Sometimes I am amazed at what scripture tells me! After Joseph got the shock of his life that his “intended” (Mary) was with child, no doubt he experienced every emotion possible to a man that has been betrayed big time. The emotional roller-coaster went all the way from surprise to anger to frustration to revenge, etc. I think that when he went to sleep that night he didn’t get the rest that he usually did.
He tossed and turned on his bed for hours that night wrestling with his emotions until he fell into a fitful sleep. He had a dream, or maybe it was a half-awake vision when the Angel came to visit him. (Matthew 1:20-21) The Angel told him not to be afraid to take Mary as his wife, even told him it would be a boy, gave him a name to name Him, Jesus. And even told him what His occupation would be, saving His people from their sins. What a plan!! Nothing was left to chance. God had all the details worked out long before this event, even to the minutest detail.
Here’s what I learned: Joseph's behavior shows that he accepted Jesus as his son. According to the oral set of laws of the Jews of that day, “If one says, ‘This is my son,’ he is to be believed.” The written Jewish law explains that he is believed “as regards the right of inheritance.” Thus Jesus, as a legally acknowledged son, and is entitled to inherit the throne of King David from Joseph, a descendant of David.
But here is the fascinating thing: Joseph ended the “betrothal” and made it a marriage, but did not consummate the marriage until after Jesus was born! Joseph was “whole heartedly” behind this plan. There was no reluctance; there were no doubts, no hesitations! No trying to rationalize it out in his mind. No getting the elders together for a conference. No need to check with the “folks.” No need for a psychologist or psychiatrist. In today’s vernacular Joseph said, “LET’S GET ‘ER DID!!!!!!!
Wouldn’t it be great if all people who call themselves Christian would get behind God’s plan “whole-heartedly” this way?He tossed and turned on his bed for hours that night wrestling with his emotions until he fell into a fitful sleep. He had a dream, or maybe it was a half-awake vision when the Angel came to visit him. (Matthew 1:20-21) The Angel told him not to be afraid to take Mary as his wife, even told him it would be a boy, gave him a name to name Him, Jesus. And even told him what His occupation would be, saving His people from their sins. What a plan!! Nothing was left to chance. God had all the details worked out long before this event, even to the minutest detail.
Here’s what I learned: Joseph's behavior shows that he accepted Jesus as his son. According to the oral set of laws of the Jews of that day, “If one says, ‘This is my son,’ he is to be believed.” The written Jewish law explains that he is believed “as regards the right of inheritance.” Thus Jesus, as a legally acknowledged son, and is entitled to inherit the throne of King David from Joseph, a descendant of David.
But here is the fascinating thing: Joseph ended the “betrothal” and made it a marriage, but did not consummate the marriage until after Jesus was born! Joseph was “whole heartedly” behind this plan. There was no reluctance; there were no doubts, no hesitations! No trying to rationalize it out in his mind. No getting the elders together for a conference. No need to check with the “folks.” No need for a psychologist or psychiatrist. In today’s vernacular Joseph said, “LET’S GET ‘ER DID!!!!!!!
Just a thought.
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