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December 21

A Rough Day

Text: Matthew 1:18-19

Have you ever received bad news? Like really terrible news. It is not fun. Most of the time it is heartbreaking. We do not know how long, but Joseph and Mary were betrothed. Gifts were exchanged. A public declaration was signed and sealed in front of the whole village. Mary and Joseph were engaged, betrothed, in a binding covenant. And then one day Joseph received some heartwrenching news—Mary was pregnant. Matthew gives us the rundown. 

Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. (Matthew 1:18-19)

Yeah. I don’t know Joseph personally, but if it was me, I would be angry. Like really angry. 

Now of course, Mary is pleading her case. “I didn’t sleep around! The angel told me that the Holy Spirit would overshadow me and I would get pregnant! Please Joseph! You have to believe me!” 

Oh sure, Mary. The Holy Spirit. That is a good one. I don’t blame Joseph at all for his response. I would have reacted the same way. Probably worse. But even though this news broke his heart, Joseph was an honorable man. He was certainly a just man, but a good man. He would divorce her as quietly and discreetly as possible. But we know the rest of the story. Joseph was told in a dream that Mary was telling the truth. God did this. Stay with her. You need to raise the Messiah as your son. 

The crazy thing is that Joseph obeyed. He dealt with a lifetime of public scrutiny and shame. There is no doubt most people did not believe that the child was from the Lord. The whispers were either Joseph is a liar or Mary is immoral or both. Their examples remind us that following Jesus is rarely easy, but it is always worth it. 4 days to go till Christmas.