Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Joseph accepts Jesus and Mary as his own...

18 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. 19 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.
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 conceive and 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 did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.

I do not imagine it was easy for Joseph to believe Mary had not cheated on him and slept with another man... this is the only recorded birth EVER without the aid of a man... so can you imagine the amount of faith it took to take her home and marry her despite his confusion and doubt.. even disbelief...

and yes... an angel appeared to him in a dream.. and told him that she was telling the truth... even so... I would have been hard pressed to believe the dream if it were me...

we have all had supernatural experiences with God or angels.. and we believe His words for a short time then become doubtful again... but Joseph got up despite his doubt and married her... and took her home.. and became a father to a son that was not his...

this is a true man of God... a man truly led by the Spirit of the Living God... he was willing to withstand the words of the community and the families... all the ridicule and humiliation... and trust in what God has said to him... he is surely a credit to men everywhere... a shining example of a godly man...

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