Christmas - Faith in the Savior
Posted: Saturday, December 04, 2010
by Mark Parsec
Wordcasters
I have often wondered what it must have been like for Joseph when he discovered that his fiancé, Mary, was with child. Surely, he must have been devastated. The young woman whom he loved, for whom he had been waiting and saving himself, was PREGNANT. And who… WHO was the father?
Joseph : What do you mean you’re pregnant?
Mary : I know this is difficult for you to understand, Joseph, but yes, I am pregnant.
Joseph : Ahhhh… How could you do this to me?
Mary : But, Joseph, it wasn’t my idea…
Joseph : What do you mean it wasn’t your idea? Did someone force himself on you? Were you raped?
Mary : No, Joseph, I wasn’t raped.
Joseph : Ahhhh… Who is the father? It was that shepherd boy wasn’t it?
Mary : No, Joseph, it wasn’t the shepherd boy.
Joseph : Then it was the butcher, wasn’t it?
Mary : No, Joseph, it wasn’t the butcher.
Joseph : Then, it was the baker, wasn’t it?
Mary : No, Joseph, it wasn’t the baker.
Joseph : Ahhh! Then it was the candlestick maker. Wasn’t it? I knew I couldn’t trust him!
Mary : No, Joseph… It wasn’t any of these men. It wasn’t the butcher, the baker or the candlestick maker. It wasn’t the shepherd boy. I swear to you, I have never slept with any man. I am still a virgin.
Joseph : A virgin? How can you say that? Have you lost your mind?
Mary : I swear to you, Joseph, I’m telling you the truth.
Joseph : Then tell me the truth by telling me who the father is.
Mary : If I tell you, will you believe me?
Joseph : Yes.
Mary : Joseph… the child’s father is… God.
Joseph : I DON’T BELIEVE YOU! That’s blasphemy! How could you say such a thing?
Mary : But it’s true, Joseph. For the Holy Spirit came upon me and the power of the Highest overshadowed me, and the Holy One whom I have conceived shall be called the Son of God.
Joseph : Are you telling me that God is the father?
Mary : Yes, Joseph.
Joseph : God? God? But, I can’t compete with Him!
The fact that Joseph was disturbed by Mary’s pregnancy is recorded for us in Scripture. But, what was he to do? Matthew 1:18-19 (NKJV) tells us…
18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. 19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly.
Like most other men, Joseph could not accept the fact that his fiancé had become pregnant by someone other than himself before they were married. So, Joseph was going to end the relationship with Mary. But, rather than having Mary stoned to death for her apparent infidelity, Joseph was going to quietly call off the engagement.
Why? It could have been because Joseph didn’t believe Mary. It could have been that Joseph felt hopeless about Mary’s fidelity. It could have been because Joseph felt betrayed and was angry. It could have been because Joseph was ashamed or embarrassed. But, the Bible gives us another reason. Matthew 1:20-21 tells us…
20 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. 21 And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins.”
22 So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: 23 “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.”
You see, Joseph was afraid! Joseph needed reassurance that Mary’s claim that she had become pregnant by the Holy Spirit of God was the truth. And the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph to provide him with the message he needed to hear. The child was conceived by the Holy Spirit of God and He would be the Savior.
It has been said that fear is the opposite of faith. And, the angel’s message transformed Joseph’s fear into faith. Joseph didn’t need to feel hopeless any longer. Joseph didn’t need to feel betrayed or angry, ashamed or embarrassed. Joseph could marry his fiancé with the full confidence that she was an honorable woman.
You see, Joseph didn’t just have hope in Mary’s claim of an immaculate conception. Joseph had convincing faith. Regarding this, Matthew 1:24-25 tells us…
24 Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife, 25 and did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son. And he called His name JESUS.
What was the result of Joseph’s faith? He did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him. He married Mary and made her his wife. You see, faith isn’t just hope. Faith is the way we behave as a result of convincing hope. Faith is the actions we take as a result of what we believe. Hebrews 11:1 tells us…
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
The substance and evidence of Joseph’s faith were the actions he took when he believed that Mary was pregnant by the Holy Spirit of God and when he married her and raised the Son of God as his own son. Now that’s faith in action!
But, the question I have for you today is this… What is the substance and evidence of your faith in the Son of God? If you claim that you love the Lord, how do you show it?
A man can claim that he is in love with a woman. But, if he only feels that love in his heart and never does anything about it, how would that woman or anybody else know that he loved her?
It is the same way with the Lord. Some people claim that they love the Lord… in their heart. But, they never have the faith to do anything about it. I would call that fear how about you?
If you believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, then you cannot help but love Him. And if you love Him, then you will want to show Him and everybody else that you love Him.
But, how can we show the Lord that we love Him?
Don’t be afraid to do what He asks. And what does the Lord ask of you? Only that you admit your sins and turn away from them, that you call on His name, that you follow Him, that you serve Him and that you tell everyone about Him. And if you will do these things it will be evident to God and everyone else that you have faith in the Savior.
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Top-level comments on this article: (1 total)Very insightful. It underscores the point that faith and love require action. It makes nonsense the notion that one can claim belief in God and live anyhow. One's faith and love become reflected in conviction and conviction is manifested in one's entire way of life. May the life of Joseph be an example for all who believe in the Lord and have come to conviction.
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