God's Emerging Plan Amid a Crisis
Notes
Transcript
It is easy not to see the beauty of the story in the actual Christmas story.
We read the Christmas story in our worship services and pageants.. just passing by the words, glossing over and we might miss a very precious story.
The story leading up to Christ’s birth is not in an ideal situation, if we can really describe what was going on in the lives of the main characters or protagonists, the story was told more in the middle of a crisis.
I. The Crisis of Mary
26 Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!”
29 But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was. 30 Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus. 32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. 33 And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.”
Mary’s life was planned out, she was young, a virgin, and engaged be married.
Then a curved ball from an angel. And a startling news - “you are pregnant”
Much more seriously, “you are pregnant with the Son of God!”
To us who know better, trying to put ourselves in Mary’s shoes - we can easily say what a blessing — that God would choose me!
That is probably not what Mary felt — in the very strict and religious culture of her time, how does she tell her parents? How does she tell Joseph?
The fear of their reaction.
II The Crisis of Joseph
18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. 19 And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. 20 But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:
23 “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
and they shall call his name Immanuel”
(which means, God with us). 24 When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife,
Joseph received the news from Mary — Hon, I am pregnant! But don’t worry… it is the child of the Holy Spirit
Bible is silent about Joseph’s reaction
Explain the tradition of bethrothal - same as marriage
Explain the punishment for adultery, woman was presented before the elders of the city gate and stoned to death.
Joseph could respond in two ways - publicly disgrace Mary,, protect his own reputation — just throw Mary under the bus and and turn her over. or..
he can just secretly go away
III The Response of Mary and Joseph
Joseph and Mary’s stories are one of the greatest story of faith and obedience.
Mary accepted the role given to her
Joseph did exactly what the Angel told him - in spite of the public shame. When they came to Bethlehem in Luke 2 — Mary was called “his bethrothed wife” - could be a source of gossip.
Lessons from Joseph and Mary’s story:
Do not fear, God has a plan.
Both Joseph and Mary received the word, “do not be afraid”
The plan of God involves His great and perfect love.
17 Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.
God showed perfect love, if God’s love is perfect for you who trusts Jesus, there is absolutely no reason to fear.
verse 17 - we are an incarnation of the love of God to a fearful world.
In this fear-stricken world and society, you can be in perfect peace.
3 You will keep him in perfect peace,
Whose mind is stayed on You,
Because he trusts in You.
2. God’s plan is better than ours.
It is good to have a plan - a long term plan.
Sometimes things do not go as planned. How many times has this happened to you?
We stress out because we try to stick to our plan when God has another.
Stories in the ministry.
Won’t it be just great if God just showed us His blueprint? examples, building project, etc.
Remember that God’s plan is always better.
8 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord.
9 “For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways,
And My thoughts than your thoughts.
We prayerfully plan, and ask for the Lord to direct it in accordance to His greater plan. When we do this, God directs our steps.
9 A man’s heart plans his way,
But the Lord directs his steps.
Then we can trust Him.
3. Trust God’s plan - OBEY!
We have God’s word that serves as our manual for living.
We do not have the same privilege as Mary and Joseph that an angel will show up. We have SOMEONE more important, the Holy Spirit of God to guide us.
13 However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.
Don’t ignore the red flags along the way - GPS recalculating..
Trust the Lord’s plan even though it does not make sense at all.
- What’s important is not what makes sense to us, but what brings glory to God.
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
6 In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.
May our attitude be that of Mary:
38 Then Mary said, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.
I am ______, let it be to me according to Your word.
God’s bigger plan fulfilled in Jesus - His life is a journey to the cross.
Just as in Joseph and Mary’s life, Christ will be glorified in your life.
To Mary:
31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus. 32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. 33 And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.”
To Joseph:
21 And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”
22 So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying:
Great as the story of Joseph and Mary is, it is still the story of Jesus.
Jesus can be the story of the rest of your life this Christmas!