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New Release! Soaring Servants: Women in God's Service by Linda Sedrick Pearson is now available at PS Publishing.
Mother Hears the News
A young man runs to the mother of his friend and informs her that her son has been arrested. Fear tears her heart. She knows he is innocent, but being a woman she is not supposed to be in the courtroom. She runs as fast as her legs will carry her. Her feet entangle in the long skirts and she trips. She falls on her face. Her nose is bloodied and her body hurts. Ignoring the pain, she jumps up and continues her run.
The crowd is gathered and the mother cannot squeeze through. The crowd will not relent for her. Do they not know she is his mother? Can’t they see her heart is broken?
“My son, not yet!” she cries. “I am not ready. I need you still. Please don’t leave me, yet.”
All of a sudden the crowd begins to shout, “Crucify him!”
“No! Please! He is innocent! He is my son!” Mary cries.
Suddenly, she catches a glimpse of him. His body is torn and ragged, ripped and bleeding. She breaks down and the strength leaves her legs. She collapses in a heap. John, Salome, and Mary Magdalene surround her for protection, afraid the crowd will trample her. They help her up and escort her aside. They all weep in anguish.
They remember his words and know his time has come. Many of the things he said they did not comprehend before become clear and they know their precious Jesus is to die for the sins of the whole world.
Joseph – What a Great Man
Today I wonder about Joseph. This was a man who loved a woman so much that even when she became pregnant (not by Joseph), he stood on his faith and believed that she had conceived from God. Can you imagine? What a man he was. Here they were, the couple had just become engaged. They had no sexual relations.
Custom was that when a couple became engaged, the future bride had one year in which to visit and say goodbye to her family. Approximately six months into that year, Mary became pregnant by God through the Holy Spirit. There still was no sexual relations. The Holy Spirit implanted the Holy Seed – Jesus Christ – into her womb. I imagine that Mary was frightened. Afraid of what people would think of her. But, what a blessing to have been chosen by God to carry the child – God’s Child – inside of her so that He could be born part man and part God.
Joseph had every right to make Mary a public example because she had become pregnant – and not by him. And, I’m sure it did cross his mind. But, because of his great love for Mary and for God – Joseph believed Mary and the angel. Instead, they had a private wedding ceremony. From that day, Joseph did everything he could to protect this Child of God.
He also took it upon himself to train Jesus in hand crafts and taught him how to shape the wood into beautiful things. He trained him how to work with his hands and how to respect others. In other words, Joseph raised this Son as his own. He loved him as his own.
Not much is really said about Joseph after the birth. We can assume that he died before Jesus was crucified on the cross because Mary was there, but not Joseph. I’m sure that Joseph would have been there had he still be living. These thoughts this morning are to give reverence to a great man – Joseph – the earthly father who God chose and appointed to raise His Son on earth.
Thank you, God, for choosing such a great man to take care of our Savior on earth. Without such a Godly man for an earthly father, who knows what may have happened to Your Son and our Savior. Thank you, Father. Amen
