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December 2005, Page 1.
Index of articles:
by subject,
by date.
In this issue:
(December 2005)
Joseph,
Advent candles,
PC nonsense.
Joseph
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Joseph, what ‘ you goin’ t' do 'bout Mary,
Joseph, here's an angel come to tell you
Joseph, he's the Holy Spirit's child.
Joseph, take the baby, do the favour
Words copyright © John Hartley 2003.
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The Christmas story is full of challenges to us about our response to Jesus. Here’s one which struck me ...
Joseph, who is a god-fearing man of his time, discovers that his bride-to-be Mary is expecting, and he knows he’s not the father. The Jewish Law compels him to break off the engagement, but he has the choice of making a big fuss and getting compensation, or doing it quietly for the sake of not humiliating Mary. Which would you choose?
He makes his decision (to do it quietly), and then has a dream. Something in the dream shows him that it’s more than just an ordinary dream. “Don’t be afraid to take Mary as your wife,” says the angel in his vision, “for it’s the Holy Spirit’s child. You are to call him ‘Saver’ for he will save his people from their sins.”
I wonder if I would have followed the dream in this situation? I wonder if I’d have had the confidence that it really was God, and therefore that I could trust him to work it out right? I wonder if my compassion would have been strong enough for me to step outside the law for Mary?
Joseph is an example of faith - believing that God would deliver on what he had said. And God did: the child grew up to be the greatest goalkeeper in history - saving countless souls from being kicked into the net of hell. In fact, he can save you from an own goal, this Christmas!
John Hartley