"Who's Baby Is That?" and Withholding Judgement : Matthew 1 cont'd

Matthew 1 Cont'd...

The Birth of Jesus Christ

Now Jesus was born to a young(likely teenage) girl named Mary, the Holy Spirit(God) gave her a baby but it didn't occur at a convenient time for her. Mary was betrothed to young man named Joseph. Betrothal occurred after the engagement but before sexual intimacy, the couple was technically married but hadn't done the official ceremony just yet (ie. Verse 16: “her husband Joseph”). Can you imagine? Your wife showing up pregnant with a baby, claiming that it was from God?

The Bible says Joseph was a “just man”(verse 19), dude, he would have had to be in order to divorce her quietly. Joseph had every right under the law to have Mary put out before the people as an example. They would have dragged her into the town square, exposed her, beaten her and killed her, and even more so on this occasion, as she would have been an adulteress and heretic. Its good to note, that even when he likely thought she did him wrong, he provided her a dignified way out.

But then came the angel of the Lord, warning Joseph that Mary had not betrayed him—this was a God thing. And Joseph believed what God said, marrying her without a prenuptial agreement.

Questions

1. Consider how Joseph initially responded to Mary's news of being impregnated by God? Are there times when judgment should be withheld?
2. Consider the time period Joseph lived in, and imagine you were his sibling and he shared Mary's story, how would you have advised him(honestly)?
3. Both Mary and Joseph had to show great faith, a belief that God is telling the truth, in their situations. What do their stories show you about true faith? How dangerous is true faith?
4. When you believe that someone close to you has done you wrong, how do you react? How would you like God to help you change in that regard?

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