Reshaped: Day 9 - Mary
The Interception
Reading Matthew 1:18-25
A pregnant virgin – what kind of ridiculousness is that? But as far fetched as that sounded, Mary was a virtuous woman. Of that Joseph was sure. So what should he do? He clearly didn’t believe Mary, but being a just man, he extended mercy and determined to put her away quietly instead of openly chastising her.
But one night Joseph’s plan was intercepted. An angel visited him in a dream and confirmed Mary’s virgin pregnancy. Being an upstanding Godly man, Joseph awoke with a quickened heart. He knew he had a God encounter. His new resolution – marry his betrothed and raise the Christ child as his own.
The road before him was long and difficult. But just as God chose the right woman to bear the Savior, Joseph was the right man.
But one night Joseph’s plan was intercepted. An angel visited him in a dream and confirmed Mary’s virgin pregnancy. Being an upstanding Godly man, Joseph awoke with a quickened heart. He knew he had a God encounter. His new resolution – marry his betrothed and raise the Christ child as his own.
The road before him was long and difficult. But just as God chose the right woman to bear the Savior, Joseph was the right man.
Questions
- What is striking about Mary and Joseph’s response to the impossible news they each received?
- Scripture doesn’t share insight about Joseph’s emotional response to raising the Messiah, but can you imagine the weight this responsibility must have had on him?