June 04, 2023
Birth of Jesus
“This is how Jesus the Messiah was born. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. But before the marriage took place, while she was still a virgin, she became pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit. Joseph, to whom she was engaged, was a righteous man and did not want to disgrace her publicly, so he decided to break the engagement quietly.”-
““Suppose a man marries a woman but she does not please him. Having discovered something wrong with her, he writes a document of divorce, hands it to her, and sends her away from his house.”
Deuteronomy 24:1
“As he considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. “Joseph, son of David,” the angel said, “do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.””
“All of this occurred to fulfill the Lord’s message through his prophet: “Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us.’”” (Isaiah 7:14, 8:8, 10)
“When Joseph woke up, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded and took Mary as his wife. But he did not have sexual relations with her until her son was born. And Joseph named him Jesus.” Matthew 1:18-25
Note about v25: “Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation, for through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see— such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through him and for him. He existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together. Christ is also the head of the church, which is his body. He is the beginning, supreme over all who rise from the dead. So he is first in everything.”
Colossians 1:15-18
Interesting history:
ESPOUSALS
Mary was espoused to Joseph.
(Matthew 1:18)
Espousal among the Hebrews was something more than what a mere marriage engagement is with us. It was considered the beginning of marriage, was as legally binding as marriage itself, and could not be broken off save by a bill of divorce.
Hence we find that Joseph is called the "husband" of Mary (verse 19). The betrothal was usually determined by the parents or brothers of the parties and the engagement was made between a friend or legal representative of the bridegroom and the father of the bride.
The espousals were made very early in life, though marriage did not take place before the bride was twelve years old. Even when the age was suitable, the marriage was not consummated for some time after the betrothal. (See Judges 14:8.)
At least a year, or sometimes more, elapsed between the betrothal and the marriage of a maiden, to give time for preparing her outfit. In case of a widow, marriage might take place thirty days after espousal.
The betrothal was usually accompanied by a feast in the house of the bride.
The engagement, to be binding, must be either by written contract, or by the reception of presents by the bride from the bridegroom.
When Abraham's servant received the consent of Rebekah's father and brother to make her the wife of his master's son, he presented valuable gifts to the maiden. (See Genesis
24.53.)
The reception of these made the contract binding. The bride remained at her father's house until the time of marriage, when the bridegroom came after her.
This custom is referred to in Deuteronomy 20:7. Meanwhile communication between her and the bridegroom was kept up by means of the
"friend of the bridegroom." (See note on John 3:29.)
