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Day 7, "Do Not Be Afraid"

Mary and Joseph...she a 14-15 year old teenage virgin...he probably a 18 year old young man coming of age.  Joseph asked Mary's father for her hand in marriage, and Mary's father said "Yes".  Joseph went to Mary and she was excited beyond all measure.  They were betrothed.  Joseph build the addition on house, get things ready and then claim your bride for a life-time together as husband and wife.
Then one day it all changed...God stepped in.

Luke 1:26-31
26  In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth,
27  to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary.
28  And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!”
29  But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be.
30  And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
31  And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus.

 Tomorrow morning I am talking about "Christmas presence".  Not presents, but presence.  Mary is surprised, but also "troubled" at what Gabriel comes to tell her.  He says to her, "do not be afraid".  She can't comprehend what he's saying..."how?  I am a virgin" she tells him.  


Luke 1:35
35  And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God. 

It is God at work - the Incarnation - Deity and Humanity come together in   And we wonder why Mary was not afraid?  Who could explain that to her relatives, her parents, siblings.... Joseph?

Matthew 1:18-21
18  Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit.
19  And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly.
20  But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.
21  She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”  

Mary comes to Joseph and explains that she is pregnant...and tells him of Gabriel's visit.  Joseph... shocked, confused, can't reconcile in his mind what Mary says with common sense and reality...  Joseph also afraid.
Joseph, a just man... he will not subject Mary to what could happen...  Joseph falls asleep with a heavy and sad heart and God steps in again.  "Do not be afraid"... the same words spoken to Mary.

We must sterilize or sentimentalize the visitations to these two.  They both were not prepared for what God brought their way.  But God met them in their need.  God spoke into their fears and told them to trust, wait, it will all make sense...trust in Him.

And they did!  And so must we!

Peace

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