THE FULL PICTURE OF CHRISTMAS
Isaiah's Prophecy
Lesson # 3
THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE
Let’s admit it, we interact with things every day we’re clueless about, but we trust them anyway. Perhaps one of these applies to you:
- Many of us don’t understand how an internal combustion engine works, but we still trust our cars to get us around.
- You may not comprehend electricity with its ohms, amps, volts, and watts, but you still turn the lights on.
- The technology behind cell phones and Wi-Fi befuddles most of us, yet we still log on and send a text or an email.
I felt clueless in college. I did not even know what a “major” was, but I felt the pressure to figure out what I wanted to do for the next fifty years. I was clueless, but I asked God to show me what He was engineering for my life. I asked and I trusted.
Mary, the mother of Jesus, surely didn’t understand what was about to happen in her life, but she trusted. We see in her experience that, even without fully comprehending everything in God’s plan, we can trust and embrace what He wants us to do.
WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?
Luke 1:26-30
26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” 29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God.
Fear came upon Mary with the arrival of the angel Gabriel. Angels are God’s servants that in many cases deliver important messages. In fact the word “angel” means “messenger.” Gabriel is one of the few angels named in the Bible. Gabriel delivered messages to Daniel (see Dan. 8:16-26; 9:21-27) and Zechariah the priest (see Luke 1:11-20), but surely his greatest message was to Mary.
Gabriel’s initial message wasn’t complex, but it was confusing. “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” I’m sure most of us would be startled—even afraid—if an angel confronted us with such a message. Mary apparently was no exception, since Luke’s account reported, “was greatly troubled at his words.” But then Gabriel told her, “Do not be afraid, Mary.”
Obviously God had bestowed a special honor on Mary. Why else would He send an angel to tell her God was with her? For many of us, knowing God is present can be a comfort; while for others, the presence of God might cause them to tremble with fright. Mary, though, was troubled because she did not know why she was favored or blessed with the presence of God.
The reason Mary did not need to be afraid was because she had “found favor with God.” To find favor with God means to be “full of grace.” This phrase clearly portrays Mary as a recipient of God’s grace. Some have erroneously made Mary to be a dispenser of grace, though she was in need of it herself.
And thankfully, it can now be said of all who have accepted God by faith and have become His children that we also are full of grace. Paul used the same Greek word when he wrote that, because we are adopted into God’s family through Christ, we have received “his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves” (Eph. 1:6).
God’s gracious presence should dispel any fear. Fear wants to cripple us and have the last word in our lives, but God’s presence wins over fear every time. “For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline” (2 Tim. 1:7).
Luke 1:31-34
31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.” 34 “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”
Gabriel’s next words made it clear how God had favored Mary. She would give birth to “the Son of the Most High.” My dad was a professor. As a kid, I would go to the seminary’s gym and people noticed my resemblance to my father. It was an honor to be his son, but it didn’t get me a nicer towel, a free snack, or a better ball.
But Jesus’ relationship with His heavenly Father gives Him rich benefits. Jesus’ Father is the “Most High” God. Mary could not have missed the powerful significance of hearing those words. This term coveys the power, strength, and authority of God. This term also shows us that Jesus’ divine sonship is linked to His messiahship; therefore, He is equal with God. (See Phil. 2:6.) It also reminds us that Jesus has the same nature as God the Father.
Mary’s child would be royalty. “The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.” Jesus’ kingdom is divine and eternal. The promises may have reminded Mary of God’s promise to David: “Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever” (2 Sam. 7:16).
Mary did not doubt this amazing announcement, but she did have questions. Mary was confusion because she thought the angel was describing a normal conception from an act she and Joseph had engaged in. Since she knew she and Joseph had not consummated their marriage, she asked for clarification. “How will this be … since I am a virgin?”
Six months earlier, Mary’s relative, Zechariah (the father of John the Baptist) asked Gabriel a seemingly similar question, but it was the wrong question. Have you ever asked someone a wrong question? Maybe you unintentionally insulted someone with your question. Maybe you displayed an unbecoming attitude as you asked. Sometimes it’s not the content of our words but our tone or attitude that is not right. We’ve all seen how the wrong question can elicit a very negative response.
Mary asked, “How will this be?” but Zechariah had asked, “How can I be sure of this?” (Luke 1:18). Even though Zechariah used similar words to Mary’s words, his question came with a different attitude. Zechariah wanted a confirming sign, but Mary asked for insight. And as we will see in the next verses, her question was born of trust.
Luke 1:35-38
35 The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. 36 Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. 37 For no word from God will ever fail.” 38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.
The angel’s answer to Mary’s question described the creative work of the Holy Spirit. “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.” Overshadow carries the sense of the holy, powerful presence of God. God’s mighty presence was sufficient to sustain Mary and bring about the virgin birth. Creatively, the Holy Spirit brought the physical conception of Jesus.
This news was truly amazing—and miraculous. Mary gave no hint of doubt; nevertheless, Gabriel reminded Mary of the mighty power of God to do anything He so desires: “For no word from God will ever fail.”
Mary responded to the God of the impossible with words that can only be described as beautiful. ”’I am the Lord’s servant,’ Mary answered. ‘May your word to me be fulfilled.’” Mary saw her primary calling as one of submission and obedience to the Lord. By claiming to be the Lord’s servant, she was voluntarily giving up her rights to control her life.
Mary didn’t understand everything, but she trusted—and she obeyed. In humble submission, Mary was now ready to serve God and follow His will. Her attitude was all the more amazing when we realize Mary would have been in an extremely embarrassing and difficult situation because of this news. Mary surely understood she most likely would have been accused of adultery, yet she still graciously submitted to the will of God. This attitude of willful submission to God should also permeate our lives.
LIVE IT OUT
God has a call of obedience for each of us. How can you practically embrace God’s call on your life? Consider these suggestions:
- Commit. Commit your fears to God. Write a list of fears you struggle with. One by one, prayerfully commit them to the Lord.
- Obey. If you feel you’re facing an impossible situation, maybe there’s a step of obedience that needs to be your first step. Meditate on the verse: “For no word from God will ever fail” (Luke 1:37).
- Serve. Mary’s response was one of a servant. Do you see yourself as a servant of God? Ask God to open your eyes to a way you can serve someone. Look for ways to live out your calling by yielding your rights and living as God’s servant.
There are circumstances in life that will certainly catch us by surprise. It’s good to know that the One in whom we trust is never caught off guard. He can be trusted with our lives!
Hope to see you on Sunday!
In His Love,
David & Susan
Teacher Notes:
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A better question might be: When has God not changed the plans you had?
There is a common saying, “If you want to make God laugh, tell Him your plans!”
While I don’t think God is malicious in his laughter; I do believe He wonders why we think we had the right to determine our course in the first place. Proverbs 16 is filled with wise sayings that give the true perspective of who is in charge of “making plans.” “In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.” (Prov. 16:9) Many of the wise sayings in Proverbs 16 identify that while it is natural, if not even good for me to make plans, I must recognize my future plans often may seem right to me, but are truly selfish and lead to bad results (Prov. 16:1, 2, 25). The good news is: God is in the business of changing our plans to His plan, resulting in something much better than I could hope for.
However, the plans we make usually don't involve pain and humiliation and inconvenience. How often have you planned on suffering or experiencing persecution or being shamed in front of other people? And yet doesn't Scripture say: Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing (James 1:2-4). And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us (Romans 5:3-5).
We just don’t usually incorporate trials and tribulation into our plans, but God’s plans for us always seem to involve them. Why?
Because we live in a cursed world, for one. But also, because trials and tribulations grow our faith; they build character; they keep us humble; they keep our eyes turned to God; and they allow us to see the power of God at work as He sustains us, gives us joy in the middle of pain and suffering, enables us to persevere through the hard times, and through it all makes us more like Christ…giving us hope as we see the fruit of God’s work in our lives. Trials and tribulations give us an opportunity to show the world that our faith is real and powerful. Well, God’s plan for Joseph definitely included trials and tribulations and Joseph experienced a major change of plans here in Matthew chapter 1.
We’re going to learn some powerful truths today as we watch God's plans unfold and how Mary and Joseph responded to a radically different future than they had envisioned.
A Change of Plans
Embracing God’s plan will require change in your life,
but
"It's a Wonderful Life"
Luke 1:26-38
In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.” “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. For no word from God will ever fail.” “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.
Why does Luke open Gabriel’s visit to Mary with it happening in the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy? Why did Luke identify Mary as a virgin and Joseph as a descendant of David? What did Gabriel mean when he said that Mary was highly favored? How did Gabriel explain Mary’s conception? What declaration did Gabriel make to explain how these miraculous occurrences could take place? What did Mary have to surrender to God in order to join Him in His plan? Why did God choose Mary?
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 their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.
What thoughts were going through Joseph’s mind when he first heard Mary was pregnant?
What were Joseph’s options?
Matthew described Joseph as faithful to the law. He abided by God’s law and had moral character. Joseph and Mary were young, Jewish people, well versed in the law of God, with a desire to please God. News of Mary's pregnancy sent Joseph into a dilemma. What should he do? Joseph had options. Old Testament law set the penalty for sexual relations before marriage as stoning. (See Deut. 22:13-21.) But by New Testament times, the most common way of dealing with this uncommon problem was to issue a certificate of divorce. (See 24:1.) This would often involve a public trial. However, Joseph did not want to disgrace her publicly. He was a righteous man who also had great compassion—an important combination. Instead of divorcing Mary publicly, Joseph determined he could divorce her quietly.
What did Joseph have to surrender in order to embrace God’s plan?
His Thinking. Dealing with a change in plans requires us to have God’s thoughts in our focus! It is no wonder Jesus immediately discusses the conditions of discipleship with all his followers at this point of Matthew’s Gospel. He insists if anyone has the plan to follow him, “he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me” (Matt. 16:24). Following Jesus requires a change in my plans. I must relinquish (deny) my desire to plan, scheme, and insist on my way through daily surrendering my life to Jesus. While my salvation is secure through my Savior Jesus, the struggle to make Jesus Lord is a constant giving up my plans for God’s plan. I must daily fill and focus my mind with God’s thoughts, including his plans for my life. That is why, when God changes my plans, I must refocus my mind, asking what is God’s design for this moment.
His Trust. A key component to adjusting your life to God’s plan involves trust in God’s sovereignty. Review the different areas of your life and identify the ways you should fully trust God in each of those areas.
His Obedience. The essence of trust is obedience. If you trust who God is, it is only natural to do what He says. What is a specific area in your life where you need to obey God this week?
Why didn’t Joseph have sexual relations with Mary after their marriage?
The angel never said Joseph could not have sexual relations with Mary after their marriage, but Joseph refrained anyway. In doing so there was no question in their minds that this child was a gift of God. Joseph’s actions kept the focus on Jesus not on the new couple. The fact Joseph took God’s command seriously, marrying his pregnant fiancée, and beyond that allowing her to remain a virgin until the birth of the child, indicates Joseph was a man committed to aligning himself with God’s plan.
How did Joseph respond to the instructions he received from the angel in his dream?
He obeyed
Who wants this gift?
After hands are raised, say:
- Accepting this gift will completely change the direction of your life.
- You may end up becoming an outcast with family and friends.
- You may face incredible heartache and disappointment.
Now, who still wants this gift?
How have you learned to trust God’s plan for your life? What does it take to really listen to God and discern His plan for us? How do you approach prayer when you are confused about God’s plan? How can we live like nothing is impossible with God? How have you experienced God’s plan being better than your plan?
What it means that Mary was “favored.”
[Verse 26] Luke’s story of Jesus’ birth starts with a barren woman named Elizabeth, who miraculously conceived a child with her husband, Zechariah. (See Luke 1:5-25.) Their child would prove to be the forerunner of Jesus’ ministry, John the Baptist. Luke located the announcement that Mary would have a child as the sixth month. This is not a reference to the sixth month of the year but the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy with John. At that time, Mary had a heavenly visitor, the angel Gabriel, who had also announced Elizabeth’s upcoming pregnancy to Zechariah. (See v. 19.) There Gabriel is described as one who “stand[s] in the presence of God.” God’s presence was coming to Mary through one of His messengers, an angel whom God sent, who made two big announcements in Luke 1. The angel found Mary in Galilee, the territory north of Samaria that contained the city of Nazareth, a small village about 70 miles northeast of Jerusalem. [Verses 27-28] Gabriel came to deliver a message to a virgin, a woman who had not engaged in sexual relations. Mary was pledged to be married, a Jewish process more legally binding than modern engagement because it required a formal divorce to be broken. However, the couple did not participate in sexual relations until the marriage was finalized. Joseph was a descendant of David. Thus, when Joseph “adopted” Jesus, it meant Jesus also was legally from the lineage of David, fulfilling prophecies God had made to David about an eternal place on the throne for his descendants. (See 2 Sam. 7:16.) Gabriel delivered typical greetings based on the same root as the next word, highly favored. By calling her highly favored, Gabriel identified her as the recipient of grace. She had done nothing to gain God’s favor and give birth to the Messiah. Rather, God had poured His grace upon her by giving her that opportunity. In addition to highlighting God’s grace, the angel also emphasized the presence of God: “the Lord is with you.” Before God ever called Mary to be part of His plan, He assured her His presence was with her. [Verses 29-30] Mary felt greatly troubled by the angel’s statement. Zechariah had feared the angel (see Luke 1:12), but Mary’s concern was more with the saying she was highly favored. Why would the angel greet her with such an exalted greeting? Grace is often hard to understand in a world that mostly operates on merit. Seeing an angel was enough to stir one up, but hearing the angel pronounce you as favored by God is even more perplexing. Mary wondered what kind of greeting the angel had given to her. Gabriel told Mary not to be afraid. Gabriel reminded her she had found favor with God. The word favor is the usual word for grace. Nothing is said before or after the announcement about Mary’s piety or ability to curry favor from God. She was God’s sovereign choice to bring the Messiah into the world. Her job was to rely on the presence of the Lord and receive His grace in her life. We too have a similar job, regardless of what God has prepared for us in His kingdom.
Understand how Mary would become the mother of the Savior.
[Verse 31] This verse echoes Isaiah 7:14’s prophecy of Jesus’ birth. Mary would conceive and give birth to a son, as Isaiah had said. Gabriel’s words were consistent with the words of God to Isaiah. In Gabriel’s conversation with Zechariah, the angel had given the name John to the elderly parents. (See v. 13.) Gabriel was also the one to tell Mary her baby’s name would be Jesus. Isaiah had said the child would be named Immanuel, meaning, “God is with us.” Jesus means, “the Lord is salvation” or “the Lord saves.” Both names are fitting of Jesus’ role in the plan of God. [Verses 32-33] Gabriel revealed four realities about Jesus. First, He would be great. Zechariah was told the same thing about John the Baptist. (See v. 15.) John’s greatness centered upon his calling to be separate from the world and set apart for the Holy Spirit, but Jesus’ greatness would be unfolded in the other three realities mentioned in these verses. Second, Jesus’ greatness came from the fact He was the Son of the Most High. Most High is a typical reference to the God of Israel. (See 1:35,76; 6:35; Acts 7:48.) Zechariah’s prophecy over John referred to his son as a prophet of the Most High (see Luke 1:76), but the angel referred to Jesus as the Son of the Most High. Jesus was uniquely different than John or any other being ever born on the earth. A third reality highlighted by Gabriel was that God would give Jesus the throne of his father David. God had promised David an eternal reign (see 2 Sam. 7:12-16), and Jesus stepped in as the Messiah who would fulfill that role. As the Son of God and the Messiah from the line of David, Jesus would establish a kingdom that would be both spiritual and everlasting. The final reality about Jesus in this passage is that Jesus would reign over Jacob’s descendants forever. This was a typical way of referring to the kingdom of Israel. But unlike other earthly rulers, Jesus’ kingdom would have no end. Saints in the Old Testament had longed for such a kingdom (see Isa. 9:6; Dan. 7:14; Mic. 4:7), and now that would become a reality in Jesus. [Verse 34] Mary moved from being perplexed (see Luke 1:28) to being curious about how she could have a child. She asked, “How will this be?” It would be enough to wonder how her child could be the Messiah and the initiator of an eternal kingdom, much less how her child could be the Son of the Most High. These grand visions of what her child would be could have caused anyone to question. But that was not what had her questioning. The part that perplexed her was that as a virgin, she had not had sexual relations. She was engaged to Joseph, but they had not completed the marriage ceremony, much less consummated the marriage. Unlike Zechariah, Mary did not doubt the angel or ask for a sign to prove its veracity. She accepted the pronouncement but asked for more information of how it could happen. She trusted in the plan of God, even when it was difficult to understand how it could happen.
Understand the word “overshadow.”
[Verse 35] In response to Mary’s request for more information, Gabriel encouraged her to trust in the power of God. First, he explained that the Holy Spirit would come on her. The language avoided the connotation of mating with God or sexual relations. Rather it reflected the creative power and work of the Holy Spirit. Second, the Most High would overshadow Mary. The word carried the idea of the holy, mighty presence of the Lord. The idea describes the way the cloud covered the tabernacle when it was filled with God’s glory (see Ex. 40:35) and the mount of transfiguration when God revealed He was pleased with His Son. (See Matt. 17:5; Mark 9:7; Luke 9:34.) The result of the Spirit’s activity in Mary’s life would be a child who was human but also the Son of God. Only God’s power could produce such a miracle in Mary, and it was difficult for her to comprehend. [Verses 36-37] As an example of the power of God, Gabriel cited the miracle God had done in Mary’s relative Elizabeth. God had opened her womb even though she was barren and advanced beyond the age of childbearing. Doubtless she and Zechariah had tried unsuccessfully through the prime years of her youth, but she probably had long ago given up hope she would have a child. Despite everything working against Elizabeth, she was now in her sixth month of pregnancy. God was calling upon Mary to trust in His power. The angel of the Lord made an incredible pronouncement to Mary: For no word from God will ever fail. This was not the first time an expression like this was spoken. Abraham and Sarah (see Gen. 18:14), Jeremiah (see Jer. 32:27), Job (see Job 42:2), and later Jesus’ disciples (see Matt. 19:26) heard similar words. These examples of the power of God encourage us to believe in the power of God more than our own senses. [Verse 38] Mary responded favorably to the angel’s pronouncement: “I am the Lord’s servant.” She surrendered to His plan and purpose for her life. Who was she to question the God who was present and so full of grace? Her simple surrender to the Lord despite the consequences was impressive. Mary responded simply, “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Her service to the Lord was not a begrudging obedience to the will of God but a joyous surrender. Mary’s attitude mirrored Hannah’s in the Old Testament when the barren woman surrendered her will to God’s will. (See 1 Sam. 1:18.) Both women were committed to what God wanted to do in their lives. Mary said God could do with her according to His word. The word of the angel was the Word of God, and she joyfully submitted to God’s Word in her life. Her joyful submission was followed by the words, the angel left her. Gabriel’s purpose was done. He had announced the birth of Jesus and prepared Mary for the changes that were about to take place in her body and in her life. She would have to trust God. His presence was with her through the Holy Spirit.
The context of engagement and divorce during this time.
[Verse 18] Of Jesus the Messiah is placed first in the Greek text, making it emphatic. After a genealogy emphasizing person after person, Matthew emphasized Jesus’ birth as the point of the genealogy. It occurred differently from all the others previously mentioned. It took place when His parents were pledged to be married. This process lasted about a year. It was far more binding than engagement today, for the couple had to divorce to break the contract. During betrothal, the man already was known as the husband (see Matt. 1:19), though the couple would not yet have sexual relations until after a public ceremony. Jesus’ parents appear without fanfare or background information. Joseph and Mary’s plans for their future were disrupted by an unusual set of events. Before they came together certainly refers to sexual relations. They had not consummated the marriage but were still merely engaged. Even so, Mary was pregnant, typically a source of shame for both the man and the woman. For Joseph, who knew the baby was not his, it would cause deep soul-searching. Matthew clearly indicated this child was through the Holy Spirit. What was happening was not a result of immorality but of God’s supernatural power. Luke recorded that the angel told Mary the Holy Spirit would come upon her and His power would overshadow her. (See Luke 1:35.) God overshadowed Mary with His power and she mothered a child while still a virgin. The virgin birth was the genius plan of God, but at this point Joseph could not see it. He struggled with the fact his wife was pregnant and the child was not his. [Verse 19] Matthew described Joseph as faithful to the law. He abided by God’s law and had moral character. Joseph and Mary were young, Jewish people, well versed in the law of God, with a desire to please God. News of Mary's pregnancy sent Joseph into a dilemma. What should he do? Joseph had options. Old Testament law set the penalty for sexual relations before marriage as stoning. (See Deut. 22:13-21.) But by New Testament times, the most common way of dealing with this uncommon problem was to issue a certificate of divorce. (See 24:1.) This would often involve a public trial. However, Joseph did not want to disgrace her publicly. He was a righteous man who also had great compassion—an important combination. Instead of divorcing Mary publicly, Joseph determined he could divorce her quietly. An alternative to death and public disgrace allowed for private divorce with two witnesses. This would allow Joseph to divorce Mary without being vindictive in trying to ruin her life. Joseph, a man of great compassion, decided to take this course of action. The decision showed remarkable restraint for a young man. The minimum age for marriage in Israel was twelve for women and thirteen for men. Joseph determined to divorce Mary in a way that would avoid the most embarrassment for her and provide an opportunity for both to move on in life. Mary’s pregnancy was not his plan for life, but the disruption it caused was God’s plan. Thankfully Joseph did not act quickly or impulsively. He remained open to hearing from God and committed to obedience.
The significance of Jesus’ earthly and heavenly lineage.
[Verse 20] Joseph’s plan to divorce Mary privately (see Matt. 1:19) may have looked best to him, but God’s plan was best for Joseph; a plan delivered in a dream by an angel. Dreams were not God’s normal way of delivering direction and guidance, but it occasionally happened in the New Testament. God directed His people in dreams throughout the infancy narratives. The wise men were warned not to return to Herod. (See 2:12.) Joseph was warned to take his child to Egypt (see v. 13), to return to Israel after Herod died (see vv. 19-20), and to go to Galilee instead of Judea. (See v. 22.) Pilate’s wife was warned that her husband should have nothing to do with Jesus’ trial. (See 27:19.) Here the angel addressed Joseph as the son of David, emphasizing that this special child would be in the lineage of King David. The angel instructed Joseph not to be afraid to marry Mary. He couldn’t worry about what people would say or do about his marrying a woman with a child who was not his. The angel emphasized the child was not conceived from man but from the Holy Spirit. [Verse 21] Not only did the angel encourage Joseph to wed Mary, but he encouraged Joseph to take the child as his own son. Long before sonograms, God revealed the child’s gender in the womb. The angel instructed Joseph to name Him Jesus. Naming a child was something the father (see Gen. 4:26) or the mother might do. (See v. 25.) That the angel assigned this task to Joseph indicated Joseph was to raise Him as his own. He would become legally Joseph’s child and legally the son of David. Why name Him Jesus? This was not a unique name in Jesus’ day. It was the same name as Joshua and Jeshua in the Old Testament. It means “the Lord saves.” This meaning was reflected in the pronouncement of this special child’s role: He would save his people from their sins. Though Israel expected a political Messiah, the idea of salvation from sins was also present in the Old Testament. (See Isa. 53:5-6; Jer. 31:31-34). Joseph was beginning to understand that this disruption in his plans was all part of God’s plan to save humanity from their sins. [Verses 22-23] Matthew recognized the message of the dream as fulfilling Isaiah’s prophecy. He quoted Isaiah 7:14, who spoke of a virgin, which in Hebrew merely could have referred to a young woman of marriageable age. But Matthew made clear by using the Greek word that had to mean a virgin since Mary had never had relations with a man. (See Luke 1:34.) Even after Joseph took her into his home, he did not have sexual relations with her before the child’s birth. (See Matt. 1:25.) Jesus would have another name that brought hope and comfort to Israel—Immanuel, which Matthew translated as God with us. (See last week’s study for further details.) Matthew noted the fulfillment of that prophecy, a remarkable claim about the child inside Mary’s womb, in the birth of Jesus. Not only was He the promised Messiah, but He was also God. He was God with His people. Joseph’s head must have been spinning at this point.
Understanding Joseph’s obedience.
[Verse 24] When Joseph awoke from the dream, he aligned himself with God’s plan. He did as the angel had commanded him. Joseph’s obedience to do what God asked of him was an extension of his righteous character. (See Matt. 1:19.) He was committed to obeying God before he was placed in the situation to believe some difficult things and take some difficult actions. Living in the righteousness of Christ today will give us the opportunity to hear from Him about tomorrow. After the dream, Joseph married Mary as commanded by the angel in verse 20. The obedience of Joseph is remarkable. He did not question God or ask for another night’s sleep to consider it. He immediately aligned himself with God’s plan. Since Joseph was already betrothed to Mary, this passage indicates he took the next steps to finalize the marriage. After the betrothal period of about one year, the husband would complete a formal marriage ceremony, take his wife into his own household, and consummate the marriage through sexual relations. Joseph did all of these except the latter. [Verse 25] The angel never said Joseph could not have sexual relations with Mary after their marriage, but Joseph refrained anyway. In doing so there was no question in their minds that this child was a gift of God. Joseph’s actions kept the focus on Jesus not on the new couple. The fact Joseph took God’s command seriously, marrying his pregnant fiancée, and beyond that allowing her to remain a virgin until the birth of the child, indicates Joseph was a man committed to aligning himself with God’s plan. Joseph’s obedience continued. He would move his family to Egypt because God warned him to move. (See 2:13.) He would settle in Nazareth because of the command of God. (See vv. 19-23.) His actions fulfilled prophecies about Jesus and ensured He would be safe from Archelaus. (See v. 22.) Later steps of obedience often depend upon obedient steps in the beginning. Joseph also obeyed the Lord by taking Jesus as his own child. Matthew summarized, he gave him the name Jesus. Naming a child took place eight days after birth at the time of circumcision. The name had been given to both Joseph (see 1:21) and Mary. (See Luke 1:31.) They were in harmony because they both heard from God concerning the name and purpose of the child. He would “save his people from their sins” (Matt. 1:21). He would be the Messiah promised by God from days of old. God interrupted Joseph’s plans. Joseph did what he always does in Matthew’s Gospel—he obeyed. He aligned himself with God’s plans and embraced God’s disruption in his life in order to experience the abundance of God. In doing so, he got to hold the Son of God in his hands. He got to mold the early years of Jesus’ life. Sometimes change and disruption is a part of God’s plan, and if it is, it is not a bad thing!
An Interrupted Life
My life is filled with interruptions, inconveniences, frustrations, and unexpected events. Things break. Accidents happen. The phone rings just as I climb into bed. Traffic makes me late. Just when we don’t need another added expense, an appliance breaks. Unexpected illnesses change my carefully crafted plans. I could go on and on. You probably could too.
The problem is, I usually handle these interruptions to my life poorly. I react with frustration and anger. Like a young child, I want to stomp my feet and say, “It’s not fair!” I blame others for inconveniencing me. I’ll even throw my own pity parties.
“Small frustrations and interruptions give us opportunities to rely on God.”
Though these interruptions are unexpected and catch me off guard, they do not catch God off guard. They are not random, meaningless events. In fact, these interruptions are divinely placed in my path for a reason. God uses these interruptions to change me to be more like Christ.
Slow traffic, a sick child, or a costly home repair may not seem like important tools in our sanctification, but they are. We often overlook these interruptions and inconveniences and instead expect God to work in our lives through huge life-changing circumstances. But the reality is, we often won’t have major events in our life that cause us to trust God and obey him in some deeply profound way. We won’t be called to build an ark or take an only child up Mount Moriah. Rather, it’s in these small frustrations and interruptions, the little things in our life, where we are given opportunities to rely on God, to obey him, and to bring Him glory.
Paul Tripp puts it like this: You and I don’t live in a series of big, dramatic moments. We don’t careen from big decision to big decision. We all live in an endless series of little moments. The character of a life isn’t set in ten big moments. The character of a life is set in ten thousand little moments of everyday life. It’s the themes of struggles that emerge from those little moments that reveal what’s really going on in our hearts. (Whiter Than Snow, 21)
Interruptions of Grace
These ten thousand little moments come in the form of our children asking us to play a game with them when we are tied up with something else. They are moments like when we get stuck behind a school bus when we’re already late to an appointment, or when we have a flat tire on the way to work. They are in all those moments all throughout the day when things don’t go our way, our plans fail, and our life is interrupted.
It’s these moments where the rubber meets the road — where our faith is stretched and we look down to see whether we are standing on rock or sand. Do we really believe that God is in control of all the details of our life? Do we really believe that His grace is sufficient to get us through the day? Do we really believe that the gospel of Christ is powerful enough not only to save us for eternity, but also to sustain and strengthen us in the midst of life’s interruptions? Do we really believe that Christ is enough to satisfy all the deepest needs of our heart?
These interruptions are acts of God’s grace. They force us to work through these questions. They make us face our sin. They are God’s way of taking off our blinders and making us see that we need the gospel in every moment of the day. They are a light that shines on the darkest recesses of our heart, revealing the truth of what’s really there — the sins and idols that we’ve pushed off into the corner, thinking that if we can’t see them, they must not exist.
The Reminder We Need
These interruptions remind us that we don’t have life figured out and that we can’t do it on our own. They are like the Shepherd’s rod, pulling us back from our wandering ways, back to our Great Shepherd. We need these interruptions. Like nothing else, they push us to the cross of Christ where we must remember the gospel and receive his grace and forgiveness.
“Christ cares more about our transformation than about our daily comfort.”
It’s hard to see all the little frustrating events and interruptions in our day as divinely placed opportunities to grow in grace, but they are. And seeing them as such helps us take our eyes off ourselves and put them on Christ, who cares more about our transformation than about our daily comfort. Rather than giving us a life of ease, He interrupts our lives with grace and shows us what we need most of all: Himself.
How about you? Is your life filled with interruptions? Do you see God’s hand at work in them?
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