THEME: I AM THE LORD’S SERVANT
Reading Matthew 1: 18-25
In the above text, we read of a great wedding that was almost aborted. Mary was a virgin who was betrothed to Joseph. She was a poor village girl. She had accepted her calling by God by saying “I am the Lord’s servant (Luke 1:38). Joseph was a humble but noble man. He was the son of a carpenter.
There were 3 steps in a Jewish marriage.
1. The two families agreed to the union.
2. A public announcement was made. At this stage, the couple was officially and legally engaged but the marriage was not consummated. However, only death or divorce could separate them.
3. A proper marriage was conducted, and the couple were allowed to move in to live together.
This means that Mary’s pregnancy was very disturbing not only to Joseph but to all parties concerned. Hence, Mary’s apparent unfaithfulness carried a severe social stigma. Jewish civil law could give Joseph the right to divorce Mary. To make matters worse the Jewish law could have her stoned to death (Duet 22:23-24).
Joseph was faced with a difficult situation. Being an honest gentleman, he didn’t want to shame his fiancé publicly through a divorce. He therefore resolved to divorce her secretly.
Joseph had two options: –
1. Break the engagement and divorce Mary quietly.
2. Have Mary stoned to death.
But our loving God had another option: Joseph should continue with his marriage plans. Graciously, he obeyed the angel’s command to marry Mary knowing very well he might suffer humiliation. God always has more options than we may think. When our actions affect other people’s feelings and destinies, we must prayerfully seek God’s guidance and will.
The angel declared to Joseph that Mary’s child was conceived by the Holy Spirit would be a son. So Jesus is both God and human. The infinite, unlimited God took on the limitations of humanity so he could live and die for the salvation of all who would believe in him.
What battles are you facing now? It is God who fights our battles. Mary did not hire any defense counsel. She didn’t argue her case to prove her innocence. She didn’t suffer shame for she was carrying out a divine mission. Neither did Joseph suffer any humiliation. We can overcome any challenge in life if at all we are doing God’s will.
Four admirable qualities we see in Joseph: –
1. Righteousness /just (Mt 1:19
2. Discretion and sensitivity (Mt 1:19)
3. Submission to God’s will (Mt 1:24)
4. Self-discipline (Mt 1:25). He restrained himself from having any canal knowledge of Mary until the child was born. Abstinence is possible. True love waits.
In Matthew 1:24 Joseph takes Mary home to be his wife. Are there people you need to take “home” this Christmas- people you feel no longer matter to you? They could be your children, wife, husband, family members, former employee, servant, child out of wedlock, a workmate, former boss, etc. The Christmas message is about forgiveness and reconciliation. Nothing is impossible with God. 1 Thess. 5:24 says that “He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it”.
May God help us celebrate baby Jesus’s birth and above all embrace the prince of peace, our Lord, and Savior Jesus Christ. Let us all say like Mary “I am the Lord’s servant (Luke 1:38).
