The Jewish wedding was an interesting affair. A young man would pick out his future bride. He and his father would contact the young lady’s father, and the details for the wedding would be finalized.
The young man would then return home with his dad to prepare a room for he and his bride. When the room was completed, he would return for the bride.
The wedding would take place and then he would take his bride home, the wedding would be consummated and announced, then the celebration would begin. It could continue for several days.
But the bridegroom was not the one to decide that the room was completed and ready for the bride to be brought home. It was the son’s father who determined that the son could now go complete the wedding and bring his bride home.
Joseph was evidently in the process of completing the dwelling place for his bride. But disturbing news came to his ears. Mary, his betrothed or engaged wife, was pregnant.
He, being a man of God — according to Matthew 1:19, “being a just man” — had a decision to make in behalf of the pending wedding. Would he put her away and cancel the planned wedding? How would the breakup be accomplished?
Joseph decided to put her away secretly. Evidently he loved her deeply and didn’t want to bring any further hurt into her life. The decision was made.
But in this story, there is a third character besides Mary and Joseph. Verses 20 and 21 state, “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.’ ”
Mary, a young woman, knew the words spoken by Isaiah 7:14. She had read the words, “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.”
Thousands of young women had grown up wondering if they would perhaps be the chosen one to give birth to the One Who would be named Jesus, Savior!
And finally, there was this one certain girl who would be the instrument through which Immanuel, which means “God with us,” would be born into the world.
The story of Christmas begins with the sad news that a particular chosen bride was pregnant before her wedding. This news couldn’t have set well with her parents nor the family of the expected bridegroom.
The miracle of miracles introduces “an angel of the Lord” (v. 20) who meets with Mary and then with Joseph. The angel’s message to these two young people is convincing.
Both Mary and Joseph accept the words of the angel, which corresponds with the Bible’s promise of a Messiah for the Jewish people.
In Luke’s gospel we hear from Mary. She said to the angel, “ ‘Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.’ And the angel departed from her” (1:38).
In Matthew’s gospel we hear from Joseph. There we find out his intentions:
“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” (vv. 24-25).
Thus begins the incredible story of the life of the greatest man to ever walk on the face of the earth. The enemy tried to kill His influence, but He is known today the whole world over.
The enemy tried to stop this new movement called Christianity, but the worst of enemies in nations controlled by really mean dictators have not eliminated the forward movement of the Lord’s army of believers.
You might demand that I prove the reality of Jesus Christ and any positive influence this imaginary figure might of had upon human history or in the lives of people upon the earth.
But it isn’t necessary to prove the reality of God. He is big enough to prove Himself, if in fact He ever needs to be proven.
It’s not a question of proving anything! It is a matter of us accepting the facts and by faith applying Him to our lives.
So, the miracle of miracles took place far from the public eye, without the fanfare of the modern communications skills, without a single word of print in the morning newspaper. But His life has touched millions and millions of men, women, boys and girls from every continent upon the face of the earth.
Drunkards are cleaned up and sober because of Jesus. Prostitutes are forgiven and living pure, upstanding lives because Jesus has become resident in their lives. The lost are saved. Hellbound sinners are now on their way to Heaven after meeting Jesus Christ.
And He changed my life and has made something out of what could have been a disaster. Christ is still the reason for the season!
That wedding almost didn’t happen in the first century, but it did! And we are blessed because the Son of God came to dwell among us for a season.
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E-mail Rev. Jackson at ojapaj@yahoo.com.
or see www.inspireandinfo.com.
