Christmas: The Unsung Hero (Matthew 1:18-25, 2:13-18)

Today we start a series called Christmas.

And the sermon is title this morning,

“The Unsung Hero”

In life there is always those unsung hero’s of the story. (Right?)

In sports,

the unsung hero is the the one….

Football big block,

basketball hustle play to get the ball,

baseball a heads up base running

(all these things)

I remember of such a situation like that back in 2004.

It was game 4 of the ALCS ,

and the Boston Red Sox were about to get swept by the New York Yankees.

Boston down 4-3,

in the 9th inning,

when off the bench came pinch runner Dave Roberts,

who stole 2nd to get into scoring position to later tie the game.

This ultimately was the turning point of the series,

which allowed the Red Sox to win the ALCS and go on to win the World Series.

When you think about the Red Sox 2004 team,

you think of the stars on that team like,

David Ortiz,

Manny Ramirez,

Pedro Martinez,

Curt Schilling,

but the casual fan would probably forget about Dave Roberts.

The reason for that is because Dave Roberts was someone who was on the bench the majority of the time,

but if he does not steal 2nd base in game 4 they don’t win the World Series…

In wars there are always unsung heroes that help bring victories that people will never hear of.

One of those stories I read about,

was a young,

unassuming radio operator by the name of Jack.

Jack served in Word War 2,

and found himself stationed in a remote,

but, heavily fortified German territory.

Jack's role was largely unseen…

His job was to relay crucial intelligence to his superiors,

coordinate air strikes,

and providing vital communication links to isolated resistance groups.

Jack did these things,

under heavy threat of being captured by the enemy.

Jack’s ability to stay calm under intense pressure,

have a meticulous attention to detail,

and stay committed to send vital information despite constant danger,

where all important pieces to turning the tide of the war in the region.

While the front line soldiers received accolades for their bravery in direct combat,

Jack was one of the unsung hero’s to help win the war.

(Many other stories)

There is always unsung hero’s that are so vital to the overall story....

I think of the sports teams I have played for,

organizations I have worked for,

and church’s I have been apart of,

There has always been unsung hero’s that are vital to success.

I think of the unsung heroes of our church...

(Tech, greeting, hospitality, children, just a member)

[Each one important to carrying out God’s mission for this church]

In our personal lives,

there are unsung hero’s who had a major impact on our story.

(Parent or grandparent, sibling, Ant or uncle, friend, ECT…)

So I say all this,

to set up for our story today,

who I believe is the unsung hero of the Christmas story.

We can find his story in Matthew...

Matthew 1:18–25 (ESV)

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, 25 but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.

Joseph the just man

Matthew 1:18–19 (ESV)

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.

Matthew calls him a just man,

and highlights Joseph’s Godly character.

Here is this man who is engaged to be married,

and before they get married he finds out his fiance is pregnant,

and because they have not come together yet,

he knows he is not the father.

Do you think the initial feeling from Joseph would be devastating?

To give you a better picture of this scene in our story,

I will give you some context of what it looked like to be engaged, or as the ESV translates it as betrothed.

For an engagement of a Jewish couple to take place,

it would take 2 witnesses to first establish the engagement.

The groom would then put down at least a partial down payment of the bridal price.

An engagement would last about a year,

with the couple living separately.

After that year,

they would come together for the wedding celebration and consummate the marriage after the wedding.

It is important to understand,

that engagements were much more biding then they are in today’s culture.

For example,

to break off an engagement,

there would need to be 2 witnesses along with a bill of divorce presented.

Also, because engagements were much more biding,

if the groom were to die in the year of engagement,

the soon to be bride would be considered a widow.

If a women where to be found out that she was knowing another man,

it would be considered adultery.

And per the Jewish Old Testament law,

adultery during an engagement was a criminal offense,

that would call for the person committing the crime to be stoned to death.

Though at that time in history,

stoning someone to death over adultery during an engagement was very rare,

the significance of Mary being found pregnant was still rather a great threat to her future.

Joseph could have shamed Mary and her entire family for her being found with a child,

which would leave any hope of a marriage to a respectable man gone.

(2nd temple Judaism, honor shame culture)

Mary’s future was in Joseph’s hands.

And remember,

when Joseph originally finds out about Mary,

he has no clue what has happened.

He does not know that she has become pregnant by the Holy Spirit.

All Joseph knows is that Mary is pregnant,

and I am sure is extremely devastated.

How many know when we are deeply hurt,

we usually don’t react to well to the person who hurt us?

(retaliate, revenge..)

[Joseph had the means to do it… loaded gun]

And even though in the moment he is hurt by his fiance,

he demonstrates great character.

Matthew describes Joseph as being a just man,

and resolved to divorce Mary quietly without making a big scene.

Even though he had the right to hurt Mary,

he choose to do the just thing,

and divorce her quietly.

But before Joseph divorced Mary,

an angel of the Lord shows up.

2. Joseph the open man

Matthew 1:20–23 (ESV)

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).

Joseph was open man, because he was willing to hear what the Lord had to say.

Sometimes when we are hurt,

we close ourselves up so much,

that it does not matter what the Lord is saying or doing,

we are not willing to listen or see…

The enemy loves to get us so closed off from the reality of God’s goodness and grace,

that we become unwilling to hear or see anything outside of what we want to hear or see.

(Example of a hard heart… Ezekiel heart of stone… will not budge)

[postured to be so closed off]

Joseph tempted… enemy lay a trap…

Joseph could have easily closed himself off from hearing anything from the Lord.

But because Joseph was a just and righteous man,

he was willing to listen to the word of the Lord,

that was delivered by an angel in a dream.

(Are you open to what God saying and doing?)

[Revelation… anyone with ears to hear let him listen, anyone with eyes to see let him see]

Joseph was open to listen… Are you open to listen???

How many know it is one thing to be willing to listen,

another thing willing to be obedient to what you hear?

3. Joseph the obedient man

Matthew 1:24 (ESV)

24 When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife,

Often times we think about Mary,

having the honor to be chosen by God to be the mother of Jesus.

But we to often forgot,

that Joseph was equally chosen to be the step father of Jesus.

And the reason why I believe Joseph was chosen,

was because God new he would walk in obedience.

Matthew records that Joseph did as the angel of the Lord commanded him.

(he did not waver, argue, or complain… he did it)

Josephs obedience is very important to the story of Christmas… (later will be challenged)

paraphrase Matthew 2:1-12....

Wise men from the east….

saw star and came to worship the king of the Jews…

Herod distressed…. Herod lies… worship the king too…

Matthew 2:13–15 (ESV)

13 Now when they (wise men) had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.” 14 And he rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed to Egypt 15 and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, “Out of Egypt I called my son.”

My parents… delayed obedience is disobedience.....

(Instilling a value of obedience to not only them but to God)

Joseph demonstrated immediate obedience...

After the angel of the Lord said get up and flee to Egypt…

Matthew 2:14 NLT “That night Joseph left for Egypt with the child and Mary,”

God choose Joseph,

because God knew Joseph could be trusted.

Luke 16:10a (ESV)

10 “One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much,

Joseph earned the trust of the Lord,

and God gave him the great responsibility of watching over the savior of the world.

(can the Lord trust you?)

[Joseph was trusted to be obedient]

Good thing the Joseph was obedient right away…

because this is what happens next....

Matthew 2:16–18 (ESV)

16 Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise men. 17 Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah:

18 “A voice was heard in Ramah,

weeping and loud lamentation,

Rachel weeping for her children;

she refused to be comforted, because they are no more.”

Joseph’s obedience is vital part of God’s mission through His Son Jesus Christ.

The enemy wanted to destroyed God’s plan of redemption through Jesus,

by having the baby,

who is God born in the flesh destroyed,

premature to the mission.

But Joseph was obedient to the message from God,

so the mission of Christ’s redemption plan is continued.

This is why I believe Joseph is the great unsung hero,

in the Christmas story.

(He was given a task and was faithful to complete that task)

Years later after Herod dies…

Joseph is yet again,

directed by an angel of the Lord through a dream…

Instructed to return to Israel…

Yet again, Joseph is obedient…

close with this…

thinking about Joseph

Joseph had a plan for his life.

(but God had a different plan)

“many are the plans in a man’s heart but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails”

[Joseph was faithful to carry out God’s mission instead of his own mission....]

Just...

open..

obedient…