Text: Matthew 1:18 – “Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit.”
We began our study looking at the background of this redemptive biography. He wrote around 50 – 70 AD from apparently Antioch. He wrote topically to the Jewish mind (religious) and sought to establish Jesus as the Kingdom Messiah.
We sing a song at Christmas - Silent Night – and talk about how peaceful it was. However, that first Christmas was anything but calm and peaceful. We will study about this at a later date, but the World had been turned upside down to assure that Jesus was born exactly where the prophecies said He would be. And, in the lives of a young carpenter and a teen-age virgin – the World would shake and never be the same.
As Matthew continues in his account, he shows us three things that Joseph must deal with – all starting with the Letter D. Today, pause and consider the first one – Joseph’s DISTRESS in verse 18.
Try to imagine what must have gone through his mind. He is heartbroken, assuming his pregnant wife-to-be has been unfaithful.
In that day their wedding traditions were different than ours of today. It says they were betrothed – that was a more restrictive form of our engagement. It was established with a written contract between the parties involved. They were considered the same as being married without living together. It usually was for the term of a year. The groom would spend this time building their dwelling place. She would prepare her belongings to set up a house. It could only be broken with a bill of divorcement.
As we consider marriage as a picture of Christ and the Church – we are in the betrothal stage. He is preparing our dwelling, and we should be preparing ourselves to be a spotless bride.
The statement “…before they came together….” Meant that they had not consummated the marriage. They had not had any sexual experience together.
“She was found with child of the Holy Spirit.” This was a condition that shocked Joseph. He knew he had not had any sexual relations with her. And, who would believe the story that the Holy Spirit had impregnated her?
What was he to do? Tomorrow we will consider Joseph’s Decision.
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