Friday, December 22nd
Day 26-A Crucial Decision
Matthew 1:18-25
Once Mary comes to grips with the reality of the angel’s message, she knows she must find a way to share this news with Joseph. She does so with the hope that he will believe her about the details of the visit from the angel and the message that he delivered. Luke then tells us she traveled to visit Elizabeth…
At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!… Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.” Luke 2:41-45, 56 NIV
NIV
Meanwhile, Joseph stays behind in Nazareth to wrestle with the news Mary has shared. She is pregnant and supposedly the baby is conceived from God. He wants to believe her, but he suspects the truth is less honorable. She has been unfaithful to him and has concocted a wild story to cover up her sin. He makes up his mind to end the engagement. Matthew shares Joseph’s struggle…
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. Matthew 1:18-19 NIV
Once again, God sends an angel to deliver a message that will help Joseph come to grips with this situation. The angel comes to Joseph in a dream…
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.” Matthew 1:20-21 NIV
When Joseph awakes from this dream, he understands that Mary was telling the truth all along. He has an amazing opportunity to be the earthly father of the son of God. Luke describes his response…
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. Matthew 1:24-25 NIV
Although his response may not have been as eloquent as Mary’s, it is equally as powerful in its own right for its quiet obedience. Together, Mary and Joseph would take on the unexpected but thrilling adventure of raising the Messiah, the son of God.
Prayer Emphasis: Thank God that you aren’t on our own when you face a tough decision. Thank Him for His word and Holy Spirit that guides you every day.
For Family Discussion…
Please yourself in Joseph’s sandals. Do you fault him for being skeptical? How would you react to Mary’s big news?
When has someone shared something important with you that you found difficult to believe? What did you do?