Be With Me: 7 Minutes of Biblical Wonder
Be With Me is a daily 7 minute chronological walk through the New Testament hosted by Michael Smith. It is for everyone who is curious about what Jesus actually said and did in the gospels. Most episodes will leave you with at least one good thought to chew on for the rest of the day. We start with the Bible and hopefully end with Awe. We are walking through the chronological events of Jesus' life and then thoughtfully considering them. It is meant to spur the devotional life of the Christian and the not-yet-Christian. We occasionally venture into the Old Testament when it helps our understanding of the New Testament events. Everybody has 7 minutes. Everybody needs to wonder. Be With Me is hosted by Michael Smith who has absolutely no special qualifications to do a podcast. He is not a pastor. He has not been to seminary. He does not lead a mega-church. He is not a professional and he has no more credentials than you do. He does, however, follow a great God with an observant eye and a curious heart. Each day, he starts with a study bible and aims for astonishment. ‘be with him’ for 7 minutes as he sets out daily to discover the God who invites us to ‘Be With Me.’
Be With Me: 7 Minutes of Biblical Wonder
Joseph saves Jesus from being stoned. S31e4
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Mary betrays Joseph during their betrothal period. At least Joseph thinks Mary has betrayed him.
Joseph has something to say about what happens next. Shame and stoning are on the menu in response to this great injustice. But Joseph decides NO. He saves Mary's life and the unborn Jesus' life, 4 months in the womb, by this resolving.
We find Joseph is just and is unwilling to put Mary to shame. He saves the life of Mary. He saves the life of Jesus. In that sense, Joseph saves YOUR LIFE too.
Listen!
https://youtu.be/Wlyse3ZJqKA
Joseph saves Jesus from being stoned. S31e4
Matt 1:18 The Birth of Jesus Christ
18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit.
Our story today starts with a betrayal. Great example of don’t read ahead. These event happened in TIME, we cannot just look at their happy conclusions, or we miss the critical decision points that are suffered through.
Mary betrays Joseph
Joseph thinks Mary has betrayed Joseph
The story doesn’t start when Joseph gets engaged
Or when they had a little party for the couple
Or when they met as families to start to work on the details
Somewhere between engagement and full marriage
Before they came together: before they enjoyed the intimate pleasures of a married husband and wife
The way marriage is supposed to work is a man saves something for his future wife.;
a woman saves something for her future husb.
It was like that then and it is like that now.
Just a quick word about the customs of marriage in that culture:
· Different than our engagement today
· Step one is parents of young man chose young woman
· Step two is preliminary arragnements beween the family
· Step three is betrothal before witnesses
· Step four is a period of time referred to as the betrothal: many more arrangements
o Note, they were referred to as husband and wife
o Confusing, title but not the privileges
o Not considered married, not living together
o No sexual relations during this period of time
· Step five is marriage ceremony and celebration by the full community
· Step six is consummation of the marriage. The sharing of the marriage bed; the enjoying the exclusive benefits of marriage.
· Step seven is production of children.
Problem: they had not come together, but she was with child. They were on STEP 4, and apparently Mary was on STEP7
Joseph knew how children are conceived.
He knew thay were not married, and had not enjoyed the marriage bed. (he is referred to as HUSBAND, but that does not mean what we mean by it. It did not at the time come with intimacy privileges)
He knew that SHE WAS FOUND TO BE WITH CHILD 4 months
What was the only thing he could conclude?
His conclusion could only have be betrayal by Mary.
That Mary had, betrayed their marriage bed with another man.
Secondly, that now she is duplicative with her words.
The evidence show show this.
How serious is this? Unfaithfulness during betrothal was considered adultery. Under mosaic law carried death penalty by stoning. Who dies in the stoning? Mom and unborn child. 2 killed
Joseph must have considered this. All he had to do was not “do this quietly” Just don’t be quiet, and you get to give her what she deserves. Perhaps you have already seen this done to unfaithful.
Put her to shame: make a public display of disgrace, expose
Shame is on the menu. Stoning is on the menu. Vengeance.
NO18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit.
19 And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly.
Just man, innocent, upright, holy
unwilling to put her to shame
There is in dt 24:1 a scriptural escape hatch: if he finds an indecency, sexual indecency, in a wife he can righteously divorce her. For cause. Write her as divorce.
Decision point. Resolve. Make up mind. Determine future
Resolved to divorce--he had already decided at the moment of this encounter. We are witnessing his thinking in real time.
I can settle this with a signature rather than a stoning
That is Joseph chooses his signature rather than shame
That is Joseph chooses to sign a paper rather than throwing a stone unto death
JOSEPH saves MARY AND Jesus’ life by being just, being uwilling to shame, and resoving to divorce her quietly.
Joseph saves Jesus’ life. Jesus could have, if Joseph wasn’t just and holy, been stoned before birth.
No Savior. No cross. No substitution.
If you push this thought far enough,
Joseph saves the world by saving Jesus’ life Joseph saves your life.
By this moment this decision, this resolving, Joseph allows Jesus to be bornand save the world and save you.
When you go to heaven, I suggest you make an appointment to have lunch with joseph, and then, when the check comes, may I humbly suggest that YOU pick up the tab.