Tuesday, December 6, 2011

A Baby Changes Everything - Part 2

An Angel appears to Joseph in a dream.

Matthew 1:18-25

18 This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit.
19 Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.
20 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.
21 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."
22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet:
23 "The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel"--which means, "God with us."
24 When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife.
25 But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.

Mary, while just engaged to Joseph, is found to be with child as a result of a miraculous conception by the Holy Spirit. Can you imagine the gossip that probably traveled among the enemies of Jesus once they found out about this virgin woman giving birth to Jesus? Oh, I bet there were a LOT of whispering conversations with glaring, judgemental eyes in Mary and Joseph's days.

Joseph was having a hard time dealing with her news of pregnancy. He was a righteous man and did not want to marry someone that had been unfaithful to him. He decides that he will divorce Mary quietly to keep her from public disgrace. (Remember, the engagement was binding in the Jewish culture, so Joseph would need a divorce to break the engagement). I can only imagine the worry and distress Joseph went through at this time, but God would soon deliver a message to him.

God sends an angel to speak to Joseph in a dream. The angel shares that the child that has been conceived in Mary is of the Holy Spirit. (It seems that Mary had not disclosed this little bit of information to Joseph. How would you explain such a thing to anyone? I guess that's why God sent the angel to explain it to Joseph). The angel gives Joseph instruction as to what to name the child and that he is being sent from God for a reason. This baby to be named, Jesus, is being sent to save his people from their sins. (Whoah! Thank you Jesus for meeting us in our sins, but mostly for your purpose of saving us from them!) 

When Joseph awoke, he had a whole new understanding of Mary's pregnancy. He took her home as his wife. He had no union with her until she gave birth to a son and just as the Lord commanded him, Joseph gave the baby the name Jesus.

Today, I unwrap the gift of a miraculous conception and birth of Jesus. I praise God for the awesome marriage counseling that he delivered through the angel in Joseph's dream!

Rejoicing in these gifts,
 
Tonya
   

8 comments:

  1. "Awesome marriage counseling through a dream" love that line! I will have to remember that and use it with my husband (because I often remember my dreams)
    Found you through the blog hop :)

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  2. I have never thought of the angel giving marriage counseling but...he did!

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  3. Wow! This is such an awesome view of the story. Praise God for sending his angels to help lead and guide us so that we don't make the wrong decisions!

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  4. Mary's story is truly amazing! Thanks for sharing this post in the blog hop. Blessings!

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  5. Great interpretation!! I, also, love the marraige counseling! He offers us whatever type of counseling we need in a variety of ways! Praise God that He is not bound by our limitations! Love you!

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  6. I love this series that you are doing. Any time we can take a more personal look at our Salvation, it does change us. Thanks for posting this.

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  7. Hi Tonya - great post, great reminder about what Christmas is all about, God's gift to us in the miraculous way! Thanks for linking up, I appreciate it.
    God bless
    Tracy

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