Series: The Call of Christmas  
Message: The Call to Protect  
Preacher: Japhet De Oliveira

Refresh: Open with prayer. Read or listen to Psalm 41:9-13.

Read: Matthew 1:18-25—Read The Message paraphrase, and note 1-3 insights/questions that arise. 

Reflect: Continuing in Smyth & Helwys Bible Commentary, Matthew by Ben Witherington, III, page 43 highlights:

“The portrayal of Joseph as a righteous and law-abiding man, bound in marital contract to Mary, and not wishing to disgrace her through public divorce proceedings, is important. It makes clear that he did not understand it was a virginal conception and thought she would be subject to public disgrace, perhaps even stoning for immoral sexual activity. The Evangelist portrays Joseph as a good and godly man, open to spiritual direction, which comes in the form of a dream in which the angel of the Lord appears to him and tells him to go ahead and marry Mary. Spiritual guidance can take many forms, but here and elsewhere in the birth narratives it comes in the form of a dream. Matthew 1:21 says Joseph was instructed to call the boy “Jesus” (i.e., Joshua, a Hebrew name that means Yahweh saves). It is thereby promised that he would save his Jewish people from their sins. Joseph is obedient to the angelic message that comes through the dream and marries Mary. Matthew 1:25 probably means that while he had no sexual intercourse with Mary prior to the birth of Jesus, he did do so afterward. Thus the Evangelist provides an explanation for the children who appear subsequently in Matthew 13:55, but who do not seem to be alive during the period of the birth narrative and are not mentioned as traveling with the holy family to Egypt.”

Recalibrate: 

1. Who in your life would be like a Joseph, reliable and faithful no matter what?
2. What request could God ask you that would make you pause, and why?

Respond: Pray for strength. 

Research: Consider reading the book Road to Character by David Brooks.