Thursday 19 March 2009
- Bible Book:
- Matthew
"Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly. But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, 'Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit'." (v.19-20)
Background
Today is a holy day. It is the day we celebrate Joseph, thehusband of Mary and earthly father of Jesus. That's why thispassage comes strangely in a week when we're moving through Lent,towards Easter. At first glance it sits strangely with the theme'The New Nature'. But perhaps Joseph typifies a disciple of Jesus.He wants to do the right thing.
Joseph cannot be the first person who struggled with the tensionbetween strict obedience to the law (in this case, the Jewish Law)and the demands of love. He is certainly not the last! Notice howhe is called "righteous" even though he doesn't follow the letterof the Law out of his concern for his fiancée.
Joseph acts on what he knows. Mary is pregnant. He is not thefather. The Law of Moses demanded capital punishment (
The Lord, however, has other plans and sends a messenger to changehis mind. Joseph's initial understanding of the situation is notcomplete and so his proposed action is not right. Once the wholestory is known, Joseph is able to do what is truly right and whatGod wanted of him. He takes Mary for his wife.
God is doing a new thing in Jesus, and those who would be thepeople of God will struggle to do the right thing as they respondto changed understandings and changed circumstances. They will needto listen out for the Holy Spirit and God's messengers.
Mary's child is named Jesus, meaning 'God saves'. A common name inthis time. Rather than being separated out as the Saviour, Jesus isone of the common people. Immanuel - God with us. From among us Godwill save.
To Ponder
How do you decide what is the right thing to doin difficult situations?
How do tradition, reason and experience changeour understanding of the Scriptures?