Awkward Family Christmas | An Awkward Family Christmas
About this series:
This series aims to bring a sense of authenticity and relatability to the Christmas story, reminding us that God’s grace and purpose are often found in the midst of our most awkward and challenging moments.
About this talk:
The shock in these events is hard for us to grasp in our day and, for many of us, in British culture. The disgrace brought on Mary herself by her apparent sexual immorality, and then on Joseph, on their families and on the entire community is enormous. Whatever Mary’s story was, people just would not believe her and the entire village would be appalled at what they assumed she (and possibly Joseph) had done.
The fact that Joseph “did not want to expose her to public disgrace, [but] he had in mind to divorce her quietly” shows the measure of his character and godliness. He could have protected his honour by ‘throwing her under the bus,’ but instead intends to protect her honour as far as he can. Mention is made of divorce because the betrothal in that culture was a binding commitment.
Unlike with Mary, an angel appears to Joseph in a dream. But such is the impact of the encounter that he nowknowsthe truth of what Mary has been saying- “he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary homeashis wife.”
The theological significance in this passage is found in:- v20:Joseph being referred to as “son of David” (see earlier notes).
v21:Mary’s son being called “Jesus,” the Greek form of Joshua, which means the Lord saves. He will be Saviour not in the sense most Jews were anticipating of national deliverance from Israel’s enemies, but “because he will save his people from their sins.”
vs22-23: As Matthew frequently does, he cites OT prophecy, stating “this took place to fulfil what the Lord had said through the prophet.” This is from Isaiah 7 and the famous passage about a virgin conceiving (see previous notes). Matthew is eager to make the point that what is happening now is what was prophesied then.
Joseph’s attitude, against all the risk to his reputation and ongoing questions, was outstanding, v 24. Together, he and Mary have shown remarkable faith and courage in the face of public ridicule and God’s greatly disruptive intervention in their lives.
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