Jesus’ time, the amount
of time, was commonly for a whole year in the case of maidens. During that time
the bride-elect remained in her own home, and did not see the bridegroom till
he came to move her to his own house. All communications in the meantime were
conducted through “the friend of the bridegroom” (John 3:29). The couple had
time to think seriously of the great change they were soon to make in their
lives, and to seek unto God for his blessing upon them. And they might talk to
each other more freely about their life together, and about how they wished their
family to be, before the actual marriage ceremony.
Mary knew what the deal was, with her current condition in pregnancy.
Mary knew it was by the Holy Spirit she had become pregnant; both because she
was sure she had not known another man, as she told the angel, and because the
angel had assured her, the Holy Spirit should come upon her,
and the power of the Highest overshadow her.
Just as Adam was born of
God through the breath of the Spirit; Jesus IS God through the Spirit and born
of Mary a virgin. And here Joseph is
blessed to be an earthly father of the Messiah and play an important role in
the lives of Mary and Jesus as Jesus grew.
So, Joseph, being a good
guy, looked for a nice way out of this embarrassing situation. There was an
alternative, which made a way of divorce easy, a way for himself called a “writ of divorcement,” which did not
necessarily specify the grounds for divorce, except in vague language implying
disagreement (Matthew 19:3). The matter could
be settled quietly without exposing why the divorce.
Was Joseph called to action by God here? There were two ways to approach
this situation, in public or in private. What led Joseph to the privacy choice?
Did Joseph see something more at work here? Did Joseph believe in Mary’s divine
grace? Did Joseph see God at work, knowing that Mary would not deny him her
loyalty?
Thoughts were, no doubt swirling through Joseph’s mind, like thoughts
that perplex and make one wonder about the future. What is going on? Sleep on
it, Joseph, before you do anything rash.
Yet God takes care of Joseph. God sends Joseph direction and clarity as
God speaks to Joseph through an angel, while Joseph was asleep and dreaming. That’s all Joseph needed, angels all around.
How could anyone not believe in angels? God is so gracious to send them
at just the right time as we are a needy bunch of sinners.
The angel gave Joseph the will to take action. More than just being a nice guy, but a guy taking
Mary home and treating her as his wife. Nice is one thing, but nice in action
is an entirely different kind of love.
Fear not! Do not hesitate, or have any doubts about Mary’s goodness and
purity. Do not fear that she will be unworthy of you, or will disgrace you.
When we are perplexed or worried, stop, think it over, turn to Scripture,
listen to friends, and listen to the voice of God. All just might be made clear
from an angel. You never know.
This is a big deal here. God
through the angel even reveals what to name this baby that he has sent into
this world. Jesus, our Savior. JESUS, from
the Hebrew meaning "Jehovah the Savior."
This Jesus came into our world to save mankind from their sins. This was
the great business of Jesus in coming and dying. It was not to save people in
their sins, but from their sins. Sinners could not be happy in heaven.
It would be a place of wretchedness to the guilty. The design of Jesus was,
therefore, to save all of us from sin.
All of this IS and FULFILLS God’s prophecy, just as God told it, in
years past.
Now we hear the words of God through the prophet Isaiah.
God spoke to Joseph through an angel and gave Joseph all the faith he
needed to believe what he had been told. How does Joseph respond, now that he
has the gift of faith and belief in God’s Word? Joseph, gladly does God’s will
at any expense necessary.
How, today, do we receive God’s Word? How, today, do we receive faith to
believe?
Look around, centuries of believers, inspired by the Holy Spirit have
spelled out through words, God’s activity of giving the faith and belief
needed. Look to the Bible, the writings of the Word, the voice of the Word in
the pulpit and even through the testimonies of believers all through time. It’s
all there in the Sacraments of Baptism and Holy Communion. God comes in Word,
Promise and Earthly Elements with gifts of faith and belief. Listen to the Word
of God. It’s all there and freely given to you. Turn to God and seek
forgiveness and He gladly pulls you, a sinner, into relationship with Him to
save you from your sin. Joseph heard the Word. Now listen!
And now you have it. A first-born
son of the beginning of something as old as creation yet as new as salvation. Jesus
the first, as He was there in creation, the last, the only God in flesh and
blood is coming to us here and now
Jesus breaks into our carefully planned out lives and surprises us.
Jesus breaks through time, and even our time, to come to us in flesh, blood,
and Spirit. We may carefully plan our lives, we may carefully do all the things
we think are necessary to continue in our lives today, but that may not be what
really happens. Jesus breaks through, while we are in illness, dying, planning,
growing and living; and surprises us with His presence. Our plans are great,
but don’t rely on them. The plan of God in life is always going to be a
surprise. God’s plan is not my plan. God’s plan is beyond my plan. God’s plan
leads me to turn from myself and see God’s presence. God’s presence comes in
the way that I may least expect. So that, I have no choice but to accept His
plan, and like Joseph, go along with God’s plan in joy and thanksgiving.
I would never be able to get into Joseph’s head to understand what he
was thinking or feeling, but I can take from what I see happened to Joseph and
live my life in the sure hope that God has a plan that He will reveal to me in
my life and in my death. Even if that plan only comes a bit here and a bit
there. Why? Because, I think God wants me to trust Him, and always walk with
Him in the ups, the downs, the ins and the outs of life. So, once again, I fall
back to the message I have heard all along this Advent Season.
Jesus comes! Listen to Him! Trust Him! Worship Him! Jesus IS God!
Consider This! Pause and ponder. Pause and ponder like people have done
throughout time. God IS with you and calls you and gifts you with forgiveness
and salvation.
Why? To love Him and your neighbor.
Pause and take some time to read the following passages of Scripture. In
the quiet of your own time. Ponder this and reflect.
Isaiah
7:10-17
Just believe it ---
easy to say – but the prophet testifies the Word of God – the birth of the
Messiah from a virgin --- I can’t believe that – so I must accept what God
tells me
Psalm
24
Look up! The King of
Glory is coming in to you and to me- look!
Romans
1:1-7
Through Jesus we
receive grace
And yes, we continue in
this short Fourth Week of Advent to cry along with all creation…
Come, Lord Jesus, come…
today… tomorrow… and forever --- Amen
I invite you to sit
back and enjoy this YouTube video that inspired me this past week.
“Joseph, Did You Know?”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8fzoLtD8TM8&list=RD8fzoLtD8TM8&start_radio=1
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