Are you willing!?

Matthew 1:18–25 CSB

18 The birth of Jesus Christ came about this way: After his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, it was discovered before they came together that she was pregnant from the Holy Spirit. 19 So her husband, Joseph, being a righteous man, and not wanting to disgrace her publicly, decided to divorce her secretly. 20 But after he had considered these things, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, don’t be afraid to take Mary as your wife, because what has been conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” 22 Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet: 23 See, the virgin will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and they will name him Immanuel, which is translated “God is with us.” 24 When Joseph woke up, he did as the Lord’s angel had commanded him. He married her 25 but did not have sexual relations with her until she gave birth to a son. And he named him Jesus.

Intro:

Willingness: The quality or state of being prepared to do something! Before anyone does anything great or anything not so great. It always starts with a willingness!

Ilustrations of Mother encouraging me to substitute teach after College!

Always: The most precious gift are not often wrapped in gold bows and pretty paper. They look ordinary but they give extraordinary benefits. You just have to be willing to open them!!

I. The Dilemma

Matthew 1:18–19 CSB

18 The birth of Jesus Christ came about this way: After his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, it was discovered before they came together that she was pregnant from the Holy Spirit. 19 So her husband, Joseph, being a righteous man, and not wanting to disgrace her publicly, decided to divorce her secretly.

(ESP)(18) Matthew tells us his intent in the next several chapters. “The birth of Jesus Christ came about this way” Matthew is about to tell an historical narrative(a story). It begins with the engagement or betrothal of a couple.

(18) “After this Mary had been engaged to Joseph” Before any angelic dreams happened Mary and Joseph got engaged. Engagement in near-eastern cultures was a family affair.

Both Mary’s parents and Joseph parent’s would have sat down made a decision about the dowry(the bride’s price) then come back with the money and the documents to ratify the engagement.

In the near eastern culture an engaged couple is legally married but physically living apart from each other until the official ceremony a year later. After the year is up they could now consummate the marriage.

After the contracts were drawn up Joseph the contractor immediately started building a home for he and his wife to live in. Joseph not a rich man has already sacrificed and paid the dowry, and he is happily building a home for he and his wife, Mary.

Mary has a dream and is told she is pregnant with the Messiah. She is nervous, scared, and happy all at the same time, so she rushes to see her people Elizabeth and Zechariah. She left Joseph at home building and preparing. After Elizabeth birth Jesus cousin John the Baptist Mary returned home. Probably scared & confused as to how she will tell her husband she is pregnant but she did not have intercourse.

Luke 1:56 CSB

56 And Mary stayed with her about three months; then she returned to her home.

Matthew 1:18–19 CSB

18 The birth of Jesus Christ came about this way: After his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, it was discovered before they came together that she was pregnant from the Holy Spirit. 19 So her husband, Joseph, being a righteous man, and not wanting to disgrace her publicly, decided to divorce her secretly.

(18) “it was discovered before they came together that she was pregnant from the HS” the text says “it was discovered” the most natural understanding of this is not that Mary was trying to hide anything, but she came back showing. Mary was exiting her 1st trimester into her 2nd. She could not hide her stomach anymore.

(18) “That she was pregnant from the HS” This is very interesting clause. This tells me that Mary came home and explained what happened to her. As she should have. Mary was preaching. It wasn’t just that she was trying to clear her name. Mary was proclaiming the gospel! In the midst of that Joseph is taking everything in.

Can you imagine what’s going on in his mind? I sacrificed my time, treasure and talent and she comes back pregnant. My heart is broken! I am having trouble believing this story. Besides our first parents Adam and Eve no one has ever been conceived outside of intercourse.

(18) After some thought and mediation Joseph did the only thing he felt was right. His decision despite how he felt was “graceful” to Mary. Notice what the text says.

Matthew 1:19 CSB

19 So her husband, Joseph, being a righteous man, and not wanting to disgrace her publicly, decided to divorce her secretly.

(19) Mary deserved public disgrace and death for what happened according to the law. Yet the bible calls Joseph righteous for covering her and privately handling this situation rather than putting her out there. This tells me that Joseph may have been at least partially convinced of her story. Yet the public disgrace he would have to endure for taking her back was too much for him to bear. Mary had a bad reputation for the duration of her life. In Jewish life she was always consider “immoral”. Joseph knew that and decided that was something he could not endure.

What happened next: The Dream

II. The Dream

Matthew 1:20–23 CSB

20 But after he had considered these things, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, don’t be afraid to take Mary as your wife, because what has been conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” 22 Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet: 23 See, the virgin will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and they will name him Immanuel, which is translated “God is with us.”

(EXP)(20) God got involved. God knew Joseph needed some more confirmation. So he sent “an angel of the Lord” most likely Gabriel who also spoke to Mary in her dreams.

what did the Angel say?

(20) “Joseph, son of David” the angel is preaching he is reminding Joseph that he is a descendant of the Tribe of Judah and he is the Son of David. He is doing this to remind him of the prophecy related to the Messiah. For he shall be of the tribe of Judah and a Son of David.

(20) “Don’t be afraid to take Mary as your wife” the text gives us the underlying reason Joseph wanted to bail out. He was scared of the public perception and disgrace that would follow his name. The text already told us “Joseph was a righteous man” by taking Mary his name went from righteous to immoral in one decision. The public disdain would be brutal. In Israel there was never a teen pregnancy problem because the sentence was death for both man and woman.

(20) “because what has been conceived in her is from the HS” the Angel backs up Mary story. Your wife is not lying. Taking your wife back will require sacrifice, courage, and a willingness to endure public disdain. No one is going to believe your story about your son’s birth,ever but I am telling you not asking you to “Stay married” “Stay present” “Endure”

ARE YOU WILLING TO KEEP YOUR FAMILY IN TACT FOR SOMETHING GREATER THAN YOUR OWN PERSONAL REPUTATION? ARE YOU WILLING TO TAKE UP YOUR CROSS AND DENY YOURSELF?

(21) You are to name “the gift” Jesus “because he will save his people for their sins” so far in the story from this week and last week. Three names have been given. Immanuel, Son of God, and now Jesus. Jesus means: The God who saves

(22-23) Matthew then tells us “the why?” why did things transpire this way.

“To fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet” God bounded himself by promise through the prophets. Once he said it he has to keep it.

What did he promise?

“See, the virgin will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and they will name him Immanuel, which is translated “God is with us” Joseph remember what the Prophet Isaiah said about the Messiah. It’s coming true now. And I have chosen you to be his Father!”

How did this dream affect Joseph?

III. The Decision

Matthew 1:24–25 CSB

24 When Joseph woke up, he did as the Lord’s angel had commanded him. He married her 25 but did not have sexual relations with her until she gave birth to a son. And he named him Jesus.

(EXP)(24) “He married her” come on saints!! This is preach-able right here. This is one of the marks of a christian a willingness to do what is unnatural to accomplish a greater good.

we don’t repay evil for evil, we forgive when others hate, we seek reconciliation with those who have hurt us, we love the unlovable, we trust God even when all the cards are stacked against us.

Joseph answered the “Call of God”

Joseph took on a responsibility that was not his own.

(25) Joseph was obedient to the Angels command that he shall be called “Jesus”

He then lived the rest of his life walking in his call to be the Father of the Messiah!

Joseph answered the question “Are you willing?” with “Here I am Lord, your servant is listening?”

This is what “the gift”is about

Today “are you willing?” on this Christmas service to receive the one who is calling you.

Pray!