Birth Narrative

Introduction:

Situate the Audience: Recap of Last week

General note/thought: The courage of obedience. It is found in trusting God, knowing what Jesus is doing, and living as if participating in the work of Jesus is better than the fear of rejection, embarrassment, or shame. The courage to obey God is grounded in knowing what Jesus is doing and trusting that partnering with that work far outweighs any rejection, embarrassment, or shame that may accompany it.

Read Matthew 1:18-25 “This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”). When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. But he did not consummate t…”

The Context:

The three “Events” of Jewish marriages

Use analogy: Abby and I got married before the ceremony. This would be the normal expectation, not the exception. The period would be 6 months to a year.

Working through the Text

Highlights:

Imagine the emotions of being pregnant out of wedlock. Imagine Joseph’s emotions.

Joseph’s “Righteousness” (faithfulness to the law in NIV). He is faithful to the law, he shows her grace (i.e. divorce her quietly instead of saving reputation and publically shaming her).

The dream: Joseph’s fears, the divine conception, the name of Jesus, the role of saving people from sins.

This only works if Joseph trusts the message and messenger and obediently follows through. OBEDIENCE.

The prophecy

Joseph does what the angel says.

He restrains sexual urges and does not consummate marriage.

What happens next? Shame? Fear of others? Yet, he is part of the formation of Jesus because his reverence and obedience to God outweighs his fear of others.

Dan: God is doing an amazing new thing and our response is to trust the messenger and the message.

Bring out the name of Jesus: what is Jesus saving the people from? Jesus is the name Joshua. Joshua saves the people from their physical enemies. The other hyperlink is Samson (Judges 13): The closest connection to the birth narrative to Jesus is Samson. Old parents. Unusual birth. Angel comes to announce the birth, talks about the boy to the wife and husband, says he will save/deliver, gives instruction. But more so by his death that his life. It would be very natural for the people to think of Samson! The expectation though was salvation in a politics/ military sense. Looking for someone to solve the problems outside of themselves instead of someone who would solve the problems inside of themselves.

Joseph’s obedience flows from his trust of the messenger and the message that Jesus will save his people from their sins.

Main point: Knowing and trusting that Jesus saves people from their sins is our foundation for obedience.

Knowing and Trusting: First because we know we have been saved when we trust in his saving work (talk about how he saves us. Atonement. Absorption of sin. Etc.)

Obedience: Second, because our obedience is how God carries out his will. Joseph was a key person in the formation of Jesus. God worked through Jesus’ parents to shape him. Similarly, God works through us to shape those around us. We know that Jesus offers saving from sins. We share that message with those around us!

This Week’s Practice:

Joseph is an example of humble obedience that flows from trust no matter what others think.

Follow Jesus into obedience in the midst of discomfort.

Lean into humility. Don’t defend yourself to try and save face. But rather, offer grace and hold your tongue.

Conclusion:

Life Group Questions:

Weekly Prayer: