Max Lucado: March 2009 Archives

Beliefnet is pleased to present the first 7 days of devotionals from Max Lucado's "3:16: The Numbers of Hope" (Thomas Nelson, 2007). This is Day 3 of the week-long devotional. If you missed the previous days, stay subscribed to this feed to start over at the end of the week.

DAY 3--JOSEPH, CAUGHT IN THE MIDDLE

"When Joseph woke up, he did what the
angel of the Lord had commanded him
and took Mary home as his wife. But he had no
union with her until she gave birth to a son.
And he gave him the name Jesus."
--Matthew 1:24-25

Matthew describes Jesus's earthly father as a craftsman (Matt. 13:55). A small-town carpenter, he lives in Nazareth: a single-camel map dot on the edge of boredom. Is he the right choice? Doesn't God have better options? An eloquent priest from Jerusalem or a scholar from the Pharisees? Why Joseph? A major part of the answer lies in his reputation: he gives it up for Jesus. "Then Joseph [Mary's] husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly" (Matt. 1:19 NKJV).

With the phrase "a just man," Matthew recognizes the status of Joseph. Nazareth viewed him as we might view an elder, deacon, or Bible class teacher. Joseph likely took pride in his standing, but Mary's announcement jeopardized it. I'm pregnant.

Now what? His fiancée is blemished, tainted . . . he is righteous, godly. On one hand, he has the law. On the other, he has his love. The law says, stone her. Love says, forgive her. Joseph is caught in the middle.

Then comes the angel. Mary's growing belly gives no cause for concern, but reason to rejoice. "She carries the Son of God in her womb," the angel announces. But who would believe it?

A bead of sweat forms beneath Joseph's beard. He faces a dilemma. Make up a lie and preserve his place in the community, or tell the truth and kiss his reputation goodbye. He makes his decision. "Joseph . . . took to him his wife, and did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son" (Matt. 1:24-25 NKJV).

Joseph swapped his Torah studies for a pregnant fiancée and an illegitimate son and made the big decision of discipleship. He placed God's plan ahead of his own.

From 3:16: The Numbers of Hope, by Max Lucado (2007). Used with permission of Thomas Nelson Publishers, Inc.

Beliefnet is pleased to present the first 7 days of devotionals from Max Lucado's "3:16: The Numbers of Hope" (Thomas Nelson, 2007). This is Day 2 of the week-long devotional. If you missed the first day, stay subscribed to this feed to start over at the end of the week.

DAY 2--MARY CRADLES GOD

"And she gave birth to her firstborn, a son.
She wrapped him in cloths and
placed him in a manger, because
there was no room for them in the inn."
--Luke 2:7

God had entered the world as a baby.

Yet, were someone to chance upon the sheep stable on the outskirts of Bethlehem that morning, what a peculiar scene they would behold.

The stable stinks like all stables do. The ground is hard, the hay scarce. Cobwebs cling to the ceiling, and a mouse scurries across the dirt floor.

A more lowly place of birth could not exist.

Near the young mother sits the weary father. If anyone is dozing, he is. He can't remember the last time he sat down. And now that the excitement has subsided a bit, now that Mary and the baby are comfortable, he leans against the wall of the stable and feels his eyes grow heavy.
Wide awake is Mary. My, how young she looks! Her head rests on the soft leather of Joseph's saddle. The pain has been eclipsed by wonder. She looks into the face of the baby. Her son. Her Lord. His Majesty. At this point in history, the human being who best understands who God is and what he is doing is a teenage girl in a smelly stable. She can't take her eyes off him. Mary knows she is holding God. She remembers the words of the angel: "His kingdom will never end" (Luke 1:33).

He looks like anything but a king. His face is prunish and red. He is absolutely dependent upon Mary for his well-being.

Majesty in the midst of the mundane. She touches the face of the infant-God. How long was your journey!

--Max Lucado

From 3:16: The Numbers of Hope, by Max Lucado (2007). Used with permission of Thomas Nelson Publishers, Inc.