“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. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly. But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins.”
So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.”
Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife, and did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son. And he called His name JESUS.
– Matthew 1:18-25
[This is the first in a series of posts tagged “Meditations”, the aim of which is to prayerfully approach the gospels with fresh eyes, keeping a lookout especially for ideas and scenes that challenge.]
“This is the story of the birth of the One I love!” is the thought the opening verse brings to mind, when I quiet down enough to begin to take it in. This is the One I love above all others (even though a lot of times I don’t act like it). Tell me more.
His mother was “with child by the Holy Spirit”. It’s stunning to consider that the same Holy Spirit comes to live inside those who believe… the same Spirit in whose power saints through the ages have written and taught and preached. My heart is ‘strangely warmed’ and at the same time I feel very small.
More than ever I am reminded that our God is a God of LIFE, forever creating life and giving life. And more than ever I realize how little we do with what we’ve been given. And yet there is really nothing we can do, any more than Mary did that is, being willing to be God’s servants. He does the rest.
I often wonder what it was like for Mary. How did she have the presence of mind to say to the angel, “behold the maidservant of the Lord. Let it be to me according to your word”? (Luke 1:39) What was it like to feel the Holy Spirit so close? What words did she use to explain her pregnancy to Joseph? How did her love survive his disbelief? And what words did Joseph use to finally tell her he knew she was telling the truth? Mary is the only woman in history to have experienced the things she experienced, and there was only one other woman — her cousin Elizabeth — she could talk to who would understand. For this and many other reasons Mary must have been a very strong and amazing young woman.
I admire Joseph, too, who when confronted with a pregnant fiancee chose to set aside his rights and show mercy to Mary, and later to be obedient to God. “Joseph, Son of David” — the angel’s address signals to Joseph that something is up, something to do with the Kingdom itself. What a couple God chose to raise the Messiah! Who of us would have chosen a carpenter and an unwed mother to be the parents of a king? Thank God we’re not God.
Challenges
- It’s a challenge to read this passage that is so incredibly familiar with anything like the astonishment it deserves. There have been too many Christmas Eve services when exhausted, running on empty, the words are barely heard between multiple worship services and incessant muzak carols and marketing pitches and the knowledge that the day after Christmas it will all be forgotten in a mad rush to Valentine’s Day.
Sometimes I think we should bring back the tradition of the 12 days of Christmas, as in, taking 12 full days off work and/or school and focusing on nothing but Christmas. Sometimes I think all Christians should join our Orthodox brothers and sisters in celebrating Christmas on January 7 in order to separate Jesus’ birth from “Sparkle Season” (as the retailers call it around here). At the very least I keep promising myself every year I’ll get the shopping done before Thanksgiving so I actually have time to appreciate the One whose birthday we are celebrating.
- Interestingly I don’t find it a challenge to believe in the virgin birth. As someone who believes that God created the universe and everything that’s in it, I don’t find it a stretch to believe He can make a woman pregnant.
- I also don’t find it hard to accept that Mary and Joseph had normal relations after Jesus’ birth: “….and did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son.” There’s no hint here that Joseph and Mary had anything other than a typical marriage after Jesus was born. The physicality of this story is unavoidable, and refreshing, and very human. And God is not ashamed to be involved in it.
So beautifully spoken, Peg.
Thanks! 😉