In the story of Jesus’ miraculous conception and birth there are several of these, but one that is interesting is the betrothal of Joseph and Mary.
“And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.”[1] [emphasis mine]
“A Jewish
betrothal could be dissolved only by the man’s giving the woman a certificate of divorce. A
betrothal usually lasted for one year. During that year, the couple were known
as husband and wife, although they did not have the right to be united sexually. Betrothal was much more closely linked with marriage than our modern
engagement. But the actual marriage took place only when the bridegroom took
the bride to his home and the marriage was consummated
in the sexual union.”[2]
If you were an
investigative reporter regarding the incidents surrounding the relationship of Joseph
and Mary, including the virgin conception, you might understand that the key
that holds all this together is the Jewish betrothal. Mary was from
Nazareth. The betrothal was so binding that she travelled to Bethlehem with
Joseph as “his wife.” Without this betrothal Mary would never have gone to
Bethlehem and the prophecies of her baby to be born in Bethlehem would have
been false.
Another factor was that they were not legally
able to consummate their marriage until after the second step of the marriage
process: nissuin, or the formal home-taking ceremony. If the
marriage had been consummated, then there would be no reason to accept that
statement that the Holy Spirit conceived Jesus. “When his mother Mary had been
betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found to be with
child from the Holy Spirit.”[3]
Betrothal without consummation left plausible that it was indeed the Holy Spirit’s
work of conception that brought forth, not just a baby, but a baby having two
natures: fully human and fully divine[4].
Fears of immorality in Mary were assuaged when the Angel
told Joseph: “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.”[5]
The linchpin that holds this story cohesively and with
integrity was the quite simple practice of the Jewish people called betrothal.
Remove this tradition from the story and the account starts to unravel. But it
does not unravel. The betrothal adds credibility and plausibility to the
account. It is a piece of the puzzle that fits with precision enabling the
entire story to bring hope to all who believe.
[1] The Holy
Bible: English Standard Version (Lk 2:4–5). (2016). Crossway Bibles.
[2] Youngblood,
R. F., Bruce, F. F., & Harrison, R. K., Thomas Nelson Publishers, eds.
(1995). In Nelson’s new illustrated Bible dictionary.
Thomas Nelson, Inc.
[3] The Holy
Bible: English Standard Version (Mt 1:18). (2016). Crossway Bibles
[4] The
Chalcedonian Definition
“Therefore,
following the holy fathers, we all with one accord teach men to acknowledge one
and the same Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, at once complete in Godhead and
complete in manhood, truly God and truly man, consisting also of a reasonable
soul and body; of one substance with the Father as regards his Godhead, and at
the same time of one substance with us as regards his manhood; like us in all
respects, apart from sin; as regards his Godhead, begotten of the Father before
the ages, but yet as regards his manhood begotten, for us men and for our
salvation, of Mary the Virgin, the God-bearer; one and the same Christ, Son,
Lord, Only-begotten, recognized in two natures, without confusion, without
change, without division, without separation; the distinction of natures being
in no way annulled by the union, but rather the characteristics of each nature
being preserved and coming together to form one person and subsistence, not as
parted or separated into two persons, but one and the same Son and
Only-begotten God the Word, Lord Jesus Christ; even as the prophets from earliest
times spoke of him, and our Lord Jesus Christ himself taught us, and the creed
of the fathers has handed down to us.”
[5] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version
(Mt 1:20). (2016). Crossway Bibles.
