Focus: Found With Child

Text: Mt.1:18

"Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost."

Before her marriage to Joseph was consummated, and before there was any sexual intimacy between them, Mary the Virgin was already pregnant, and Matthew makes us understand that her pregnancy was not as a result of a sexual encounter with a man, but rather as a result of the overshadowing power of the Holy Spirit. Simply put, the Holy Spirit was solely responsible for Mary's pregnancy.

The word for 'child' in this context is 'gastēr' in the Greek, and it refers to a stomach, matrix, womb, or gourmand. She was found with belly or womb. Her stomach was protruding. The people discovered that a gestation period of 280 days had begun counting for Mary.

She was found with child. Her womb was already showing. What was only possible had she slept with a man, God still made it possible without the help of any man.

One lesson to learn from this is that the impossible happens when you come into contact with the Spirit of God.

What humans only get in a particular way, God can make you get in His own way. The way of God is the best way. God's way creates its own marvels. God can make the usual happen unusually.

Mary was found with a womb. A child is the proof of a fertile womb. By her protruding belly it became obvious that a baby was in her womb, and the Holy Spirit was responsible.

According to Luke 2:5, Mary was already experiencing a swelling inside of her. A baby was developing inside her body. The Greek word is 'enkoos.' By the time of the Roman Census, Mary was "being great with child." The word 'being' means that a child was growing inside her - a swelling was taking place in her belly. Her womb was shooting out.

Another lesson is that if you have truly encountered God, you cannot hide the impact of it.

The proof of divine encounter cannot be hidden. It doesn't take forever before the hidden comes out in the open.

If the Holy Spirit has met with you, and as a result, you have become impregnated, you can't hide it for long or forever. It is only a matter of time.

Ask Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea, and they will tell you that you cannot be a secret disciple of Christ forever (Jh.3:1-2; 7:50; Jh.19:38; Mt.27:57; Mk.15:43).

What transpired in Mary's private world became public news that spread far and near. You cannot hide what the Holy Spirit is doing in your life. People will always know. Those around you will notice divine changes in your life. People who come in contact with you will know that God "works in you both to will and do of his good pleasure." You carry within you the seed of the supernatural God, and men will soon find out for themselves that the Lord has met with you in private.

by Bishop Moses E. Peter