Luke 1:26-27 : A Virgin Betrothed to a Man
The Betrothal
Par Andy Dibb
The Betrothal
A Christmas Doctrinal Class by Rev. Andrew M.T. Dibb
Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary. (Luke 1:26-27)
So begins the wonderful story of the Lord's conception in the Gospel of Luke. The scene is familiar to each of us: Mary is at home, when suddenly she sees the angel Gabriel and hears his words of great joy:
"Rejoice, highly favoured one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!" (Luke 1:28)
An angel is a messenger of the Lord. In the Word angels came to bring wisdom and comfort, hope and the good news, the “euangellion” or Gospel, to those to whom the Lord wanted His presence revealed. This Gospel is the teaching that the Lord Jesus Christ was born into this world, that He made it possible for all people to be saved and brought into His kingdom. Thus the angel Gabriel came in excitement to Mary to inform her that she was the Lord’s choice as His natural mother.
When Mary saw the angel Gabriel, she didn't know that he was the human form of an entire society of angels. Nor did she know that his greatest love is to tell people about the Lord, especially that He would be born into the world to save the human race from spiritual bondage.
The scene of the angel Gabriel announcing to Mary that she would conceive and bear a son, and call His name Jesus, is one of the most poignant in the Word. Mary was a simple person, living in Galilee far away from the centre of worship at Jerusalem. She was neither highly educated nor socially well connected, except that she descended from Israel’s greatest king, David. There is a beautiful innocence in Mary’s simplicity. The last thing she expected in life was to see an angel. The image we have of Mary is of a demure young maiden, a virgin in every sense, for, as she said to the angel, 'I do not know a man'. Her state of life was that of a young woman about to embark on her married life to Joseph, but still living at home with her parents. The marriage had not yet been celebrated.
It is central to the Christmas story that Mary was betrothed to Joseph when the angel Gabriel appeared to her. This fact is mentioned in the lesson we read in the Gospel of Luke, where it is plainly stated that she was a 'virgin betrothed'. In Matthew we are again told that Mary was 'betrothed to Joseph'. This means that she had been promised as a wife to Joseph. In our culture, we would say that they were engaged to be married.
There are several good reasons why Mary should have been in this state when she conceived the Lord:
- In the Jewish Church of that time betrothal was considered marriage, although the marriage had not yet been consummated. This meant that the people around her considered Mary a woman, and it also meant that her mind was focusing on the upcoming marriage and future life as a wife and a mother.
- She was expected, during this period of betrothal, to remain in a state of order. She was not free to come into romantic contact with any other man, and she certainly was not permitted to have sexual intercourse with any man, including her husband to be.
The angel appeared to her in this state precisely for that reason - the child who was to be conceived needed to be conceived in a state of virginity, and there could be no question down the ages that Jesus was the son of an ordinary man. This is why Mary protested that she could not conceive because she 'had not known a man'.
There is a very good reason for this: the doctrines tell us that the human soul is transmitted as the living principle of the masculine seed. That soul, or internal human is passed from father to child, is an image of the father's own soul - although the life in it is from the Divine Itself. When a child is conceived, that human soul can receive life from the Lord, and, using the life in it, begins to draw from the mother the various substances needed to form the human body. When the child is born, he or she becomes an individual, drawing life from the Lord, and potential spiritual things from both mother and father, and the body from the mother. Thus there is a complete mixing of parents in the birth of a child.
When the angel Gabriel came to Mary, he announced the birth of the Lord. It was to be a miracle of all miracles, for according to prophecy a virgin would conceive and bear a son. He was conceived of the Holy Spirit. His soul was Divine, given to Him by the Father, or, put another way, the soul within Jesus was not limited and finite as our souls are, but infinite and eternal, and capable of overcoming the powers of hell and saving the human race.
Here's an excerpt from Swedenborg's work, Arcana Coelestia 1999: "But the Lord's Internal was Jehovah Himself, since He was conceived from Jehovah, who cannot be divided or become the relative of another, like a son who has been conceived from a human father. For unlike the human, the Divine is not capable of being divided but is and remains one and the same. To this Internal the Lord united the Human Essence. Moreover because the Lord's Internal was Jehovah it was not, like man's internal, a recipient form of life, but life itself. Through that union His Human Essence as well became life itself. Hence the Lord's frequent declaration that He is Life, as in John,
As the Father has Life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have Life in Himself. John 5:26."
Yet even a soul such as that, if it is to live and walk amongst the people of this earth, must be clothed in a body. The Lord always operates within the boundaries of the order of creation - and order dictates that a soul must be clothed with a material body.
At first the father’s soul is clothed with human elements, for it begins as a reproduction of the father’s own soul, then,
"during its descent, … the soul is enveloped by elements of a type that have to do with the father's natural love. This is the source from which hereditary evil springs." (Conjugial Love 245)
And so the Lord needed an orderly environment in which to be born. Mary was chosen as His mother because, according to the Lord's all-seeing wisdom, He saw that she would be willing to carry this child, and she would be able to nurture Him in such a way that He would grow up prepared for the great work ahead of Him.
Yet Mary had to be in a state of order herself. In ancient Israel, to bear a child meant that she had to be married, and yet to preserve the honesty of the conception and ensure that the soul was Divine, not human, she had to be in the state before actual physical union with Joseph had taken place - otherwise the Lord could have been Joseph's son. So she had to be betrothed, and no motive should be found as a basis for accusations against the Virgin Birth.
It was partly for this reason that when Joseph heard that she was carrying a child he decided to put her away. Effectively this meant he planned to divorce her. According to the law of Moses, a betrothed woman carrying a child had broken the rules. Ideally speaking, the man responsible should be put to death. Joseph had no idea who the man was, but assumed that there was one. He was, however, a kind man, and so decided not 'to make her a public example', but to put her away privately.
It was at this juncture that the angel Gabriel came to Joseph in a dream, and soothed his fears. 'The child she is carrying,' the angel said, 'is conceived by the Holy Spirit.' Now Joseph understood, and the state of betrothal could continue, and order could be maintained so that the Lord could be born into this world with the full appearance of two loving parents, bound together in marriage after an orderly betrothal.
We now need to expand our vision of the Lord's life in this world. The conception of the Lord was but the first step in his development. He had to be born and grow up. His mind and body had to develop as does our own. The home of Mary and Joseph was needed to provide a stable and orderly environment for Him where He could live and grow, undergoing not only physical and mental development, but also the very processes by which His Divine soul could become present within His natural mind.
In picking these two people to be his 'parents' in the natural world, the Lord was able to provide for the future as well. The Word does not tell us anything about the marriage relationship between Joseph and Mary. We know that Joseph was obedient to the angel when he was told to take Mary and the infant Lord down to Egypt to escape Herod's cruelty. We know that each year they travelled to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover. We know that had other children, whom likewise they loved and nurtured. But that is about all we know.
The book, Conjugial Love, by Emanuel Swedenborg, however, gives us some insights into the kind of orderly relationship they had. They begin in the concept of Betrothal, for betrothal is introductory to marriage. The kinds of preparation people make for their marriages determine a great deal the course their marriage will follow. The fact that Mary in her betrothed state had 'not known a man' indicates that she took the responsibilities of that state serious. Similarly, the fact that Joseph immediately knew that he was not the father of the child Mary carried indicates a similar seriousness about the state of betrothal. They were both innocent of any wrongdoing, and were obviously committed to building a life together based on the firm foundation of proper preparation.
Their betrothal prepared them for their future life together as man and wife, and, thus as the Lord's parents on earth. Betrothal is a preparation for marriage. It is a time when the minds and spirits of the two partners begin to grow together.
The teachings of the New Church tell us that true marriage, or conjugial love as it is often called, is a meeting and union of two minds. A true marriage is one in which the couple recognises the essential differences between masculinity and femininity, and rejoices in those differences without any attempt to dominate the other. In order for a couple to come into a true appreciation of each other, they need to put aside physical love to foster and nurture spiritual love. This is why Mary and Joseph lived apart during this stage of their relationship, and why they refrained from sexual activity, for in that way they made it possible for their minds to soar, and be united at the highest levels of idealism.
The book Conjugial Love tells us that in this state the mind of each partner is opened by his or her spiritual love. They are able to reach higher levels of love and commitment to each other as they foster the growth of mutual understanding unencumbered by physical things. The passage describing this development, then, goes on to describe how when a couple marry their love descends from the mind to the body. It is worth reflecting on the statement that
"It needs to be known that the quality of conjugial love as it comes down is determined by the height to which it climbs. If it reaches the heights it comes down chaste, but if it does not, it comes down as unchaste." (Conjugial Love 302).
With Mary and Joseph we can but only assume that their love reached its heights during their betrothal, and that their marriage was one of purity and chastity. Chastity in this sense means a marriage love between two people that has been cleansed of all impurities. In such a state the husband and wife enjoy the full pleasures of marriage, beginning on the spiritual level with a full meeting of minds, and descends into the body, where their love is consummated.
A marriage of this kind provides the most wonderful environment, for the love between the husband and wife provides a state of tranquillity and peace in which children can be reared. This is the kind of environment the Lord chose to be born into. He knew that during his life in this world He would have to face the most terrible of temptations. He knew that He would have to battle against hell continuously, and face the disbelief of the people around Him. His first thirty-three years were a preparation for this work lying before Him. And so He chose to be born to a couple who were in a state of order, who because of that order, were willing to receive Him into their lives, to nurture Him as if He was their own.
There is a message in this for us. Each one of us wants the Lord to be born into our own lives, and He is willing to come to us. "Behold,' He says, 'I stand at the door and knock'. Yet He can only enter into us to the degree that we bring our lives into order. Mary and Joseph clung to their betrothal - they committed themselves and stood fast. That is what the Lord wants us to do: to commit ourselves to Him, to live according to His Word in every detail of our lives, especially in our relationships with others, in our preparation for marriage, and in our marriages themselves. As we do, then He enters into us, establishes His presence there, and lifts us up to heaven.
AMEN
Lessons:
Luke 1
1
Since many have undertaken to set in order a narrative concerning those matters which have been fulfilled among us,
2
even as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word delivered them to us,
3
it seemed good to me also, having traced the course of all things accurately from the first, to write to you in order, most excellent Theophilus;
4
that you might know the certainty concerning the things in which you were instructed.
5
There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the priestly division of Abijah. He had a wife of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.
6
They were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord.
7
But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they both were well advanced in years.
8
Now it happened, while he executed the priest's office before God in the order of his division,
9
according to the custom of the priest's office, his lot was to enter into the temple of the Lord and burn incense.
10
The whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense.
11
An angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense.
12
Zacharias was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him.
13
But the angel said to him, "Don't be afraid, Zacharias, because your request has been heard, and your wife, Elizabeth, will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.
14
You will have joy and gladness; and many will rejoice at his birth.
15
For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and he will drink no wine nor strong drink. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb.
16
He will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord, their God.
17
He will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, 'to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,' and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to prepare a people prepared for the Lord."
18
Zacharias said to the angel, "How can I be sure of this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years."
19
The angel answered him, "I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God. I was sent to speak to you, and to bring you this good news.
20
Behold, you will be silent and not able to speak, until the day that these things will happen, because you didn't believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their proper time."
21
The people were waiting for Zacharias, and they marveled that he delayed in the temple.
22
When he came out, he could not speak to them, and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple. He continued making signs to them, and remained mute.
23
It happened, when the days of his service were fulfilled, he departed to his house.
24
After these days Elizabeth, his wife, conceived, and she hid herself five months, saying,
25
"Thus has the Lord done to me in the days in which he looked at me, to take away my reproach among men."
26
Now in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,
27
to a virgin pledged to be married to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary.
28
Having come in, the angel said to her, "Rejoice, you highly favored one! The Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women!"
29
But when she saw him, she was greatly troubled at the saying, and considered what kind of salutation this might be.
30
The angel said to her, "Don't be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
31
Behold, you will conceive in your womb, and bring forth a son, and will call his name 'Jesus.'
32
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,
33
and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever. There will be no end to his Kingdom."
34
Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, seeing I am a virgin?"
35
The angel answered her, "The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore also the holy one who is born from you will be called the Son of God.
36
Behold, Elizabeth, your relative, also has conceived a son in her old age; and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren.
37
For everything spoken by God is possible."
38
Mary said, "Behold, the handmaid of the Lord; be it to me according to your word." The angel departed from her.
39
Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Judah,
40
and entered into the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth.
41
It happened, when Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, that the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.
42
She called out with a loud voice, and said, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!
43
Why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
44
For behold, when the voice of your greeting came into my ears, the baby leaped in my womb for joy!
45
Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of the things which have been spoken to her from the Lord!"
46
Mary said, "My soul magnifies the Lord.
47
My spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior,
48
for he has looked at the humble state of his handmaid. For behold, from now on, all generations will call me blessed.
49
For he who is mighty has done great things for me. Holy is his name.
50
His mercy is for generations of generations on those who fear him.
51
He has shown strength with his arm. He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
52
He has put down princes from their thrones. And has exalted the lowly.
53
He has filled the hungry with good things. He has sent the rich away empty.
54
He has given help to Israel, his servant, that he might remember mercy,
55
As he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and his seed forever."
56
Mary stayed with her about three months, and then returned to her house.
57
Now the time that Elizabeth should give birth was fulfilled, and she brought forth a son.
58
Her neighbors and her relatives heard that the Lord had magnified his mercy towards her, and they rejoiced with her.
59
It happened on the eighth day, that they came to circumcise the child; and they would have called him Zacharias, after the name of the father.
60
His mother answered, "Not so; but he will be called John."
61
They said to her, "There is no one among your relatives who is called by this name."
62
They made signs to his father, what he would have him called.
63
He asked for a writing tablet, and wrote, "His name is John." They all marveled.
64
His mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue freed, and he spoke, blessing God.
65
Fear came on all who lived around them, and all these sayings were talked about throughout all the hill country of Judea.
66
All who heard them laid them up in their heart, saying, "What then will this child be?" The hand of the Lord was with him.
67
His father, Zacharias, was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying,
68
"Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, for he has visited and worked redemption for his people;
69
and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David
70
(as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets who have been from of old),
71
salvation from our enemies, and from the hand of all who hate us;
72
to show mercy towards our fathers, to remember his holy covenant,
73
the oath which he spoke to Abraham, our father,
74
to grant to us that we, being delivered out of the hand of our enemies, should serve him without fear,
75
In holiness and righteousness before him all the days of our life.
76
And you, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways,
77
to give knowledge of salvation to his people by the remission of their sins,
78
because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the dawn from on high will visit us,
79
to shine on those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death; to guide our feet into the way of peace."
80
The child was growing, and becoming strong in spirit, and was in the desert until the day of his public appearance to Israel.
