Deuteronomy 22:22 – 29 “If a man is found lying with another man’s wife, both the man who slept with her and the woman must die. You must purge the evil from Israel.
If there is a virgin pledged in marriage to a man, and another man encounters her in the city and sleeps with her, you must take both of them out to the gate of that city and stone them to death—the young woman because she did not cry out in the city, and the man because he has violated his neighbor’s wife. You must purge the evil from among you.
But if the man encounters a betrothed woman in the open country, and he overpowers her and lies with her, only the man who has done this must die. Do nothing to the young woman, because she has committed no sin worthy of death. This case is just like one in which a man attacks his neighbor and murders him. When he found her in the field, the betrothed woman cried out, but there was no one to save her.
If a man encounters a virgin who is not pledged in marriage, and he seizes her and lies with her, and they are discovered, the man who lay with her must pay the young woman’s father fifty shekels of silver, and she must become his wife because he has violated her. He must not divorce her as long as he lives.”
There were strong laws to protect virgins and their virginity. But at the same time, any virgin who turned up pregnant would be fortunate if she was not killed; at the very least, she would be closely questioned. These statutes serve as a reminder of the risks that Mary the mother of Jesus and Joseph took.
Luke 1:26 – 38 “In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin pledged in marriage to a man named Joseph, who was of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. The angel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you. ”
Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. So the angel told her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David, and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever. His kingdom will never end!”
“How can this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”
The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the Holy One to be born will be called the Son of God. Look, even Elizabeth your relative has conceived a son in her old age, and she who was called barren is in her sixth month. For no word from God will ever fail.”
“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May it happen to me according to your word.” Then the angel left her.”
Mary had a choice: She could have gone on and married Joseph without bearing the Messiah, or she could risk an unplanned pregnancy and death by stoning. Mary chose to say “yes” to God, and all mankind was blessed as a result. But what about Joseph? Traditionally, once a couple was betrothed, they were considered as good as married and they could have sex; however, they would become a laughingstock in the community. But then Joseph had his own angelic encounter.
Matthew 1:18 – 25 “This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged in marriage 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 was unwilling to disgrace her publicly, he resolved to divorce her quietly.
But after he had pondered these things, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to embrace Mary as your wife, for the One conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a Son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus,d because He will save His people from their sins.”
All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet:
“Behold, the virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call Him Immanuel (which means, “God with us”).
When Joseph woke up, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him, and embraced Mary as his wife. But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a Son. And he gave Him the name Jesus.”
Poor Mary and Joseph! Instead of a lovely wedding with feasting and guests, they began married life quietly and under a cloud of shame and derision. The town gossips in Nazareth had a field day. The priests frowned every time Joseph went to the temple. And then the Romans announced a census, demanding that everyone return to their familial home town. After a harrowing journey, Mary had to deliver in a stable with manure and straw and with only Joseph to help her. Had Mary stayed home, she could have delivered in a nice clean room with neighbor women to help her. But Jesus had to be born in Bethlehem to fulfill prophecy.
That stable was the safest place for a heavenly king. King Herod was paranoid and willing to kill anyone who threatened his power. Had Mary and Joseph been in an inn, somebody would have informed Herod. As it was, with only shepherds as guests, everyone was safe. The poor people knew better than to trust Herod!
APPLICATION: This year has been a year of loss for many of us. My husband and I lost my beloved stepmother in January. Our hospital chaplain lost his fourteen year old son by drowning. In August we lost my brother – in – law, and in November we lost one of my brothers. Along the way, we have also lost some close friends. But it is comforting to know that the first Christmas was dangerous and yet marvelous. This Christmas we pray for anyone who has lost a loved one and who is grieving. Jesus was born as a man, lived as a sinless man, and died a shameful death as a blood sacrifice for the sins of the world. Jesus was the ultimate Christmas Gift. But as with any gift, we can accept or reject it. This Christmas, accept Jesus, God’s greatest gift.
PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us so much that You sent Jesus, Your Son. Lord, we confess that we are mired in our sin and that nothing we can do will pay for our sins. Now we accept Your gift of eternal life that Jesus has bought for us. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.
Burunche's Blog 
December 25, 2021 at 7:21 pm
hope next year is better for you, it is hard to remember abundance of life is the combination of highs and lows. Good message, i will share with the people who were asking me about this. Thank you