*Originally published November 21, 2016
The story of Jesus first coming now takes an interesting turn, as Matthew starts to give you the details of His birth in verse 18…
“Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly. But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.”
After reading that, I’m honestly feeling bad for Joseph. The Bible calls him a just man. He is a good guy trying to do the right thing. He is betrothed or engaged to Mary. According to the custom of the day, they are already considered husband and wife, but they are not to have sex during the first year of engagement. Once the year was up then they could move in together and consummate the marriage. However Mary is showing! She’s pregnant! Then she has got the nerve to say the Baby is of the Holy Spirit! Who was going to believe that. This was scandalous! As a matter of fact, according to their law, Joseph was within his right to publicly stone her. The situation looked impossible!
You see, the unexpected arrival of Jesus to this earth is an announcement that…
God is with us in impossible situations
After I first accepted Christ and was baptized, you would think that everything was sunshine and roses after that. But instead, challenges began to come one after the other. It was only a few months after I was baptized that my parents got divorced. After the divorce, I rarely saw my father. I would see him maybe once a year or more like every two years. Then when it was time for me to graduate high school I was told that I wouldn’t do well in college and that I should maybe consider a trade. Well God was with me and I eventually got accepted to Florida International University, but in my first year I struggled in College Algebra. Then whenever I would struggle with a class, I would feel so down in the dumps that I wanted some kind of escape. I didn’t want to fail in college and prove my advisor right. As a Christian, I didn’t go to clubs, drink or do drugs. However, on my way home, there where some strip clubs that I found my way into. Whenever I found myself at an emotional low point I found my self seeking that kind of lust filled entertainment to escape my reality. I felt like I was stuck in a cycle that was impossible to get out off. Yet even at my lowest point God was with me. He never left me alone! He is the God of the impossible!
This is what Mary had already discovered in the announcement given to her by Gabriel. When she questioned the impossibility for a virgin to have a baby, Gabriel responded to her in Luke 1:37, “…with God nothing will be impossible.” The truth is, the Matthew account of Jesus birth is really from Joseph’s perspective. Joseph seems to be the one sitting with the anxiety of whether to divorce Mary, instead of stoning her. You get the impression that Mary is simply resigned at this point to trusting the promise the angel gave her. This is why the angel says to Joseph, “…do not be afraid…” Pastor Mike Tucker from Faith for Today, says that there are approximately 365 “do not be afraid” or “fear not” statements in the Bible, one for each day of the year. It sounds like God is trying to tell us something! Do not be afraid when your situation looks impossible. Could this be what God is saying to you right now? When the disciples of Christ were wrestling with what seemed like to impossibility of man to be saved, He said, “…“With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Matthew 19:26 NKJV Are you wrestle with the assurance of salvation, Jesus says trust Me, I am with you. What is impossible with you is possible through Me. By faith claim this promise of God that He is whispering to your heart in Isaiah 41:10, “Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you. Yes I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”
He is with you, even in the midst of what seems to be an impossible situation. Jesus is calling you into a relationship that is characterized by trust not arbitrary control. Listen to what Ty Gigson says in his book An Endless Falling in Love...
“He is aiming for something more, far more than control. God desires our friendship, based on freewill and trust.”
God wants us to trust Him in the midst of impossible situations. The racial tensions are rising in our nation, God says, “fear not, for I am with you.” Your trying to overcome addictions in your life, God says trust Me. With you it may be impossible, but with Me all things are possible.
“CJ” Claypole S. Cousins Jr. is simply a man who is in love with Jesus. His passion is to live, preach and teach the Gospel of Jesus Christ. In addition to preaching and teaching, CJ also loves to sing and write about Jesus. He also serves as the pastor for Grow Groups and RPCtv at Restoration Praise Center SDA Church.