M-G: 9.25.13 // Obedience is not Earthquake-Proof, Matthew 1:8

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There is a dramatic difference between being betrothed in NT times and being engaged today. Betrothed meant the individuals were considered already married and thought of in terms of husband and wife once the arrangement by the parents was settled and contracts agreed upon. However, this betrothal had a strange custom where both individuals lived with their respective parents and abstained from sexual activity for a year. At the conclusion of the waiting period the couple would consummate their marriage physically. If the pledge of faithfulness was violated during this time of separation, the marriage could be annulled. If the woman was found with a child, she could be accused of adultery and subject to death by stoning (Deut 22:23, 24). Today, if during the engagement period, one proved to be unfaithful, the engagement would be called off, and the individuals would go their separate ways without any legal or cultural ramifications.

In our passage, we learn that Mary was betrothed to Joseph, but we do not know for how long they had been betrothed before she was discovered to be pregnant. However long it was, it had not reached the consummation point, “before they came together.” Imagine Joseph’s heart being broken by the news and the deep disappointment due to the “infidelity” of the love of his life. How could this happen if Mary loved the Lord? What would the family think? What about our friends and neighbors in the community? Panic must have flooded his heart because of the dire consequences of adultery. Then there was Mary’s predicament; who would ever believe her story that she had not only been faithful to Joseph but to their God as well; her pregnancy would be a prima facie case to the contrary! Her being found with a child represented something far greater going on here that would shape the course of their lives and the world!

The community will know she had a child before their betrothal was consummated, and the gossip that will ensue. Shortly, we will learn something about Mary that made all of these potential negatives inconsequential! She may have considered these things but her faith made them subservient to a greater purpose. Understand that Joseph was not privy to what was going on yet like Mary, but all of that was about to change, and he would come on board with the reality of the impossible becoming possible (Lk 1:37).

The more you think about their situation the more dynamic and fluid the dilemma becomes for them both and their families. Can you see that obedience to the Lord is not earthquake-proof! There were tremors or seismic activities everywhere. What this means to us is that obeying the Lord can set off spiritual seismic activities that impact our physical surroundings with a series of aftershocks. That baby in her womb is going to be born before they consummate their betrothal. The eyes of the community will take notice and will generate all kinds of talk around the well, like the water cooler in an office, but for others, their lives will never be the same.

What makes this unique situation resolvable is that Joseph and Mary both loved the Lord. Joseph was referred to as “being a just man” (Mt 1:19). This is the same adjective used of Zecharias and Elizabeth (Lk 1:6, “righteous”) and Simeon (Lk 2:25, “just”). Righteous or just indicates Joseph was a true believer who followed the Law carefully. But “just” must also be seen in the light of “not wanting” and “was minded” in Mt 1:19; he was willing to “put her away” or to obtain a legal divorce (Mt 19:8-9; Deut 24:1) privately, discreetly. Joseph followed the spirit of the Law, unlike the Pharisees obsessed with the letter of the Law and traditions; Joseph was inclined toward healing rather than hurting. 

Mary’s love for the Lord reflects a passion for obedience and leaving the consequences of that passion with Him (Lk 1:38). Her song of magnifying the Lord (Mary’s Magnificat) reveals that she saturated her heart and mind with the Word of God (Lk 1:46-55). They were two spiritual people trying to do the right thing in obedience to the Lord. This betrothal had the right spiritual chemistry for a lasting relationship. It just didn’t seem that way by appearances, particularly when Mary began to show signs of being pregnant.

Let’s look at how God approached both Mary and Joseph respectively and their response to the announcement. When Elizabeth was six months pregnant with John, the angel Gabriel paid a surprised visit to Mary; she was betrothed to Joseph of the house of David (Lk 1:26-27). Twice under inspiration, Luke refers to Mary as a virgin and not as a maiden (Gk, parthenos, “virgin,” cf. Lk 1:34; Isa 7:14).

When Gabriel entered the house he said to Mary, "Rejoice, highly favored (highly favored is the same Gk word translated as “accepted” in Eph 1:6 and used of all believers) one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!" (Lk 1:28). Notice Mary’s response, “She was troubled at his saying” (not his presence or appearance) and upset and puzzled by the greeting (Lk 1:29). Gabriel instructed her not to be afraid for she had found favor with God (Lk 1:30), and then dropped the blessed bombshell on her, “And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus” (Lk 1:31). She learns in short order she is going to be pregnant, have a Son, and call Him Jesus (Savior)!

Gabriel announces that her Son will be “great” and called “the Son of the Highest” (Lk 1:32). MacArthur notes, “The Greek term Luke uses for 'Highest' is the one employed in the LXX to translate the Hebrew, 'The Most High God.' Since a son bears his father's qualities, calling a person someone else's 'son' was a way of signifying equality. Here the angel was telling Mary that her Son would be equal to the Most High God.” 

In addition, the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David and reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end” (Lk 1:32-33). I envisioned Mary's reaction, "Say what?"

Mary, trying to process all of this, asked Gabriel, “How can this be, since I do not know a man (physically), Lk 1:34)? This was a legitimate question of wonder and not of doubt. His answer really could be summed up – God,  "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God” (Lk 1:35). Whether this is new news or a reminder is uncertain, but Gabriel told Mary that Elizabeth in her old age was near the end of her second trimester (Lk 1:36), and is given a theological truth – “For with God nothing will be impossible” (Lk 1:37).

What was Mary’s response to all of this? “Then Mary said, "Behold the maidservant (doulē, “slave”) of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her” (Lk 1:38). Her will, her heart’s desire was to perform the will of the master (slave mentality) – “Let it be to me according to your word.” Here is the passion of obedience I spoke of earlier without concern for the ripple effect. Mary knew she was betrothed to Joseph. Joseph would know the child was not his. He would probably divorce her, and she could be accused of adultery subject to death by stoning (Deut 22:13-21; cf. Jn 8:3-5). Her response to Gabriel’s announcement was, “Let it be.”   

When Joseph actually learned of this pregnancy is uncertain, but an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream (Mt 1:20) as he pondered over a discreet divorce and obviously Mary’s explanation as to why she was pregnant. He realized that Mary was telling the truth; she had been faithful to him and to God!

“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. And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins" (Mt 1:21).

 All of this was done that the Scriptures might be fulfilled when Isaiah prophesied 700 years earlier,  "BEHOLD, THE VIRGIN SHALL BE WITH CHILD, AND BEAR A SON, AND THEY SHALL CALL HIS NAME IMMANUEL," which is translated, "God with us" (Mt 1:22-23).

Notice Joseph's response to this revealing dream,

“Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife, and did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son. And he called His name JESUS” (Mt 1:24-25). It sounds like he abandoned all that pondering to divorce Mary. What a spiritual giant a simple carpenter by the name of Joseph was! Note in verse 25 that Joseph “did not know her till” Jesus was born. Mary had other children by Joseph: Mt 12:46; 13:55-56; Mk 6:3; Jn 7:3, 5; Acts 1:14; 1Cor 9:5; and Gal 1:19); she didn’t remain a virgin!

Well, you know the rest of the story. The point I’m making is that both were two very spiritual people who loved the Lord; both shared a passion for obedience. Obedience, however, is not earthquake-proof. When we obey and serve the Lord, spiritual seismic activity becomes evident. Why? God wants to be glorified in us to the world around us.

Whenever we are obedient to the Word, things will get shaken up one way or another. The question is will we be more concerned with the consequences of our faithfulness or more passionate with our obedience to God regardless of the ripple effect? Joseph and Mary both knew their obedience would produce an earthquake in their world and subsequent aftershocks. What did they do? “Let it be,” said Mary, and Joseph took Mary to be his wife!  Obedience is not earthquake-proof, or another way of saying obedience doesn’t mean your world will not get shaken up! And our faithfulness to the Lord could produce a series of aftershocks. God knows this right well. He controls the scope of the seismic activities of our faithfulness to Him!  

PS: There was one predicted aftershock I would like to draw your attention to in all of this. Listen to Mary’s words, “For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed” (Lk 1:48b). An aftershock doesn’t necessarily mean something negative! I don’t know about you, but I’m looking forward to the here-aftershocks as well. <><