The Nightmare of Betrayal
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
It’s the most wonderful time of the year…or so the song says.
Disconnected Reality
Disconnected Reality
Your mileage may vary, but for many people, it just isn’t the most wonderful time of the year. Pain and tragedy are ubiquitous in our fallen world. The notion that the whole world is full of love, joy, peace, prosperity, and family (which is definitely not true) amplifies the disconnect for those who are hurting.
If everyone is experiencing love but I am not, than I am alone in my heartache
If everyone is experiencing joy but I am not, than I am alone in my misery
If everyone is experiencing peace but I am not, than I am alone in my turmoil
If everyone is experiencing prosperity but I am not, than I am alone in my need
If everyone is experiencing family but I am not, than I am just alone
The disconnect between the perceived norms of the Christmas season and the actual experience in Christmas season is our source of anguish often layered on top of whatever else is going on in our lives.
Perceived reality is the real problem. Love, joy, peace, prosperity, and family are ideals that few of us possess the way we would like. Do—or would—they make Christmas optimal? Sure. Does anyone have them all? Unlikely. We need to be clear that they are an ideal, not a reality. Then, we need to figure out what Christmas here in reality will look like for us.
Distorted Understanding
Distorted Understanding
Not only does perceived reality create a disconnect in our observance of Christmas, it creates a distortion in our understanding of the biblical texts in which the “Christmas story” is found. The soft glow of dream-like wonder cannot be found in the experiences painted by the Bible’s authors. When we really read and think about what is written, the experience is far more Tim Burton than it is Tiny Tim!
The more clearly we see the Bible’s accounts of the first Christmas, the more potent they become. We see man’s inhumanity of full display. And we see that God’s provision is more than enough to make up for our shortcomings.
Transition
Working in a roughly narrative order, the first familiar experience we find is betrayal.
Illumination
Joseph Was Betrayed by Mary
Joseph Was Betrayed by Mary
18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit.
Looking back and knowing the rest of the story, we realize that wasn’t the case. But Joseph did not, and could not, know that. As we continue reading we can appreciate both the depth of Joseph’s emotion and the depth of his character.
19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly. 20 But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.
Joseph Was Confronted By God
Joseph Was Confronted By God
Confront may seem like a harsh word, but it seems both definitive and accurate.
The verb "confront" primarily means to face or meet someone or something, often with hostile or challenging intent[1][2][3]. It can involve standing against an adversary or enemy, or opposing them directly[1][3]. The term can also refer to dealing with a problem that presents itself[2]. Etymologically, "confront" originates from the 16th century French word "confronter," derived from medieval Latin "confrontare," combining "con-" (with) and "frons" (face)[2][3]. In usage, one might confront an accuser, an enemy, or even a disaster with resolve[1][3][4].
[1] Merriam-Webster, I. (1996). In Merriam-Webster’s collegiate thesaurus. Merriam-Webster.
[2] Soanes, C., & Stevenson, A., eds. (2004). In Concise Oxford English dictionary (11th ed.). Oxford University Press.
[3] Merriam-Webster, I. (2003). In Merriam-Webster’s collegiate dictionary. (Eleventh ed.). Merriam-Webster, Inc.
[4] Thompson, J. (2017). Commands in the Bible Dataset Documentation. Faithlife.
20 But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. 21 And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”
God provided information Joseph needed
God provided information Joseph needed
Joseph’s sense of betrayal was partially inappropriate: Mary had not been unfaithful
Joseph’s sense of betrayal was partially appropriate: Mary was pregnant and the child was not his
God provided information we needed
God provided information we needed
22 So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: 23 “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.”
Joseph was comforted by family
Joseph was comforted by family
Note: we’ll see that this “family” was Joseph’s immediate family. We will see more conflict in extended families as we go.
He acted on the information he received
He acted on the information he received
We cannot get so stuck in our negative thoughts that we do not receive additional information.
He retrieved his wife
He retrieved his wife
Though Mary had been the source of his sense of betrayal (humanly speaking), she could—and would—become the source of comfort
He received a son
He received a son
If it were just an ordinary son (whatever that means), Joseph was still joined by someone whose nature is to look up to him.
6 Children’s children are the crown of old men,
And the glory of children is their father.
But Jesus was no ordinary son, He was the embodiment of faithfulness
11 Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war.
Conclusion
The betrayal that Joseph experienced was real. God’s love for Joseph—and for you—is equally real. God confronted Joseph’s thinking through His revelation and He comforted Joseph through two people.
There is the lesson we will see repeated: God loves us, unconditionally.
In our pain, He wants to confront our thinking with His revelation: the fact that our thinking is apt to be flawed is a given.
In our isolation, He sends us people to walk with us.
Application
Accept God’s help
Be God’s helper
