Casting The Parents

Almost 13 years ago, I became a parent for the first time. The nine months leading up to my son Brody's birth was a very strange time. There wasn't much for me to do and more than anything I played a supporting role. It was my wife, Kate, who was doing the hard work, after all, the baby was growing inside of her. She was the one going to the doctors appointments in the one who's body was preparing itself for a pretty traumatizing but eminent experience.

It is very easy to feel inadequate to be a parent. I remember when I found out that Kate was pregnant I felt the need to do something, anything to try and prepare. So lacking anything of real value, I ran to the hardware store and picked up a bunch of childproof outlets, and proceeded to childproof every outlet in the house. My heroism, and this has gone completely unrecognized. I will point out that my son is nearly a teenager into this date has not electrocuted himself by sticking a finger in an outlet, I may have saved his life.

Parents are important. How your parents approach parenting makes a big difference in your circumstances. And while I certainly felt unprepared myself for parenthood, I just kept telling myself that I knew some people who have become parents that I believed were far less equipped for the job than even I was and they seem to be doing OK at the job.

But consider this couple we find in Luke 1:27

Luke 1:27 (KJV 1900)

27 [To] a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.

For the Virgin Mary and the man Joseph, becoming a parent for the first time was a particularly daunting task. Because that child was Jesus, The Word of God made flesh. — No pressure.

I have shared with you that I came up with this sermon series, but considering the nativity scene that we sell our living room for Christmas. And this past week our family went down to Krohn Conservatory and we saw the live nativity there. The question we are asking this week as we have the previous two weeks. Is who is the cast of characters who were Mary and Joseph and why were they important?

So this is the third and our series, casting the Nativity and our message this morning is entitled ‘Casting the Parents’

Let’s Pray

Joseph

Joseph is that someone who we know much about. He is mentioned in the gospels of Matthew, Luke, and John, but is absent in the gospel of Mark. But the Gospel of Mark essentially jumps right into the baptism of Jesus. This is lead many to believe that sometime after Jesus was about 12 years old, and before Jesus being baptized in about 31 years of age Joseph died. Certainly, if Joseph were alive at the time of Jesus's crucifixion, Jesus would not have been trusted Mary's care to the disciple whom he loved, who is almost certainly the apostle John.

A Just Man

I believe one of the major reasons that God chose Joseph to be the earthly father figure for Jesus is because of what we find written of Joseph in Matthew 1:19

Matthew 1:19 (KJV 1900)

19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily.

Joseph was a just man.

We need to remember that it was within Joseph’s right to divorce Mary, Deut 24:1 give instruction on this:

Deuteronomy 24:1 KJV 1900

1 When a man hath taken a wife, and married her, and it come to pass that she find no favour in his eyes, because he hath found some uncleanness in her: then let him write her a bill of divorcement, and give it in her hand, and send her out of his house.

Joseph could have made a scene out of all of this. Really, it may have been in his best interest to do so, It might have been better for his reputation. — May theologians have suggested that this is a type of Joseph's name sake. Joseph, the son of Jacob, who would become second only to pharaoh in his power, only obtained that height after being sold into slavery by his brothers and living a pretty hard life that included prison time as a result. But yet after rising to power and having these brothers, who, so did him wrong presented before him. Joseph did not see their shame.

I would argue that what we see Joseph emulating is nothing short of being the character of God. The character we would see put on glorious display in this child that would be Joseph's son. We see this character in full display when Jesus looking down from the cross at those who crucified him and said

Luke 23:34 (KJV 1900)

34 ... Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. ...

A Hardworking Man

Joseph was not a rich man. That isn’t to say that he was poor either — Joseph was working class. He was a tradesman. — We all sort-of just know that Joseph was a carpenter, don’t we. But really we only find one reference, recorded in both the gospels of Mark and of Matthew for this — And there it is more of an accusation than anything else — Let me read to you Matthew’s reference in Matthew 13:55

Matthew 13:55 KJV 1900

55 Is not this the carpenter’s son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas?

This word carpenter is the word (tektōn) τέκτων in the Greek and it means a lot more than carpenter. The Latin translation for this word is faber — singular for the word fabri where we get our english word fabricator. —

It carries a much broader meaning than what you and I think I was just a carpenter. This would include stonework metal working in fact, many scholars believe that it was more likely that Jesus worked in stone more than one because Jesus and later Peter in the book of Acts references the psalms in comparing Jesus to a stone — Let me give you Jesus’ reference in Luke 20:17-18

Luke 20:17–18 KJV 1900

17 And he beheld them, and said, What is this then that is written, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner? 18 Whosoever shall fall upon that stone shall be broken; but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.

In 1 Peter 2:5 Peter uses this stonework type of language

1 Peter 2:5 KJV 1900

5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

And Paul in 1 Corinthians 3:11 compares Jesus to a stone mason when he writes:

1 Corinthians 3:11 KJV 1900

11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

Who Was Joseph?

So, who was Joseph? He was Jesus's guardian at the time when Jesus was most vulnerable. — He provided for Mary and Jesus by the work of his hands. He loves been to safety in Egypt and brought them back home when it was safe. That was a big responsibility, but garden trusted it to him because he was a just man.

Mary

A Servant’s Heart

Mary is another story. We know quite a bit about Mary. As a matter fact, we know a bunch of things about Mary that aren't even true. A lot of the tradition has been built up about Mary and entire religion is centralized around venerating Mary.

Just as Joseph is recorded in scripture as being a Just Man, Mary character is recorded in Luke 1:38 when Mary said to the angel

Luke 1:38 (KJV 1900)

38 … Behold the handmaid (servant) of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word ...

Mary had the heart of a servant. There is song that has become quite popular “Mary Did You Know?” — Did she know? — A lot of people whose primary goal in life is to cast phooey on anything that enjoyed by other people like to decree — of course she did! This song is stupid! — But really, Mary knew very little. — She knew that Jesus was conceived of the Holy Spirit, she knew that Jesus would ‘called’ The Son of the Most High, she knew that he would have the throne of King David eternally and be a savior — She also knew from the prophecy of Simeon that a sword would pierce through her soul for this child’s sake.

But she was a humble servant of God and willing to be obedient even without all of the answers.

A Contemplative Heart

One thing that jumps out at me about Mary's character is not only did she have a servants heart but she had a contemplative heart.

Gabriel’s Greeting

In Luke 1:26-28 we read of Mary’s visitation by the angel Gabriel

Luke 1:26–28 KJV 1900

26 And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, 27 To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.

But look how she reacts to this message in v29:

Luke 1:29 KJV 1900

29 And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.

She was troubled and tried to discern what all of this meant.

The Shepherds

The Shepherds told Mary what the angel of the Lord had told them in Luke 2:11

Luke 2:11 KJV 1900

11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

and what the angles sang out in v14

Luke 2:14 KJV 1900

14 Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, Good will toward men.

and how does Mary respond? Take a look at v19

Luke 2:19 KJV 1900

19 But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.

Simeon

And again we come to Simeon. When Simeon took Jesus into his arms he said to God in Luke 2:29-32

Luke 2:29–32 KJV 1900

29 Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart In peace, according to thy word: 30 For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, 31 Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; 32 A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.

And how did Mary respond, this time with her husband, v33

Luke 2:33 KJV 1900

33 And Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of him.

They marvelled, meaning they wondered in amazement

In the Temple

Later in the Gospel of Luke we find Jesus as a 12 year old boy. They went to the feast of the passover and — well — they lost Jesus. Let’s pick up in v46 where they find him again

Luke 2:46–50 KJV 1900

46 And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions. 47 And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers. 48 And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing. 49 And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business? 50 And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them.

v50 speaks to just how little Mary did truly understand about Jesus’ nature — but look how she responds in v51

Luke 2:51 KJV 1900

51 And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart.

So just here in the book of Luke, in Chapter 1:29 she contemplated Gabriel's greeting, in Chapter 2:19 she pondered what the angels told the shepherds in her heart, in v33 she marvelled at what Simeon said of Jesus, and in v51 she kept the saying in her heart.

Parents

Mary and Joseph together were parents. They were excellent parents, in fact because of the group trust that God put in them I would venture to say that they were exceptional parents.

In them, we find characteristics that any parent, really any believer should want to emulate. Joseph was just, he saw mercy, he was a provider and protector for his family. Mary was a humble and obedient servant, and she treasured God's word and her heart.

If you would bow your head and close your eyes for just a moment. We are going to close in prayer soon but before we do would like you to consider this man and this woman who had hearts that were usable by God. You are going to be used by God to be the mother of the Messiah, or the step-father if you will. But but just ask yourself, do you have the kind of Christian character that can be used of God? — — if your answer is no, or that you're not sure, I ask you to make a decision today to change that. To dedicate your self to seeking justice into serving humbly.

Pause

Let’s Pray