The Life and Ministry of Jesus
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. Matthew 1:24–25
Jesus grew up under the scandal of Mary’s alleged immorality. On one occasion, the Jewish leaders threw at him the comment that they were not the product of sexual immorality. “You do the deeds of your father.” Then they said to Him, “We were not born of fornication; we have one Father—God.” John 8:41. But the Holy Spirit, who had at the beginning hovered over the darkness to effect the creation of the universe, enshrouded the darkness of Mary’s womb to effect the creation of the human nature of our Lord.
This was an unexpected announcement indeed. Yet, as Matthew tells us, it was nothing other than the fulfilment of Isaiah’s prophecy that ‘the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel’ (Isa. 7:14). Matthew also tells us that Joseph and Mary had no sexual relations until after the birth of Jesus. 1
Personal Encouragement
God is calling all of us to be “set apart” from worldliness and to travel the straight and narrow during our Christian journey. Does your life represent more of the grace and truth of His Holy Word, or does your life resemble more of the carnality of this culture?
Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. John 17:17
To be attached to Him, is to be unattached to this world.
A Prayer
Lord, teach me to live with the knowledge that my life is hidden in Christ. Colossians 3:3
1. Campbell, I. D. (2008). Opening up Matthew. Leominster: Day One Publications.
