This passage comes from the end of the Gospel of Matthew. It is a moment where the risen Jesus is about to give "The Great Commission" to go and make disciples. It is recorded that "When they saw Him, they worshiped him;" with a semicolon. A pause is written in the passage. After the semicolon the verse goes on to acknowledge "but some of them doubted."
A semicolon indicates a pause. The risen Jesus was standing in front of the disciples. They saw him taken, beaten, nailed to a cross, and they saw him die. How does that relate to this Advent season?
"When they saw him, they worshiped him;" -Matthew 28:17a
For some, it was an instant response. The simple saw him and were propelled to worship Him. Oh, what a beautiful image that creates.
Do we have that same feeling about the Messiah in the Manger? Do we recognize Him as the promised One? Do we pause to take it all in?
" Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel." -Isaiah 7:14
Isaiah wrote the prophecy so many years before Jesus was born. Yet, it happened.
Mary said, "Let it be as you have said." and she was pregnant. Joseph did not choose to have her stoned, nor did he quietly divorce her (as the law allowed). He knew Mary. She had not been unfaithful to their betrothal. She chose to say "Yes" to God's plan for her and the man who would help her raise the long awaited Messiah.
Surely, she paused. She took it all in. "She pondered these things in her heart."
Today, I am grateful for semicolon appointments.
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