December 20: A Messy Miracle
Scripture
This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
— Matthew 1:18-21
God’s plan to redeem mankind was perfect, but it certainly wasn’t simple. Because sin had entered the world through a man, Adam, it had to be taken away through a man. This is why Jesus is called the “Second Adam.” The first Adam was created without sin but failed the test, plunging humanity into brokenness. The Second Adam, however, was born of a virgin and conceived by the Holy Spirit. This meant the sinful nature passed down from Adam was not part of His humanity. He would pass the test where Adam failed, becoming the perfect sacrifice to save His people from their sins.
God chose to enter the world through an ordinary young couple in a small town, and He did it in a way that nobody could have ever expected. Put yourself in Joseph’s shoes for a second. The woman you are engaged to says, “I’m pregnant, but it’s okay because it’s God’s baby.” Joseph was a righteous man, but he wasn’t stupid. If you ever wondered why the angel showed up, it’s because he had to. Joseph needed divine intervention to believe something so impossible.
The angel may have saved the day for Joseph, but the angel didn’t appear to the rest of the town. Nazareth was a tiny place—maybe 500 people—where everyone knew everyone’s business. In a village like that, an unwed pregnant teenager was a scandal. Mary faced the very real threat of becoming a social outcast, or worse, facing legal punishment including stoning. Even though Mary and Joseph were doing everything right, to the outside world, it looked like they had done everything wrong.
This was all part of the plan. God chose to bring salvation into the world through obedience that was quiet, costly, and misunderstood. Mary and Joseph did not get to explain themselves. They simply had to trust God and keep walking. And that is often what obedience looks like for us as well. Sometimes doing the right thing does not clear things up, it complicates them. You may find yourself misunderstood, questioned, or even judged while trying to be faithful. But the Christmas story reminds us that God is at work even when the path feels messy and unclear. He sees what others cannot. And when we choose to trust Him in those moments, we are placing our lives in the hands of the God whose very name reminds us of this unchanging truth, the Lord saves.
Reflection
1. Have you ever felt misunderstood or judged by others while you were trying to do the right thing?
2. How does seeing the “scandal” of the Christmas story change the way you view Mary and Joseph’s faith?
3. Is there a messy situation in your life right now where you need to trust that God still has a plan?
Prayer
Thank God for His perfect plan to save us. Ask for the courage to trust Him like Joseph did, even when you face misunderstanding or judgment from others. Pray that you would rest in the truth that He is the God who saves.