“Now the birth of Jesus Christ happened this way: While his mother Mary was engaged to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph, her husband to be, was a righteous man, and because he did not want to disgrace her, he intended to divorce her privately. When he had contemplated 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 as your wife, because the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son and you will name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.’” —Matthew 1:18–21
The highly favored Mary and the righteous Joseph were chosen by God to be the earthly parents of Jesus. Amazing! Mary and Joseph were both faithful to the word of God in that they both believed God’s announcements to them. God spoke to Mary through an angelic visit and to Joseph through an angelic dream. Oh, that we too would be found faithful to believe the Word of God!
We find in Luke the account of Mary’s visitation and her immediate response. Keep in mind, she was a very young girl, making her actions all the more impressive:
“In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, a descendant of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary. The angel came to her and said, ‘Greetings, favored one, the Lord is with you!’ But she was greatly troubled by his words and began to wonder about the meaning of this greeting. So the angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God! Listen: You will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and his kingdom will never end.’ Mary said to the angel, ‘How will this be, since I have not been intimate with a man?’ The angel replied, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called the Son of God.’” —Luke 1:26–38
Both Mary and Joseph were blessed because they believed that what the Lord told them would be accomplished, though certainly they could not have possibly understood the fullness of the mystery of Christ’s incarnation.
“Just as you do not know the path of the wind, or how the bones form in the womb of a pregnant woman, so you do not know the work of God who makes everything.” —Ecclesiastes 11:5
Mary had been pledged to Joseph, betrothed for a waiting period of a year to demonstrate faithfulness and the pledge of purity. It was a binding contractual agreement arranged for individuals by their parents. It was only after the waiting period of a year that the couple consummated their marriage physically and would begin living together as husband and wife.
The marriage would be annulled if the bride were to be found with child. In such cases, the woman would be subject to public scandal and presented to the judges at the city gate. Such an act could have the result of death by stoning. Joseph’s genuine love for Mary is demonstrated by the fact that he decided to divorce her quietly and without scandal. He did not want to expose her. He was inclined to be merciful. And although Mary knew the chances were great that she would be dealt with as a prostitute, she chose to entrust herself to the One who judges justly. She kept her mind calm by committing her cause to her heavenly Father.
As Joseph ponders his next steps, God lovingly intervenes and directs His servant on precisely what to do. It is the thoughtful, not the impulsive, whom God will clearly guide. God’s instruction often comes when we are confused and at a standstill, not knowing what to do next. As we earnestly seek Him, He promises to faithfully show us the way.
“Call on me in prayer and I will answer you. I will show you great and mysterious things which you still do not know about.” —Jeremiah 33:3
Become More
God desires that we trust Him. We are not to kick against His best for our lives, but fully embrace the path he has laid out for us. Even when we cannot fully understand His plan, He always has our best interests in mind.
Further Reflections
Both Mary and Joseph were blessed because they believed what the Lord told them would be accomplished, though certainly they could not have possibly understood the fullness of the mystery of Christ’s incarnation.
God’s instruction often comes when we are confused and at a standstill, not knowing what to do next.
“And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among people by which we must be saved.” —Acts 4:12