“The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and
the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby to be born will be
holy, and he will be called the Son of God. What’s more, your relative
Elizabeth has become pregnant in her old age! People used to say she was
barren, but she has conceived a son and is now in her sixth month. For nothing
is impossible with God.”
Mary responded, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” And then the angel left her.” Luke 1:35-38
This past week I have appreciated revisiting the account of
the people and events surrounding the birth of Jesus as recorded in the
Gospels of Matthew and Luke. Of course it’s a familiar story, but I have been
impacted afresh by the individual responses of both Joseph and Mary to God
entering their world, revealing His
plan for them to play a crucial role
in parenting the incarnate Jesus.
In Matthew’s account, after Joseph has become aware of Mary’s pregnancy, an angel of the Lord appears to Joseph in a dream saying; “do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived is from the Holy Spirit.” (Matt 1:20).
How does Joseph, who is desribed in verse 19 as a righteous man, respond? When he woke up he did what God’s
messenger had commanded him to do, taking Mary home as his wife (1:24). Joseph embraced
the opportunity to take a step of faith based on what had been revealed to him.
As we read on in Matthew Chapter 2 we can see this pattern of revelation, instruction and active response being repeated on several occasions for Joseph as he followed God’s lead.
When Mary encounters God’s messenger (Luke 1) her response to God’s assignment was one of humble acceptance and submission, believing God at His word and understanding her role as a servant in helping to fulfil God’s plan. I do wonder if she took the time to consider what others may have thought (including her husband-to-be). The role she had been selected for was great indeed and it would not be long before the evidence of a rather unique pregnancy, carrying a very special child would become more and more apparent.
God had literally entered their world - their lives and the lives of multitudes of others would never be the same again!
How can the story of Joseph and Mary inform our own response during those occasions when God enters our world, revealing himself, his purpose and invitation to join him in his work?
I can really identify with the fact that God provided a joint calling upon Joseph and Mary – they were in this (God-ordained) thing together. They would need each other, and Jesus, because of his humanity, would need them.
I like the fact that both Joseph and Mary had individual yet complimentary calling encounters with God’s messengers. I know this to be of significance in my own faith journey which I have shared for many years with my wife Judy. When God has entered our world and captured our attention to reveal a new assignment the fact that we have both uniquely heard from God has brought confirmation, prompting us to respond in obedience to serve the purposes of God, together.
Joseph and Mary can teach us much about submission to God and his purposes; about being vulnerable in offering ourselves, as we are, to serve the will of God whatever the cost, wherever the journey may take us.
Lord, I pray that I
would be open to you entering my world afresh whatever the season. May I have
ears to hear and eyes to see whatever you may reveal, when you choose to do so. Please give me
the courage to take you at your word and to act upon your revelation with a
step of faith as your servant.”
Amen.
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