Normal People, like Mary and Joseph

The Christmas story is about people, normal people just like you and me. This week in the book Advent Journeys we will travel with Joseph and Mary the parents of Jesus.

This is my book Advent Journeys
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Many people want to make Mary something unusual something mystical someone godly who is beyond the reach of humanity. God does not do things like that. God chooses normal people who have the right to say yes or no. Mary fortunately said yes.

Jesus works in Joseph's Carpenter Shop
At the Church of Joseph in Nazareth

Sometimes God chooses good people. I really think this is the case with Mary and Joseph. They lived lives dedicated to God and they had a desire to serve him. As we look through the story of Mary and Joseph, we discover they are people who have a desire to please God, and they spend time in prayer.

A small farm outside of Nazareth

This is not always the case. There are times when God chooses people who are not so good ... as in the case of Jonah or Samson. God chose people who were on the border and maybe even on the side of rebelling against God. But God still used them, in spite of their objections. These men, because they were unwilling to follow God’s directions, were robbed of the joy of serving.
.   The fact that Mary and Joseph are normal is proven by the fact of their surprise. When Mary found out she was to be with child she wasn't joyful. She wasn't amused. She did not say “no,” but did express worry, because she did not know how, or why God would bring this about. She probably worried about what people would say and how it would affect her life. After discussing the situation with God, she said, “May your word to me be fulfilled.”

Supposedly Mary's parent's home
Church of the Annunciation, Nazareth

When Joseph heard the news he wanted to privately put Mary away because he was embarrassed. He knew he had not done anything to bring about the pregnancy. An angel came to Joseph, and spoke to him in a dream about what would happen. Joseph believed the Angel, and obediently followed God’s plan.

Joseph and Jesus

In both cases the angel came to them and convinced them of the sincerity of God's task for them to do. The angel let them know the task would not be easy, but both Joseph and Mary were obedient and willing.
.   In the story we see trials come immediately. A tax collector comes to Joseph when Mary is great with Child. He tells them they're called to go to Bethlehem and pay their taxes. Travel would not be anything easy because it would take almost a week to travel to Bethlehem. A great mountain range stood along the journey. You can read more about the travels of Joseph and Mary. Have you ever wondered what their trip was like?? You can read about it in the book Advent Journeys.

Nazareth Today

Trials did not end with the birth of Jesus but they continued for King Herod came after the child with a vengeance. Mary and Joseph had to go into Egypt into a land of exile where their forefathers have been slaves for 430 years. They live there with the strange people for a number of years, until God cleared the way for them to come back to their own land.

Merry Christmas from Nazareth

This Christmas, think about it are you a superior individual? Are you super unique in a way that makes you stand out from the crowd. Or are you a normal person, like Mary and Joseph. if you're a normal person, the Christmas story is for you because we all need the salvation and the love that God brings

A Church in Nazareth

     This year, while in Israel, I had the chance to visit the Church of the Annunciation. This is the place where the Angel Gabriel said to Mary, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him 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 Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.” (Luke 1)

The house where Mary met the Angel

     The church is interesting, because it contains relics of Nazareth’s past. In the middle of the church there is an old house. This is the supposed home where Mary lived with her family, and the place where the Angel spoke to her. The church is inspiring. I have more pictures of the church on the KosherCopy facebook page. (While you are looking, please ‘like’ the page.)

The Church of the Annunciation is a busy place today

     The story of Mary is much like some of our what happens in our lives. We get busy, handle the important matters of life, and oftentimes miss out on the most important matters of life. Mary was involved in a relationship with the man she loved, and was planning a wedding with her family. I am sure she also had daily chores, and other things she did around Nazareth, the small town where she lived.

In the first century, it looked more like this farm

     Then the Angel came, and interrupted her life. The Angel told her God had great plans for her. Mary said, “How will this be?” She was from a small town, and was from a family she thought was of low status. There was no reason the God of heaven should notice her and nothing in her life to bring her to greatness. Yet God chose her.
     The Angel said, “You will conceive and give birth to a son.” Mary responded, “How will this be since I am a virgin?” And she realized her life was about to change. Normal children bring change to normal parents. For Mary, the change was greater. She was yet to consummate the marriage (and becoming pregnant could mean divorce, and/or death by stoning!) and the Angel was telling her she would have ‘the perfect child.’ Mary was not ready for this announcement.

A Christmas sign in Nazareth, Israel

     Often, we are not ready for the things that God wants to bring into our lives. We take life as it comes at us.
     But we should stop. Every day we need to take time off, and spend it with God.
     Especially at Christmas, which is why I wrote the book Advent Journeys. I wanted to prevent life from consuming our family, so we could take in Christmas rather than Commercialmas or Crazimass.

The day of the month is on the outside, reading inside

     I hung a paper chain in our dining room to remind us to take time for God. I encourage you to do the same. (Instructions are on my website). Especially if you have small children (or even older children), take the time to celebrate the real Christmas.

Please visit my websiet

     Please take time to read my book, Advent Journeys, through Kindle Reader, free on Amazon Prime, have your local library order a copy, or order your own book. The readings will add meaning to your Christmas. And let me know what you think at KosherCopy@gmail.com