A Divine Disruption

I remember a message I used to hear as a child of the 80’s. My television show would be interrupted by some annoying squawking sounds followed by this statement:

This has been a test of the emergency broadcast system. If this had been an actual emergency, you would have been instructed where to tune in your area for news and official information.

These messages came due to a government program that existed from 1963 to 1997. The intent was to have a way for the President to directly address citizens in case of war. It was never used for that specific purpose, but it was used thousands of times for other types of emergencies (weather, for example). The idea was simple: the government has the responsibility of interrupting whatever we are watching or listening to if doing so may save lives.

The Christmas season reminds me of an emergency message of sorts that was sent to Joseph, the earthly father of Jesus. He received a word that was much more convincing than anything that ever came to me through television or radio airwaves. It was a divine mandate sent through a heavenly messenger.

Matthew’s Gospel gives us this account:

Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”  All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:

 “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
    and they shall call his name Immanuel”

(which means, God with us). When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.

Matthew 1:18-25

Courtship and marriage didn’t happen back then the same way they do now. Mary was probably a teenager when her family set out to find her a suitable husband. Joseph was probably a few years older so that he could be a little more financially established. Keep in mind that you did well to live into your 50’s or 60’s back then, so there wasn’t much time to waste.

Their families arranged this marriage for them. In other words, Mary and Joseph probably had little say in the matter and simply trusted their parents.

Joseph and Mary would have made a legal contract before witnesses. Money may have been exchanged between families. This was the beginning of the betrothal period we see mentioned in Matthew’s Gospel. They were not yet allowed to live together—the wedding ceremony and subsequent cohabitation usually came about a year later. But unlike modern-day engagements, they were legally bound to each other. The only way their relationship could end was through a legal process of divorce.

It was in this context that Joseph discovered Mary was pregnant. He concluded that she had been unfaithful and betrayed her contract. He figured his marriage was over before it started.

Joseph had two options:

The first would be a public divorce. This would have exposed Mary to public shame and even the possibility of capital punishment (the Old Testament penalty for adultery).

His second option was a private divorce. That would mean just making a writ of divorce in front of a couple of witnesses.

Joseph was a “just man” and chose to “divorce her quietly” (vs. 18). It was the most merciful and honorable decision he could have made. But it was the wrong decision. Joseph’s plan would have been disastrous if he had followed through.

God intervened and interrupted Joseph’s well intentioned plan. He sent an angel to Joseph in a dream with new instructions. Joseph obeyed and became the earthly father of Jesus Christ—an honor that’s hard for us to fathom.

Bob Hall, one of my seminary professors, read this story years ago in a class. He made a point that went something like this: “Joseph’s intentions were good, but he was about to make the wrong decision. Sometimes we simply have to make the wisest decision we can, then trust God to show us if we are wrong.”

I can’t tell you how encouraging that insight has been for me over the years. It’s taken away my fear of somehow missing God’s will for my life.

I want to be clear about something: I am not talking about living disobediently then expecting the Lord to intervene or send a “sign.” I am speaking of times when I have prayed, read the Bible, sought godly wisdom, but still needed the Lord to intervene. I’ve never had an angelic vision, but I have seen the Lord move in unmistakable (and surprising) ways to reveal His will to me.

I still have those times when I’m not 100% sure I’m making the correct move. Life decisions are much weightier now that I have a family to care for. But I think about God’s work in Joseph’s life and I am encouraged. My prayer goes something like this:

“Lord, I believe this is the right decision. But I ask you to intervene and show me if there’s something I’m missing. My life is Yours, and I am open to divine disruptions.”

Yahweh has Remembered

Luke’s Gospel begins with an the announcement of John the Baptist’s birth. John, of course, was the messenger sent by God to prepare the world for the arrival of Jesus.

Luke introduces us to Zechariah, an aged priest. He is married to Elizabeth, who came from a family of priests. They had spent their lives serving God faithfully through a very dark time in Israel’s history. They were blessed, but their neighbors probably thought otherwise: Zechariah and Elizabeth had no children. There was a painful stigma attached to those who were barren/infertile in those days. Their friends and family probably assumed they had failed to receive God’s blessings due to some secret sin. But Luke describes them as “righteous” and “blameless” (Luke 1:6).

Zechariah was granted a unique opportunity in his old age: he was chosen by lot to burn incense at the altar. He would go to the Holy Place within the temple. He would get to stand at the veil of the Most Holy Place and keep the incense burning. He would smell the fragrant smoke, which represented the prayers of God’s people.

It was here, at this holy moment and place, that Zechariah got more of a divine encounter than he had bargained for. He received a personal visit from Gabriel. He was understandably afraid, but Gabriel had some incredibly good news: Zechariah and Elizabeth would have a child. The boy would be named John, and he would be a prophet like no other. John the Baptist would prepare the way for Jesus Christ Himself.

I’ve been thinking about one particular detail of Luke’s account for the past few days:

But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.”

-Luke 1:13

“Your prayer has been heard.”

Based on Zechariah’s response (vs. 18), he had not prayed for a child in a long time. I wonder just how long it had been.

I imagine it went something like this:

Zechariah and his wife married when they were young (it was common for women to be engaged by the time they were 15 in the ancient world). They thought they would be changing diapers within their first year or two of marriage. But those first years passed by with no sign of new life. Tearful prayers were lifted to heaven, but to no avail (or so it seemed at the time). More years went by, then decades. Zechariah’s prayers for a child eventually ceased as time and age suffocated all hope. He and Elizabeth were advanced in years, and they would have no heir to receive their rich spiritual heritage.

Zechariah had long since forgotten his prayers for a child by the time Gabriel showed up.

But God had not.

God would answer Zechariah’s prayer in a time and in a way that only He could. Zechariah and Elizabeth were graciously included in His story of redemption.

Zechariah’s name means “Yahweh has remembered.”

God remembers. God remembers our prayers–even those we have forgotten. Isn’t He amazing?

Grace for your Worst Moment

I remember watching a show called ABC’s Wide World of Sports when I was growing up. The introduction to the show included this line: “the thrill of victory, the agony of defeat.” A ski jumper would crash as a demonstration of the later statement.

I have since learned the skier’s name is Vinko Bogataj. He is a Yugoslavian painter who participated in a world ski championship in 1970. He was 22 at the time of the incident. He lost his balance as he approached the launching point, falling off the side and into a retaining fence. The accident sent him to the hospital with a mild concussion and a broken ankle.

A producer for ABC interviewed Bogataj in 1980 for a special anniversary edition of the show. “When we told him he’s been on the program ever since 1970,” said the producer, “he couldn’t believe it. He had been appearing on Television 130 times a year.”

Bogataj has apparently gone on to live a good life. He married, raised two daughters, and became an award-winning painter. He even enjoyed a certain celebrity status from the accident (he came to America a few times for guest appearances). He is now in his 70’s. Regardless, he is most famous for what was probably the worst few seconds of his life.

Reading Bogataj’s story makes me thankful that my worst moments were not captured on video (good thing I grew up in a world without ubiquitous cell phone cameras).

I suppose Vinko Bogataj’s accident is already fading from our collective consciousness (Wide World of Sports was discontinued in 1997). One of Jesus’ followers, however, had his worst moment recorded in the Gospels for all the world to read:

Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. And a servant girl came up to him and said, “You also were with Jesus the Galilean.” But he denied it before them all, saying, “I do not know what you mean.” And when he went out to the entrance, another servant girl saw him, and she said to the bystanders, “This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.” And again he denied it with an oath: “I do not know the man.” After a little while the bystanders came up and said to Peter, “Certainly you too are one of them, for your accent betrays you.” Then he began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear, “I do not know the man.” And immediately the rooster crowed. And Peter remembered the saying of Jesus, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly.

–Matthew 26:69-75

Peter and the other disciples had been warned. Jesus, in fact, told him that the enemy would shake all of the disciples to their core (Luke 22:31-34) and that they would scatter (Matthew 26:31).

But Peter stubbornly insisted that he would stand strong, even if the others did not. He considered his own self-assessment to be more accurate than the words of the Lord. I’ve repeated this warning to my congregation:

It’s a dangerous thing to overestimate your strength.
It’s a dangerous thing to underestimate your weakness; your ability to fall into sin.

Peter was capable of doing something worse than he ever imagined. He claimed he didn’t know Jesus, and each denial became more emphatic (he essentially called God as his witness while lying). This man who had walked with Jesus for three years did not have the strength to answer a slave girl and some random bystanders.

The sound of the rooster made Peter aware of his failure: he had denied the Lord three times!

This is one of the many times I’m grateful for the truthfulness of the Scriptures. The lives of the people God uses are more complicated than highlight reels of victories. They failed God, just like we do.

I’m even more grateful when I read the Gospel accounts of Peter’s restoration. Peter would preach boldly at Pentecost and became a pillar the church. According to Christian tradition, Peter was martyred by crucifixion. He insisted on being hung upside-down, saying he was unworthy to die in the same manner as the Lord.

God’s grace is greater than your worst failure.

The Anointing of Jesus: an opportunity seized

Matthew records one of the final meals of Jesus’ earthly life:

Meanwhile, Jesus was in Bethany at the home of Simon, a man who had previously had leprosy. While he was eating, a woman came in with a beautiful alabaster jar of expensive perfume and poured it over his head.

Matthew 26:6-7

A woman we know as Mary of Bethany lavished Jesus with a gift. This gift was extravagant in more than one way:

It was extravagant in value: John’s Gospel tells us this the perfume was pure nard. This was a costly ingredient that came from India. Mark’s gospel tells us it was worth 300 denarii–imagine giving or receiving a gift that was worth a whole year’s salary. This likely the most valuable item Mary had ever owned.

It was extravagant in sacrifice: The flask was made of alabaster, a semi-transparent product from Egypt. This material, resembling marble, made the best containers for preserving fragrances. The jar/flask was sealed to prevent evaporation, then the neck of the container would be broken in order to apply the contents. Once used it would be completely spent, never to be reused again.

It was extravagant in amount: It wasn’t unusual to put a few drops of oil or fragrance on dinner guests in the ancient world. But this was a complete anointing. The contents of the container were emptied on the Lord. Matthew mentions his head; John mentions His feet (both accounts are true–note that Jesus mentions his “body” in verse 12).

Tragically, the disciples failed to see the beauty in this moment:

The disciples were indignant when they saw this. “What a waste!” they said. “It could have been sold for a high price and the money given to the poor.”

But Jesus, aware of this, replied, “Why criticize this woman for doing such a good thing to me? You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me. She has poured this perfume on me to prepare my body for burial.”

Matthew 26:8-12

Jesus was not instructing them (or us) to neglect the poor. But He praised Mary for choosing that which was of supreme importance: He would not be with them much longer.

We don’t know exactly how much Mary understood about Jesus’ impending death. Clearly she knew this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to bless Him.

We would do well to understand this truth about our spiritual lives: some opportunities, when not seized, are lost forever.

I have lost count of the number of times I’ve heard someone express regret that he did not commit to the Lord in his youth. Time and energy that could have gone to Kingdom work were wasted on that which is all too fleeting. God graciously gives us second chances, of course, but He does not replace wasted time. Mary understood this.

This story ends with an incredible promise:

I tell you the truth, wherever the Good News is preached throughout the world, this woman’s deed will be remembered and discussed.

Matthew 26:13

Jesus’ prediction came true: three of the four Gospels record Mary’s act. Kings and kingdoms have been forgotten over the course of two thousand years, but this beautiful gesture still speaks to all of us who have heard the gospel. No service to the King goes unnoticed!

Lord, I pray that I never miss another opportunity to bless You and build Your kingdom.