One must wonder what it must have been like for Joseph and Mary during their lifetimes, preparing for their wedding day. I imagine that Joseph never saw coming that Mary, his godly soon-to-be wife would deliver the news that she was pregnant (Matthew 1:18). Joseph knew that the child wasn’t his, and so he determined that Mary wouldn’t be his either.
While undoubtedly crushed by such news, he decided to end the relationship without acceptable fanfare. Joseph was righteous and didn’t want to disgrace her even though she seemed unrighteous (Matthew 1:19). Such character was not created in that moment but revealed in it.
18 The birth of Jesus Christ came about this way: After his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, it was discovered before they came together that she was pregnant from the Holy Spirit. 19 So her husband, Joseph, being a righteous man, and not wanting to disgrace her publicly, decided to divorce her secretly.
20 But after he had considered these things, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, don’t be afraid to take Mary as your wife, because what has been conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
Matthew 1:18-21
An angel spoke to Joseph in a dream, discouraging him from divorcing Mary. Not only had Mary not sinned, but the child within her womb would save us from our sins (Matthew 1:21). Most of us would assume that if God was aware of our sins, it should prompt Him to distance Himself from us. This passage reveals quite the opposite! Instead of our sins increasing God’s disgust of us, it catalyzed His rescue mission by sending His Son to be born among us.
There’s no commitment quite like the Son of God choosing to be conceived within a young woman’s womb. His resolve to save His people started by becoming one of them. While we deserved condemnation for our sins, Jesus desired to invade human history at a pivotal time to save those who could not save themselves.
What makes Jesus’ path for our salvation so unique is His desire for proximity to broken people. Jesus, being fully God yet fully man, could sympathize with our struggle at a ground-level degree. Since He lived on this earth, He knows what it is like to be tempted just as we are. Yet, He never sinned (Hebrews 4:15). Due to His exposure to temptation and victory over sin, He can help us from a unique perspective (Hebrews 2:18). He has the power to save us from our sin since He was victorious in obedience and gracious toward our disobedience.
Travis Agnew serves as the Lead Pastor of Rocky Creek Church in Greenville, SC. His most recent book is Just (About) Married.
