Mary and Joseph are two of the most challenging characters in the nativity. Before Mary became pregnant, the prophets had been silent for 400 years. It was a dark time in Israel’s history. They were waiting on the promised Messiah, but I bet some doubted that he would ever come. This history makes the devout faith and trust of Mary and Joseph’s families even more surprising. Then, Mary is visited by an angel and she is told that she is pregnant and will give birth to the long-awaited Messiah. Mary was honored and frightened at the same time. The most important call in all of human history. In Mary’s day, a woman would be stoned to death for having a child out of wedlock. What a test of Mary’s faith and trust!
Joseph became aware of Mary’s pregnancy before the angel visited him. The Bible tells us what Joseph did but does not record one word from the mouth of Joseph in the Bible. Most of the people surrounding Jesus’ birth talked or sang or shouted in praise. But not Joseph. What was he thinking? Mary was just back from a trip to see her cousin Elizabeth. I’m sure he wondered, “What was going on when she went to visit Elizabeth?” “Did she even go see Elizabeth when she was gone?” “Who is this other man?”
Processing this level of fear, betrayal, and shock without making a scene, just keeping quiet, is a testament to Joseph’s character. He may have talked to a close friend or family member, but he wasn’t dishonoring God or Mary by speaking before he knew all the facts. What a lesson for us today!
Just when Joseph was ready to divorce Mary quietly, without making a scene, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and filled him in on God’s plan. The whole story involving Mary and Joseph is a story of trust. Mary had to trust God’s promise. Joseph had to trust Mary. Mary had to trust Joseph. Joseph had to trust God.
When God calls us to something important, we don’t understand the big picture of his plan. Each call is important and requires faith and trust in God. You would think that the mother of Jesus would have a little extra help from God. He did send an angel to speak to her, but she still had to ride a donkey to Bethlehem, she still had to give birth in a barn, and she still had to hide from Herod when he wanted to kill Jesus. Don’t be discouraged when the thing God called you to do requires trust and faith!
Matthew 1:18-25
This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: 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. Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.
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. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus because he will save his people from their sins.”
All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).
When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.