Grace

When was the last time you saw someone blush? Like me, you may have to think about it – it’s not so common anymore.  There’s a real lack of shame today – that painful feeling of humiliation or distress brought on by the consciousness of wrong or foolish behavior. “Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: when His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit..” (Matthew 1:18). While a child conceived or born out-of-wedlock isn’t uncommon in these times, it was indescribably uncommon in Mary’s and Joseph’s. Even the perception of intimacy before marriage brought immense shame and disgrace to the woman and her family. Such an indiscretion was cause for stoning and banishment. We really can’t imagine how terrible it was for Mary and her family. “When he [Joseph] had considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, ‘Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child Who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.’” (Matthew 1:20-21). Right smack in the middle of shame and disgrace was Grace!  Amazing Grace!  Most likely, the shame followed Mary, Joseph and their families, but Grace would prevail. It would be Jesus Who would bear the shame of all mankind – yes, mine and yours – just a short distance from His hometown [Nazareth] and Grace would be on display on a cruel cross and an empty tomb. ‘Tis the Season to allow God’s Gracious Gift of Jesus to triumph over sin’s shameful rule in your heart.  Rejoice in Grace!