Sermon Tone Analysis

Scandal Is Brewing

Mary has gone back home to Nazareth

She is starting to show

Joseph has a dilemma

Joseph cant marry a woman who has been unfaithful

she has been gone for 3 months while she should be preparing herself

she comes back to town and she is pregnant

the whole town is in shock

who would believe about the angel, the Holy Spirit

the new Messiah

Joseph is going to back out quietly--- until

Matthew 1:20–22 (LSB)

But when he had considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the One who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.

“And she will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”

Traditional celebration has gone out the window

scandal, and gossip has begun

Mary is in seclusion because of the whispers

Joseph marries her but they are not consummating the marriage

God is compassionate to Joseph and Mary, and He is going to force them to leave town and go to a place where they can be in peace

Prophecy tells us the baby will be born in Bethlehem

read Luke 2 1-7.

Pray

The Decree

V 1-3

in those days..

what days V 57 when John was born

the decree was issued

took quite a while for it to reach Nazareth

then preparations to depart on the 90 mile journey

by foot

Mary and Joseph were in Bethlehem when the child was born

but we don’t know when they arrived

Most powerful ruler on the planet make a decree to fulfill prophecy

God’s providence over the things and people of this world

Just like in the days of Jeremiah he prophesied about Cyrus

Caesar Augustus did exactly what God wanted him to do

make a decree to bring Joseph and Mary to Bethlehem

90 miles away to give birth

the leaders of this world are under control of the Almighty

the decree of kings is in the hands of God

and the movements of man is in the hand of God

Out Of The Blue

V 4-5

so from no where comes this decree

Mary is well along

Joseph is taking care of Mary

He is the bread winner in the family

all he knows is in Nazareth

life itself is rough enough

now we have to set aside everything and go to Bethlehem

The town crier has just announced that every one has to go to their family home town to register

because the emperor wants to make sure you are taxed

did they know the prophecy of Michah?

But in V 38 Mary said I am your slave

I wonder if on the trip these things were discussed

This is the Messiah in me

a decree to go to Bethlehem

God is in control of everything

Paul wrote this 50 years later, but it still applied to Joseph

We just need to trust in Him

The Birth of the Savior

V 6-7

while they were there long time,?

short time?

the child is born in the city of David

the future King

born in a lowly barn a stable or a cave for animals

Jesus humbled Himself to be born of poor parents

born of meager income of the father

turn to phil 2

Jesus humbled Himself to be our Savior

to be like us in every way except to sin

So that we can be saved from the Wrath of the Father

but we as Christians need also to be humble like our Savior

phil 2 12-15.

God is working in you the will and the way

the will for Mary and Joseph was to pick up every thing and go to Bethlehem

where they end up living until they move to Egypt

they don’t see their home town again for years

God’s plan is for His glory and our ultimate Good

What is your attitude toward God’s plan for you

Did Mary and Joseph have to ask God what His plan is for their lives?

no it was pretty obvious

Jesus was to be born in Bethlehem

God used the emperor of the known world to make a decree to bring the mother of the Messiah to Bethlehem

Joseph and Mary had no other choice but to do God’s will

Mary says to God I am your servant

Your will is perfect

this is a inconvenient time to go but I will

because your timing is perfect

the fog is so thick that I cant see my next step

but I’ll take it anyway because your path is perfect

my life and health is failing

but your eternity is perfect

Our faith in Jesus gives us this hope

our faith in Jesus gives us life abundantly

God has adopted us into His Family

God has given to us an eternity with Him.

where He lavishes to us His grace every day

because of our love for Him we want to do His will