For centuries the Jewish people had practiced Shabbath, attended synagogue and learned of an expected Messiah. Joesph and Mary had done the same and now they are betrothed to be married.

That would be compared to being engaged in our Western culture, but it was deeper than that. Much deeper. It was likely an arranged marriage, though clearly that does not negate that they had a love for one another.

The New Manners and Customs of the Bible 1:18 Pledges of Marriage

The betrothal is an ancient custom dating from biblical times when marriages were arranged by a parent or guardian. It was considered the beginning of marriage, and since it was legally binding, the pledge could not be broken except by a bill of divorce. This is the reason why Joseph is referred to as the husband of Mary in verse 19 of the first chapter of Matthew.

The families likely negotiated dowries, future living arrangements and other important matters before the marriage was arranged.

When it comes to marriage, one deal breaker leading to divorce is infidelity. Though the statistics for dating and engagements are more difficult it is obvious it would rank up there as well.

1. Confronted with Love's Challenge

Imagine living in the time of Mary and Joseph. Marriage is held in very high regard and you are looking forward to building your lives together. It is something your families have been looking forward to for a long time.

We read in verses Mt. 1:18-19

Matthew 1:18–19 ESV

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. And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly.

1. Confronted with Love's Challenge

Joseph was in a dilemma. His betrothed is pregnant. If you think planning a wedding might be stressful consider for a moment what Joseph was facing:

Joseph knew he wasn’t the father. Imagine the doubts to Mary’s story that perhaps went through his mind.

Pregnancy outside of marriage was not accepted in the culture - especially the religious culture. Mary would be ostracized at the very least, and perhaps stoned for adultery at the worst.

What would his parents think? What would her parents think? What would his relatives think?

Divorce would not only separate Joseph and Mary, it would likely put a rift between their families that would ripple throughout their small community.

Joseph also had his own conscience to deal with. The Scripture says he was “a just man,” and “unwilling to put Mary to shame.”

Joseph had to balance his love for Mary and adherance to cultural expectations. Confronted with Love’s Challenge, His personal conclusion is to divorce her quietly. I imagine Joseph feeling caught between a rock and a hardplace, he just couldn’t see another way.

Yet when we are CONFRONTED BY LOVE’S CHALLENGE we are often being confronted by God’s challenge, and God had another plan.

We read on Matthew 1:20-21

Matthew 1:20–21 ESV

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. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”

2. Comforted by Love's Assurance

“But” - that not-so-subtle contradictory conjuntion that negates what came before it.

Dispite all the consideration that Joseph no doubt put into his decision, an angel of the Lord appears to him in a dream. Normally when an angel appears we hear, “Do not fear” regarding the angel’s appearance. Joseph is told,

Matthew 1:20 ESV

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.

Comforting him with the assurance that his betrothal to Mary is God’s will, and confirming her story that her child is from the Holy Spirit.

2. Comforted by Love's Assurance

In the midst of his confusion of what to do; in the midst of fearing the options of divorce or taking Mary as his wife; God provides assurance and clarity in the midst of it all.

The angel’s appearance to Joseph redirects everything.

“But” - it contradicts everything.

When Joseph encounters God in a dream, he is COMFORTED BY LOVE’S ASSURANCE. Not only does the angel assure Joseph it is God’s will for him to take Mary as his wife, the angel tells Joseph it will be a son, gives him a name, and reveals the purpose for which Jesus is to be born.

So far he’s been:

1. Confronted with Love's Challenge

2. Comforted by Love's Assurance

Next Joseph is

3. Confirmed by Love's Promise

We read in the next 2 verses:

Matthew 1:22–23 ESV

All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us).

It is unlikely that the profundity of this announcement was lost on Joseph. The angels announcment is a direct quote from the prophecy of Isaiah 7:14

Isaiah 7:14 ESV

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

This prophecy had been the hope of Israel since the time of Isaiah about 730BC. Now this prophecy is being proclaimed to Joseph, confirming to him all that had been said before.

3. Confirmed by Love's Promise

The promise of God, the promise of Love has been confirmed to Joseph. It reminds Joseph God is faithful in fulfilling his promises. Christ’s birth as Emmanuel underscores God’s relentless love and desire to dwell among his people, offering the eternal hope of his presence. God with us!

God’s fulfilling of the prophecy made 730 years prior illustrates God’s steadfast and transformative love across history.

So we’ve had:

1. Confronted with Love's Challenge

2. Comforted by Love's Assurance

3. Confirmed by Love's Promise

We close our reading today with Matthew 1:24-25

Matthew 1:24–25 ESV

When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.

Joseph was,

4. Constrained by Love's Obedience

When Joseph awakes he is obedient to what God has told him. He takes Mary as his wife, yet does not consumate the relationship until Mary had given birth to a son, and Joseph calls the child’s name, “Jesus” in accordance with what the angel had told him.

Remember the consequences that Joseph faced in being obedient. The child was going to be born early in their marriage. How would the families react? What about the community?

The truth is that any time we choose to follow God it is going to separate us from the culture around us. It causes us to consider:

How are we making our decisions? Are they based on our faith or by what others might think?

Do we as a church believe in God’s promises? Do we as individuals believe in God’s promises?

When we trust in God, when we trust in God’s promises it nurtures an obedience and God’s love within and through us.

God’s love working through us leads to life-changing outcomes not only for us, but for our communities as well.

True love often requires courage; it calls us to obediently follow God's direction, even when it demands sacrifice or risk to our reputations.

Throughout the Scriptures there are many times that one can effectively replace the word love with God. The same is true in today’s message. As we learn from John’s first pastoral letter, “God is love!”

The UNEXPECTED SPARK OF LOVE is quite clearly THE UNEXPECTED SPARK OF GOD.

It was God’s challenge, it was God’s assurance, it was God’s confirmation, and Joseph obeyed God.

As you and I strive to follow God’s leading, choosing: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, and self-control over: hate, anger, violence, frustration, meanness, coercion, and emotional outbursts the world is a very different place. The world is a different place and very different from what the news media seems to want us to believe the world is.

Joseph was

1. Confronted with Love's Challenge

2. Comforted by Love's Assurance

3. Confirmed by Love's Promise

and ultimately

4. Constrained by Love's Obedience

And all of this is always to God’s Glory. AMEN

Unexpected Spark of Love

Let me pray for you.