Mary & Joseph

Sunday, December 19, 2021

When we read this storyline it is the culmination of a 9-month love story. One that I truly believe was forged in the fires of the divine will of God. 

The relationship was one that wasn’t that different from most in that day and culture. Most couples, not akk, were set aside for one another by their parents for more of the benefits it potentially had for the families than for the couple. 

Sometimes it was about finances, sometimes about social or political status and gain, and yeah sometimes it was a man and a woman or a boy and a girl whose families were old friends and the couple grew up together or knew one another, many times a couple did not know one another at all. 

That is like the reality show “Married at First Sight”. Which by the way is pretty pathetic like all the modern-day shows like that. 

Joseph was older than Mary, according to culture and custom would have been between 12 and 14 years old at the time of the betrothed. 

He honestly could have been really any age but my opinion would be late teens to mid-20s. That is purely speculative on my part. 

The term betrothal meant that there was a verbal and written promise of marriage. That was the first of the steps taken for Joseph and Mary to move forward with their Union. God sanctioned union between one man and one woman. 

Now if you recall just a few moments ago I mentioned the term betrothal Once a verbal and written promise was made then the father or the eldest brother of the woman created the betrothal, then a dowry or a price would be agreed to as payment for their brides family to cover the loss of their live-in help some say, it was really given to prove her value in childbirth and as a good wife to be. 

Once the Dowry was set and delivered another written contract was drafted as a binding legal aspect of the marriage. 

This event was called the espousal. 

It legally made the couple married. 

Yeah there. 

Once signed what was called the espousal period began. 

For approximately one year the espousal couple would live apart and not see one another. The bride stayed at her father's house. Oh, I believe to learn and master household matters. The husband would return to his father's house and prepare living quarters for him and his bride. 

At a time determined only by the groom's Father, the Son would return to his father-in-law's home, heralded by the a trumpet he would call out his spouse name to come and go to her new home in the groom's father's house. 

A marriage celebration lasting up to seven day would occur. The couple would then consummate the physical bond upon that the marriage covenant was complete. (Jesus' first

miracle.) In that moment, there was no guarantee that any love existed between the couple, my gut instinct is for most there was not. 

For a Jewish man it was a very important aspect of their marriage from betrothal to a espousal to a lifetime commitment for he and his bride to be totally, physically faithful. Especially on the part of the Bride that is just the way it was back then, harsh yeah for sure. If the bride were found to have had physical relations, the law permitted that she be tried for adultery and the groom couldn't have her publicly stoned and killed. 

No, imagine Joseph and Mary 3 months into the spousal. And he is told that his wife is pregnant. 

Could you imagine the gutshot he felt, the rejection he felt, the broken Spirit he was experiencing, how terrible for him. 

Mary had to have had peace from the revelation of Gabriel that she would conceive from the Holy Spirit the Christ child, however she must have been terrified to tell Joseph. What she had to reveal to him, to her family, his family and to the wagon gossipers of her neighbors was a possible death sentence for her. hey girl, married, awaiting her espousal. To end, waiting to live out her life with her husband and she becomes pregnant. remember these were human beings with emotions and feelings. 

What a possible Scandal both bride and groom humiliated, both families humiliated and embarrassed. 

But, there would be no scandal, because God the father would not permit it, he intervened and sent his messenger Angel Gabriel to appear and explain what was going to happen to her and then he was sent to Joseph to explain and calm his Spirit, his mind and his heart. She had not betrayed him, she was by Supernatural means chosen to be the mother of the Messiah. 

You see Joseph was a man of great quality he had decided to seek a writ of divorce because of her believed adultery. He did not want to humiliate and embarrass her and have her go on to public trial and stoning. 

Romanticism believes that the answer or did he love her already or not is that I believe so. He loved her and was willing to let her live out her days with the child, being unmarried and residing. She may or may not have loved him at this point, but my gut feeling is after he did what he did she began to, he extended Grace that was instructed by the Angel and the Holy Spirit. 

The betrothal the espousal the revelations the trust found between husband and wife in a man and a woman to their God and commitment of a life and love that would endure for a lifetime. 

This is the story of our relationship with Christ. 

The scripture calls us his bride and him our groom. 

Our espousal period for our spiritual marriage are all the promises of life and life eternal. The dowry was paid by the father of the groom by giving his son's lifeblood to pay for us. We then became espoused. We stay in this world as our groom returned to his father’s house. John 14:1-6

He's there preparing our Abiding Place. And at a time known only to the Father he will tell his Son it's time to get your bride and bring her home. 

We will have a marriage beast and all the saints of all the ages will celebrate with us in Jesus. that is and will become the greatest love story ever told.