Peace—Joseph

(S1) — Let there be peace on earth...

Peace — we long for it; in the world, communities, churches, families, and in our lives.

{Isaiah 9:6}

Just as Christian hope is not aimless optimism, peace is not merely the absence of conflict. “The peace of God is deeper and more challenging.

“Advent isn’t a neat string of twinkling bulbs. It’s a flame piercing through the chaos—a messy, disruptive, and beautiful interruption”

It is the light of Christ breaking into a world that has been torn apart by sin and suffering.”

Matthew 1:21 “She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.””

True peace is Jesus Peace

(S2) — {John 14:27}

...then why doesn't my life feel peaceful? We’ve all experienced the ache of anxiety, uncertainty or discontentment to some degree; the question is, how can I truly know peace when my life is in pieces?

— Today we look at how Joseph found peace amid societal and personal upheaval; leading him to fulfill his role; fathering his adopted son, Jesus.

Advent is the light of the world breaking through the darkness of our deepest anxieties; Jesus is our peace in the pieces

PRAY/BIBLES

(S3) — The genealogy of Jesus Christ

{Matthew 1:16-17}

Matthew…Jesus is the Messianic hope—Messiah—‘Son (offspring) of David’

— the prophets longed for and spoke of the day when God himself would sit on David’s throne; when His judgement of their enemies, and justice for the defenseless and helpless; poor and the widows would reign down like a river...

Jeremiah 23:5–6 ““The days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, a King who will reign wisely and do what is just and right in the land. In his days Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety. This is the name by which he will be called: The Lord Our Righteous Savior.”

Longing in wait for God’s Messiah…the way Jesus came into the world surprised everyone; especially Joseph.

(S4) —{1:18}

Matthew’s account of the circumstances around Jesus’ birth {Luke 1:26-38}

…it was discovered...most likely by Joseph…who doesn’t get much airtime in scripture (no words)

—forgotten mostly in church history—but known by God who called him to a very special purpose—to father the son of God.

— pledged, betrothed (engaged)...as good as married

Matthew: A Bible Commentary in the Wesleyan Tradition 2. The Birth of Jesus 1:18–25

The process of engagement in Jesus’ time—arranged marriage...in the bride’s early teen years, a formal engagement occurred a year to a year and a half before the marriage ceremony itself. It involved a contract with payment of a bride price, and thus it constituted a binding legal procedure. This contract could only be broken by a legal reversal, which was considered a divorce.

This was a pre-marriage to marriage — (19)’her husband’

…its hard for us to understand; the personal shame...family...community...gossip…these were anxious times...for Joseph and his young bride.

What do anxious times look like today?

— Wars and rumors of wars—increasing violence—Rising costs—Food insecurity

What keeps you up at night? Is there an unsettling feeling that you just can’t shake? A problem you can’t solve? Someone you can’t forgive? A sin you can’t ignore?

(S5) — {1:19}

Despite the circumstances; his character, faith, and commitment as a husband are not in question—Jospeh is the man for the job

The ideal Husband

Then, we are given a glimpse into the mind of Jospeh; his thought process.

— not responding irrationally like one might, instead Matthew says, he consider this; to intently think through his options

Its assumed that she committed adultery…

Embarrass her publicly— result; ridicule, possible stoning (Deuteronomy 22:23)

John 8:7 “When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.””

Divorce-end the engagement privately (2 witnesses)…

Then a beautiful interruption

Theophany —

Formed from the Greek compound θεός (theos, “god,” “God”) and φαίνειν (phainein, “to appear”); it describes a category of narrative in which God appears to human beings. 

Revelation of God’s divine nature—various forms

— to individuals and prophets for their commission to a particular task—the Lord appeared to Abraham...Moses...the boy Samuel...Amos...

— to groups of people namely Israel—on Mount Sania...in the wilderness...

The Lexham Bible Dictionary Contexts of Theophany

Prophets also experience visions that include the hope that God will appear at a future time to restore Israel

Joseph’ dream was more than a sign; it was the hope of God’ restoration of Israel

(S6) — Joseph shows us that…

Peace is not something you chase; it's something you embrace.

Embracing peace is trusting God who is in our circumstances; faith is the greater plan.

Proverbs 3:5–6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”

Peace is not something you chase; it's something you embrace.

How Joseph embraced peace in anxious times

The angels Appearance— to become visible; making God known, to shine or give light;

(S7) — Joseph embrace peace...

I. ...in the LIGHT of God’s presence

In Jesus birth God made himself known to the world but in life Jesus made himself known to individuals; his disciples…

Mark 16:9 “When Jesus rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had driven seven demons.”

Advent is our longing to know Jesus more deeply; not the lights of Christmas; but the light of Christ; in our hearts; in Jesus who came and will come again…

Matthew 24:27 “For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.”

(S8) — {20b}

do not be afraid...fear not…

Fear is a natural response to the unknown it can be paralyzing.

{Numbers 13} They said, “The land we explored devours those living in it. All the people we saw there are of great size.”

When it controls us, it can stifle or keep is from doing what is right and good

Last Youth Mission Trip/fear

— Fear; the reason we don’t serve at a soup kitchen, respond to another persons need; share our faith with others

“What if the chaos in your life is actually hiding the peace of God meant for you?”

...go ahead with the marriage Joseph...God’s plan is bigger than your problem...if fact God is in it

(S9)

Joseph embraced peace...

II. ...in the MESSAGE of God

Angels were messengers from God and their words were considered as God was speaking—Overcoming fear is trusting in God’s word, which place us in the midst of God’s story.

2 Timothy 1:7 “For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.”

Do you trust in the whole message of God (Bible)? — What if the chaos in your life is actually hiding the peace of God meant for you? Through the light of God’s presence and God’s message of Christ for you?

Then the angels words heard by Joseph...

Matthew 1:21 “She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.””

...how the birth of a son gave hope to the family for generations...and the importance of naming a child

Not just any son but the son of God; “Yaweh Saves” — Jesus my son is coming to make his home with his people for one purpose; to rescue them from sin

John 12:13 “They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, “Hosanna!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”

Just as the people would, Joseph embraced peace, by believing there was power…

(S10)

II. ...in the NAME of Jesus

Joseph may not have fully understood this, but he the many others would witness is...

...power to heal

Acts 3:6 “Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.””

...to restore

Mark 3:5 “He looked around at them in anger and, deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts, said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was completely restored.”

To provide

John 14:14 “You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.”

The power of life

Acts 4:10 “then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you...

There is “Something about that name” — Jesus name meant to bring the peace of salvation

Philippians 2:9–10 NIV

Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

Embracing peace is believing there is power in this name...

(S11)

Joseph embraced peace...

III. ...in God’s COMING promise

22 “All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23 “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).”

Joseph you and your chaos are meant to be a part of God’s grander plan; his story is now your story

The first Advent of peace is the one the angels sang to the shepherds bout...the birth of Jesus that we sing about at Christmas.

The second advent is the future coming of Christ in glory, the day Jesus will bring his full peace to the world.

Hebrews 9:27–28 “Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.”

The great Cistercian monk St Bernard of Clairvaux spoke of Advent in a third sense; the peace that Joseph experienced...amid societal and personal upheaval...when Christ comes to dwell in our hearts

Revelation 3:20 “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.”

Emmanuel God with us!

Joseph found peace and embraced his calling; in the LIGHT of God’s presence—in the message of God—in the name of Jesus— in God’s coming promise fulfilled

{1:24-25}

Need some peace this Christmas in the midst of anxious times?

— “What if the chaos in your life is actually hiding the peace of God meant for you?”

Three shifts to true peace

True peace is not the absence of something...but the presence of someone

Not how to I fix this...but where is Jesus in it

True peace is not something we grasp for...but something we embrace

from controlling to seeking the light of peace

True peace is not me-oriented...but Christ-centered

a life living in God’s plan of salvation for ourselves and the world

(S12)

Peace is not something you chase; it's someone you embrace.

Each day this week, read these scriptures and reflect on how you can embrace the peace of Jesus in one specific situation in your life.

Let there be peace on earth...Peace — we long for it; in the world, communities, churches, families, and in our lives.

Matthew 1:21 “She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.””

True peace is Jesus Peace