I am a Jesus pusher!!! The birth of Jesus called Joseph to a new level of righteousness. Jesus could not survive in the Old Covenant righteousness. Joseph responded to the call of God to embrace, forgive, and redeem. The leaders of Israel did not respond in such a manner; they crucified, killed, and hated. Jesus moves us from the righteousness of exterior to interior.
We recognize it again and again in our own relationships. We want to dwell in the “eye for an eye and tooth for a tooth” structure of righteousness. It seems fair to us. But Jesus came! He is saying, “You have heard that it was said to those of old,” (Matthew 5:21). He continues to say, “But I say to you,” (Matthew 5:22). Six different times He gave this contrast in the Sermon on the Mount. He contrasted “not murdering” in the Old Covenant with “not hating” in the New Covenant. He continued with “not committing adultery” in the Old Covenant with “not lusting” in the New Covenant. He even spoke of “divorce for any reason” in the Old with “forgiveness and love” in the New. In the Old Covenant an individual’s word was dependent upon the object of his oath. In the New Covenant you must just be honest? Have integrity! His presence explodes my sense of righteousness to a new level. It is His mind and heart. Will I allow Him to be born in me, to birth a new righteousness of love? I am a Jesus pusher!!!