It was scandalous! Mary, just a teenager, was pregnant out of wedlock. She was engaged to Joseph. It certainly looked like he was responsible for her condition. Imagine the gossip around the well in Bethlehem…
It must have taken a great deal of faith and courage for Mary to embrace the assignment God had given her — to endure the judgmental whispers, to remain confident in God while being misunderstood by her neighbors, to give birth to the promised Messiah. But her Heavenly Father chose her because He knew Mary had the strength and integrity to trust Him even when she couldn’t fully understand God’s purposes.
Rather than freaking out (which is probably what I would have done) she praised God.
And Mary said:
“My soul exalts the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.
“For He has had regard for the humble state of His bondslave;
for behold, from this time on all generations will count me blessed.
“For the Mighty One has done great things for me; and holy is His name.”
– Luke 1:46-49
And it must have taken Joseph a great deal of faith and courage for Joseph to embrace the assignment God had given him — to endure the judgmental whispers, to remain confident in God while being misunderstood by his neighbors, to be the earthly father of the promised Messiah. But his Heavenly Father knew Joseph had the strength and integrity to trust Him, even when he couldn’t fully understand God’s purposes.
So, when the angel appeared to Joseph to quell his questions and fears, in Matthew 1:18-25, rather than ending the engagement (as he had planned to do) he married Mary, cared for her, and raised Jesus as his own child. What an intimidating assignment!
It took mountains of faith for Joseph and Mary to embrace their journey with obedience and grace. But God’s hand led them through the joys and sorrows of raising the Son of God and watching Him die, to fulfill the purpose God had given Him.
In these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world. And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.
– Hebrews 1:2-3
