Nov. 29, 2007

      This blog is written by Mark Littleton, a Christian author with many books in print. You can find most of his books at Amazon.com under his name.

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    Picture Caption: I just learned Santa Claus isn't real and now I'm scared I won't get anything for Christmas this year and I really need some major stuff! 

Jesus' Parents Were Almost Divorced[BTL1]

     It's a classic story. Good teen in the neighborhood from a poor family is visited one night by an angel. This angel, Gabriel, informs her that she will be the mother of the Savior of the world(see Luke 1:26-38).

     Naturally, this teen, versed well enough in the process of procreation, wonders how this can happen, since she's only engaged to a man but not yet married. The angel tells her Someone named the Holy Spirit will "overshadow" her and the conception will occur miraculously.

     It's kind of a good news/bad news situation. The good news is the Savior of the world will come in your lifetime and you'll be his mom. The bad news is you'll probably be branded a cheap woman, stories will circulate about your "insane angel story" and your husband-to-be will divorce you before the wedding ceremony is ever performed.

     This was a classic win-lose situation. But Mary, the teen in question, asked only one question about how this might happen, and then bowed in submission to God. What faith she must have had!

     We also know that when her pregnancy was discovered, she probably informed Joseph her husband-to-be about the whole story. What would you do if the love of your life came to you with a tale like that? Probably what Joseph decided to do: to call off the wedding. In those days, being "betrothed," - engaged in our terminology - was legally equivalent to marriage. To dissolve such a contract, you had to be divorced. For Joseph there were two options: have Mary stoned as an adulteress, or give her a "certificate of dismissal" and "do it quietly." Apparently, Joseph believed in things like dignity, compassion and love above others like vengeance and he chose the latter course, something few of his generation considered.

     It must have been a terrible moment. This young couple-perhaps neither was older than sixteen or seventeen-saw the ending of their lives before they'd even begun. And to top it off, Joseph must deal with an ex-wife who can't accept the truth and persists in telling this whopper about the Holy Spirit. Did some people call her "Crazy Mary" or something equally insulting?

Nevertheless, God, being himself compassionate, gracious and ever loyal, did not hang Joseph and Mary out to dry as some did. No, he sent an angel in a dream to convince Joseph of the truth(see Matthew 1:18-25). The angel told Joseph the whole story in abbreviated form and even informed him what to name the baby. Joseph woke up and immediately took Mary as his wife. He said no more about it, but you can probably imagine his relief. "Sorry, I didn't believe you, Mary, the first time around, but you have to admit, it's a hair-raising story!"

     Throughout history, some have derided the virgin birth as a myth foisted on us by gullible people. But the truth is both Mary and Joseph were skeptics. They didn't buy into this Holy Spirit conception deal without a hitch. Both had questions, and both faced the reality of what they were asked to do.      Undoubtedly, all throughout their married lives the question of exactly how Mary got pregnant out of wedlock must have hung over every conversation, every friend's visit, every family gathering. It wouldn't be put to rest until Jesus himself had risen from the dead and proven himself to be the unequivocal Savior of the world.

     At times, God will probably ask each of us to do something much less difficult but as absurd as the mission he gave Joseph and Mary. All require the same measure of faith. Will you and I be up to it? God never flinches from our honest questions, as he did with Mary and Joseph. Nor does he condemn us for our skepticism. But only the right response-obedient trust and faith-can win God's wholehearted support like the kind he gave Joseph and Mary.

     Jesus could lay claim to both humanity and deity through his birth. But in this case, the human side is the far more difficult one. Did Jesus also have to live with the gossip and put-downs on his mother? The truth is that Jesus plodded on in his mission to save the world despite the rumors, gossip and hatred. He overcame all because his human faith kept him strong in the battle from the beginning to the end.

Check Out:

     Marklittleton.com

     Winsunliterary.com(my literary agency)

     HeartofAmericaChristianWriters.com(our writers' network)

     Another blog: Politiciansunclothed.townhall.com

Latest books:

     101 Amazing Truths About Jesus You Probably Didn't Know(Howard Books, 2007)

     The Ten-Second Prayer Principle: Powerful Prayer As You Go(Howard Books, 2007)

     What's In the Bible for Teens? (Bethany House, October 2007)

Books to come:

     BIble Bathroom Book(Howard Books, April 2008)

     The Big Bad God of the Bible(AMG, August, 2008)

     The Real Life Kid's Devotional Bible For Boys(Zonderkidz, September, 2008) 

     The Real Life Kid's Devotional Bible For Girls(Zonderkidz, September, 2008) 

     The NIRV Kid's Devotional(Zonderkidz, October, 2008)

God bless.

Mark Littleton

mlittleton@earthlink.net