THE EARLY YEARS

JOSEPH'S NIGHTMARES AND DREAMS

Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.

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  
(Lk. 1:56; Mt. 1:18-21).

So much of the story of Jesus, especially his early years, remains a mystery.  We can only wonder and wait with eager 
expectation to hear the rest of the story—as Paul Harvey would say.  But a few details are given and we can fill in some of 
the blanks with a fair degree of certainty.

Elizabeth had been in her sixth month of pregnancy when the angel Gabriel appeared to Mary.  Needing the strength and 
assurance of her older cousin, Mary quickly left Nazareth for the Judean hills.  I wonder how much Mary had revealed to 
her fiancé, Joseph, before she left.  Had she told him of the angel's visit?  Had she explained why she was going to 
Judea?  Did she dare break the news to her betrothed of her upcoming pregnancy by the third member of the Godhead 
(that would have raised some eyebrows and brought some chuckles)?

I suspect Joseph was left in the dark.  Mary had to deal with her own questions and struggles before worrying about 
Joseph's.

The Bible says that Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months—three months of conversations with her cousin 
because Zechariah was mute.  She was likely there long enough to witness the birth of John.  She was likely there when 
the family gathered to circumcise and name the child.  She was likely there when Zechariah's tongue was loosed and he 
prophesied about his first-born son.  She was likely there long enough to begin showing (i.e., the sign of being pregnant) 
herself.

Now it was time to return to Nazareth and face the music.  The trip back to Nazareth must have been horrible.  How would 
she tell Joseph?  Would the weight she had gained solve that problem?  Would he believe her story?  Would she be 
stoned for being "unfaithful" and for having committed blasphemy for "blaming" God for her pregnancy?  Unfortunately, 
there are far more questions than answers.

The look in Joseph's eyes must have broken Mary's heart.  She knew that deep down he thought she had been unfaithful.  
Had she met this Judean lover on one of the family's Passover trips?  Had she planned her rendezvous during the last 
Feast of Booth's?  Now Joseph understood why she had made that impulsive trip to Judea.

What a NIGHTMARE!  The only question that remained was: What was he supposed to do now?

Being a good man, Joseph decided to divorce Mary quietly (if you can have a quiet divorce in a small Jewish community).  
He would just start over; find someone else.  Sure, all those months—perhaps years—of anticipation and excitement at 
the prospect of marrying Mary had been wasted.  Yes, his next fiancé would only be a "runner-up."  No one could 
compare to Mary's sweetness and tenderness (how had he missed her treacherous side?).  But what else could Joseph 
do?

Still, somehow, for some reason, he had that nagging feeling that her story might be true.  No one would make up a story 
that ridiculous.  On the other hand, Pregnant by God?, only a crazy person would believe such a claim.

What a nightmare!  Then Joseph went to bed and had a dream.  

And you thought your walk with God was complicated!

See you next week!