The story of #Christmas is one of Scandal, Shame and Shock. 14 year-old Mary got pregnant under very suspicious circumstances. She had to endure dirty looks from the townspeople and a lifetime of being misunderstood. And the always-in-the-air possibility of being stoned to death. Wherever Joseph went in Nazareth, tongues wagged about “that chap,” the small town carpenter who settled for spoilt goods. The sting of sarcasm in their every word of criticism dripped one drop after another of ridicule. Now, that’s Shame.
And the shock of it all? God was behind all this. Yes, He was! And His eternal plan was now well in motion. 700 years earlier, the prophet Isaiah had foretold about this child of Scandal: “And His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Immanuel; God with us.” He has walked where we stumble. He trades our shame for glory. And when we are misunderstood, He understands.
October 27, 2019 at 4:46 pm
Haleluiah
October 27, 2019 at 4:48 pm
Be careful of American evangelism
October 27, 2019 at 4:48 pm
Thanks Jacob Zikusooka for this perspective. It’s quite real I believe. The source for Mary ‘s age is what am wondering.
October 27, 2019 at 4:48 pm
Scandal, shame and shock is exactly how American, populist evangelism would put it
October 27, 2019 at 4:49 pm
Jacob, you should start a theological school to teach us some of these things. Asante boss
October 27, 2019 at 4:49 pm
Jacob wasoma
October 27, 2019 at 4:49 pm
When we are misunderstood, He understands! Wooooow
October 27, 2019 at 4:50 pm
This is beautiful. Though I feel there is a missing part!
October 27, 2019 at 4:50 pm
Mary. Oh Mary
October 27, 2019 at 4:50 pm
14 year old was already set to get married?
October 27, 2019 at 4:51 pm
Nnalongo Hazel my grandma got married at 14
October 27, 2019 at 4:51 pm
…but she was innocent ?
October 27, 2019 at 4:51 pm
Jacob Zikusooka at that time. Hooooo
October 27, 2019 at 4:52 pm
But that age thing… do you have some authoritative reference to back it up?
October 27, 2019 at 4:52 pm
Thanks for the clarification.
October 27, 2019 at 4:53 pm
Jacob Zikusooka I don’t even know if you really have to defend the exact age and preciseness of any issue. I think the perspective and message is what is important and it is very clear. I mean, when Joseph considers a quiet divorce not to disgrace her publicly, that is enough to tell me that circumstances where not the usual, and definitely not in a nice way, so bad that someone would consider leaving, in a day and age when I am sure patience, forgiveness and things like that were in abundance.
October 27, 2019 at 4:53 pm
This beautiful story… never gets old for me…
Thanks for sharing, Jacob…
October 27, 2019 at 4:53 pm
Wow! Puts everything in perspective ?
October 27, 2019 at 4:55 pm
Anything unbiblical here, Peter? And am not equating unbiblical to “American evangelism.” That’s a misnomer;-)
October 27, 2019 at 4:55 pm
Peter, Bukedde does that too;-) So does the The Mirror in the UK. Get the drift? When I wrote, I tried to imagine I was afforded a front row seat in the theater where this story was being lived out. What I saw was exactly that: Scandal. Shame. Shock. Nothing sensational. In fact, please take time to read both Matthew and Luke’s accounts surrounding the birth of Jesus. And Isaiah’s prophecies. You will understand that this was all uncommon (as it would be now!) and the emotion that I describe it with is not hyperbolic language!
October 27, 2019 at 4:55 pm
Herbert, according to the gospel account (Matthew 1:18), it’s undisputed that Mary was betrothed to Joseph. Getting engaged In ancient Jewish culture was as good as being formally married. We see that even in this same Christmas account (Matthew 1:19); “Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly..” You had to get a divorce to annul the engagement! The usual age for marriage under Jewish law is 13 for boys and 12 for girls. Collating both the gospel account and the prevailing Jewish custom in the first century, Mary was 13 at the Annunciation – when angel Gabriel appeared to her. That would put her at 14 at the time of giving birth to Jesus. If you want to dig in some more, please find this book by Joachim Jeremias. It will be helpful: “Jerusalem in the time of Jesus,” specifically pages 154, 308, 313, 337 and 380.
October 27, 2019 at 4:56 pm
Please add that depth, Susan!
October 27, 2019 at 4:56 pm
Hazel, see my comment (re this) under replies to Peter above?
October 27, 2019 at 4:56 pm
Indeed Belinda, just don’t tell that to the zealous religious Nazarenes;-)
October 27, 2019 at 4:56 pm
Rabbi Matovu! See my comment in replies above. PS. You’d know that in the Jewish culture, girls became adults at 12 (Bat Mitzvah) while boys became men at 13 (Bar Mitzvah), not 31 as is our custom here;-)