Love Comes Near:  An Advent Bible Study, Dec. 12th

Read Matthew 1:18-21
Write Matthew 1:21

Matthew 1:21 - (the angel says to Joseph) "'She will bear a son, and you are
to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.'"

"After spending three months with Elizabeth, it's time for Mary to return
home. I can't imagine all the emotion that Mary is feeling, facing her friends
and family, and Joseph. And I can't imagine all that Joseph was feeling, being
torn between her story and what seemed like opposing evidence.

"List the range of emotion that both Mary and Joseph must have felt during
this time."

* awe, anxiety, I don't know.  They both knew that God's son was who Mary was
  carrying, I imagine a lot of expectation but uncertainness, because being
  the mother of God and the (step-?)father of God is an awesome responsibility.
* perhaps some fear.

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"What does Joseph's decision in the matter say about his character and his
feelings for Mary?"

Joseph's initial decision was to let Mary go quietly until the angel of the
Lord came to him in a dream to let him know that the Holy Spirit was the
source of Mary's pregnancy.  His decision after being told by the Angel to
stick with Mary and raise the child shows his God-loving nature.  If I had
such a visit by God's angel I would have been amazed and afraid.

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"List all the promises made about the Messiah in the angel's proclamation."

The only promise I see is that he was to be named Jesus because he would save
his people from their sins.

"'You shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.'
(v. 21) It was common for people to name their sons Jesus. It was a symbol of
hope for those who hoped in the prophesied Messiah. A hope that a savior would
come and rescue them from oppression. But, the angel points out his grander
purpose. Jesus will come, not simply to save the Israelites from oppression,
but to save the whole world from their sins."

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"Love Comes Near

"Do you notice how the angel addressed Joseph? 'Joseph, Son of David.' The
angel calls him by name, tells him not to be afraid and then, reminds him of
his heritage. Oh, that's powerful. Joseph is a member of the family line of
David. The family line of which the prophecies told would bring forth the
Messiah. With that one sentence, Joseph goes from clouded confusion to clar-
ity. His purpose is clear.

"I'm sure Joseph knew the prophecies. Perhaps humility had kept him from con-
sidering it before, or just the fact that it had been so long since the prophe-
cies were spoken, but here is the angel with the proclamation:

"It's you, Joseph. I'm going to use *you* to help fulfill this promise.

"At just the right time, love comes near and gives us a pep talk. It takes us
out of the lies and points us to what's true."

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"In what ways do you feel inadequate for the task?"

I am confused about what the Bible study author means.  What task?  Of being
Joseph and fathering Jesus?

"Read Isaiah 43:1"

	But now thus says the LORD,
	he who created you, O Jacob,
	he who formed you, O Israel:
	Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
	I have called you by name, you are mine.

"Remember *whose* you are."