Christmas Story from Different Angle

This year as in years past I listened to the Christmas Story from several different evangelists and pastors.  It seems this year that most of them were focusing more on Joseph and Mary’s character.  Think with me, if you will, of all the things Mary and Joseph had to deal with concerning their first child.

They were probably young teens because it was the custom in those days that all the girls be married very young. Then when Joseph was going to marry her he found out she “was with child”. Now he could have really made it difficult for her but since Joseph loved Mary and was faithful to God He  he was just  going to “put her away secretly”. When the angel sent from God, explained things Joseph listened and they were married after all.  Read the story in Matthew 1:18-25

If that wasn’t enough, during her pregnancy Caesar Augustus decided a census should be taken of the entire Roman world.  People didn’t go door to door in those days as now. Each one had to go to his town to register. Joseph was to go to Bethlehem the town of David because he belonged to the house of David.

So Joseph and Mary had to make the long, arduous trip walking along side a donkey that might have been carrying their sparse belongings. Mary ready to give birth, must have been very weary not to mention lonely, hurting and wondering about the safety of the child inside her.

As one speaker mentioned, Joseph and Mary would undoubtedly have had family in town at the time of the census. But since the pregnancy outside of marriage had happened, their family members had disowned them.

Think what Joseph must have felt like. No family to talk to. There was no one to help him with Mary. He couldn’t even provide a bed for his wife to lay her head or a cradle for his son.  Yet he loved God! He must have had a tremendous faith!

Think about Mary. She was going to be a teenage mom soon. She was shunned by her own family. And she was going to have to give birth to her firstborn and lay Him in a feed trough! She didn’t even have a cute little outfit to put on him, only rags to keep him warm.

Yet this woman was considered blessed among women! What amazing faith and strength Mary must have had. Luke 1:42b “Blessed among women are you, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!”

What incredible circumstances God used to become flesh!

Every time we write the date this year, 2012, we should be reminded of that time a little more than two thousand and twelve years ago when Mary conceived a Son. “And you shall call His name Jesus!” Matthew 1:21

NO GOD! NO PEACE!

KNOW GOD! KNOW PEACE!