There's Something about Joseph

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December 24, 2006, 6:00 pm - Matthew 1:18-25

Open It

  1. What are the tabloid headlines this week?

  2. Why is our society so drawn to gossip and scandal?

  3. How do people typically react when facing embarrassing situations?

Explore It

  1. What happened to Mary while she and Joseph were engaged? (1:18)

  2. What do you think Joseph initially thought upon hearing this news about his bride-to-be? (1:18-19)

  3. What positive character qualities did Joseph possess? (1:19)

  4. How did Joseph plan to handle this delicate situation? (1:19)

  5. How was Joseph's ancestry significant? (1:20)

  6. Why did Joseph change his plans to divorce Mary? (1:20)

  7. If Joseph wasn't the actual father of Christ, who was? (1:18, 20)

  8. What did the angel command Joseph to name the child and why? (1:21)

  9. What significant mission in life would Mary's child have? (1:21)

  10. Why is Mary's virginal conception of Christ significant? (1:22-23)

  11. What does Immanuel mean? (1:23)

  12. How did Joseph respond to the angelic message? (1:24)

Get It

  1. How might you have responded in Mary's situation?

  2. What would have been your reaction had you been in Joseph's situation?

  3. How do you think a typical church might have handled Mary's pre-marriage pregnancy?

  4. How do you imagine the "grapevine" treated the Mary-Joseph situation?

  5. How does it feel to be the victim of unsubstantiated rumors and gossip?

  6. How does it feel to know that you are innocent and yet have people attacking your character and whispering behind your back?

  7. How does our desire for approval or acceptance keep us from doing the right thing?

Apply It

  1. What difficult, hard-to-swallow command of God do you need to obey today?

  2. How will you respond the next time someone begins to tell you a juicy bit of gossip?

Notes

Matthew 1:18-25: There were three steps in a Jewish marriage. First, the two families agreed to the union. Second, a public announcement was made. At this point, the couple was "pledged." This was similar to engagement today except that their relationship could be broken only through death or divorce (even though sexual relations were not yet permitted). Third, the couple was married and began living together. Because Mary and Joseph were engaged, Mary's apparent unfaithfulness carried a severe social stigma. According to Jewish civil law, Joseph had a right to divorce her, and the Jewish authorities could have had her stoned to death (Deut. 22:23-24).

1:18 Why is the virgin birth important to the Christian faith? Jesus Christ, God's Son, had to be free from the sinful nature passed on to all other human beings by Adam. Because Jesus was born of a woman, he was a human being; but as the Son of God, Jesus was born without any trace of human sin. Jesus is both fully human and fully divine.

Because Jesus lived as a man, we know that he fully understands our experiences and struggles (Hebrews 4:15-16). Because he is God, he has the power and authority to deliver us from sin (Col. 2:13-15). We can tell Jesus all our thoughts, feelings, and needs. He has been where we are now, and he has the ability to help.

1:18-25 Joseph was faced with a difficult choice after discovering that Mary was pregnant. Although he knew that taking Mary as his wife could be humiliating, Joseph chose to obey the angel's command to marry her. His action revealed four admirable qualities: (1) righteousness (Matthew 1:19), (2) discretion and sensitivity (Matthew 1:19), (3) responsiveness to God (Matthew 1:24), and (4) self-discipline (Matthew 1:25).

Matthew 1:19: Perhaps Joseph thought he had only two options: divorce Mary quietly, or have her stoned. But God had a third option-marry her (Matthew 1:20-23). In view of the circumstances, this had not occurred to Joseph. But God often shows us that there are more options available than we think. Although Joseph seemed to be doing the right thing by breaking the engagement, only God's guidance helped him make the best decision. When our decisions affect the lives of others, we must always seek God's wisdom.

Matthew 1:20-23: The conception and birth of Jesus Christ are supernatural events beyond human logic or reasoning. Because of this, God sent angels to help certain people understand the significance of what was happening (see Matthew 2:13, 19; Luke 1:11, 26; Luke 2:9).

Angels are spiritual beings created by God who help carry out his work on earth. They bring God's messages to people (Luke 1:26), protect God's people (Daniel 6:22), offer encouragement (Genesis 16:7ff), give guidance (Exodus 14:19), carry out punishment (2 Samuel 24:16), patrol the earth (Zech. 1:9-14), and fight the forces of evil (2 Kings 6:16-18; Rev. 20:1-2). There are both good and bad angels (Rev. 12:7), but because bad angels are allied with the devil, or Satan, they have considerably less power and authority than good angels. Eventually the main role of angels will be to offer continuous praise to God (Rev. 7:11-12).

1:20-23 The angel declared to Joseph that Mary's child was conceived by the Holy Spirit and would be a son. This reveals an important truth about Jesus-he is both God and human. The infinite, unlimited God took on the limitations of humanity so he could live and die for the salvation of all who would believe in him.

1:21 Jesus means "the LORD saves." Jesus came to earth to save us because we can't save ourselves from sin and its consequences. No matter how good we are, we can't eliminate the sinful nature present in all of us. Only Jesus can do that. Jesus didn't come to help people save themselves; he came to be their Savior from the power and penalty of sin. Thank Christ for his death on the cross for your sin, and then ask him to take control of your life. Your new life begins at that moment.

1:23 Jesus was to be called Immanuel ("God with us"), as predicted by Isaiah the prophet (Isaiah 7:14). Jesus was God in the flesh; thus God was literally among us, "with us." Through the Holy Spirit, Christ is present today in the life of every believer. Perhaps not even Isaiah understood how far-reaching the meaning of "Immanuel" would be.

Matthew 1:24: Joseph changed his plans quickly after learning that Mary had not been unfaithful to him (Matthew 1:19). He obeyed God and proceeded with the marriage plans. Although others may have disapproved of his decision, Joseph went ahead with what he knew was right. Sometimes we avoid doing what is right because of what others might think. Like Joseph, we must choose to obey God rather than seek the approval of others.

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