Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. (Matt 1:18)
Take a few moments to slowly read what Matthew records for us near the beginning of his gospel.
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. But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:
“Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
and they shall call his name Immanuel”
(which means, God with us). When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus. (1:18-25)
There’s a simple principle here worth thinking about and imitating. Granted, I’m not Joseph. You’re not Mary. These are very different circumstances than our own. But listen to what that angel of the Lord communicated.
“She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”
She will. You shall. He will.
A pregnant virgin? Joseph was being asked to believe the incredible. “She will bear a son.” Says who? The wonder-working God of the incredible, the same Lord who had made a spectacular promise 700 years before through the prophet Isaiah.
“Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
and they shall call his name Immanuel.”
And what does Immanuel mean? God with us.
In Matthew 1, Joseph was brought face-to-face with a message from the wonder-working God of incredible promises. “Mary will bear a son, and that son will save his people from their sins.” She will. He will. And in the middle? Joseph’s choice. “Will I believe in and trust the God of promises and covenants? Will I still take Mary as my wife? Will I patiently wait for the fulfillment of something I’ve never before seen or experienced? Will I follow, though I don’t understand the how, the why, the what, or the when?”
Do not fear, only believe.
“She will. He will. You shall.” And Joseph did.
Ours are very different circumstances, but there’s a simple principle in Matthew 1 worth thinking about and imitating. In our own generation, we also live within the scope of incredible promises from the same wonder-working God who always keeps those promises. “I will…”
“I will build my church.”
“I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.”
“I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more.”
“I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me.”
“I will give you rest.”
“Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.”
“I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
“Vengeance is mine; I will repay.”
“I will come again and take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.”
“Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.”
We’re called to live and act and hope by faith in accordance with those promises. “I will…” “You shall…” In the middle? Even today, our choices. “Will I believe in and trust the God of promises and covenants? Will I faithfully wait for the fulfillment of things I’ve never before seen or experienced? Will I follow, though I don’t understand the how, the why, the what, or the when?”
“He will. You shall.” Joseph did. What about me? What about you?