Jesus Christ
The Passion
A Messiah is Born
by Rhawn Joseph, Ph.D.
Mary and Joseph were well aware that their son, Jesus, was special and favored by God. However, as to when they became fully aware that he was the Messiah, is never made clear.
The Gospels of Luke (1) tell us that before Jesus was conceived, his mother Mary was a virgin engaged to Joseph. Much to her astonishment, the virgin bride-to-be was informed by an angel that she would give birth to "the Son of God."
"And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end."
"Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God."
And yet, by scripture and tradition, it could be said that every Jewish male was a son of god, and every women, his daughter. As said by Jesus: "Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods? If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken; Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world."
Thus, according to Jesus, we are all sons and daughters of God--a phrase misundestood not only by contemporary Biblical scholars, but by the priests and scribes of ancient Israel:
When Jesus called himself the Son of God, the Jews sought to stone him because they believed he was claiming to be God. Jesus protested this accusation: "You say I blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God?"
Those who comdemned him dismissed this explanation, saying "we stone thee...because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God" (John 10).
No, Jesus argued. He was not making himself God. There was a distinction, and referred to his Heavenly father, and agaom saying we are all gods and sons of God. His detractors were not impressed as they were well aware that Jesus often spoke in parables so that his true meaning might not be clearly understood.
Thus if Mary was told she was to give birth to the "Son of God," this could well apply to every Jewish mother.
Even so, according to the Gospels, not just Mary, but his earthly father, Joseph, were informed by the same angel, that Jesus had been annointed by God. For example, as retold in the Gospel of Matthew (1), when Joseph discovered that his wife-to-be was already pregnant: "The angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins."
As detailed in the Gospel of Luke (2:7), Mary and Joseph received yet another indication as to the greatness destined their son, soon after Jesus was born: "And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger."
"And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart."
Mary was confused and not yet convinced as to exactly what all this meant or what the future held in store for her first born son. Secretly, she ponders their meaning, in her heart.
"Mary and Joseph were again apprised of the future greateness of their son after baby Jesus had been circumcised. And "they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord...And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him. And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ. And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law. Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said, Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel. And Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of him. And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against." -Luke 2.
But were they convinced? Their son and his intentions, were in fact, still a mystery to them.
"Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the passover. And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast. And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and his mother knew not of it. But they, supposing him to have been in the company, went a day's journey; and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance. And when they found him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him. And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions. And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers. And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing. And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business? And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them. And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart." -Luke 2.
Mary may have had her secret hopes and doubts which she pondered in her heart; but Jesus, by the age of 12, with his astonishing intelligence, was already well aware he'd been chosen by God for a very special mission. Thus he says to his parents, "I must be about my Father's business," the Father, being God.
In addition to his amazing intelligence and understanding of scripture, we are also introduced to yet another unusual trait of the young Messiah which will become a characteristic: a tendency to wonder off alone, seeking solitude, and answers. Repeatedly Jesus seeks isolation, to commune with God, the Father, but without telling family, or his disciples were he is going and why.
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