Matthew 1:18-25 - Love

Introduction

Over the past few weeks of Advent we have looked at the themes of

Hope

Peace

Joy.

This week we look to Love.

(Advent, the Arrival, the first coming of Christ, we now wait in a second Advent period where we wait for His arrival.)

Responses from Luke’s Story:

Zechariah

Elizabeth

Mary

John

Angels and Shepherds (Christmas Eve)

This week we will look at Joseph’s response from Matthew’s gospel and how we should respond to God’s plans and His love for us.

Read Matthew 1:18–25 “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. So her husband, Joseph, being a righteous man, and not wanting to disgrace her publicly, decided to divorce her secretly. 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. She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet: 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.” When Joseph woke up, he did as the Lord’s angel had commanded him. He married her but did not have sexual relations with her until she gave birth to a son. And he named him Jesus.”

Joseph’s Response to God Actions , Our Response to God’s Actions

Everything we know about Joseph we learn primarily in Matthew and Luke, with a mention in Mark and John as well.

We never “hear” anything from Joseph, as there is nothing recorded that he says, leading us to often overlook him in the narrative, but this morning I want to look at how he responds to the angel of the Lord (Gabriel) and what we can learn from it.

***Divine action calls for faithful human response***

Joseph is righteous

Joseph is merciful

Joseph is a son of David

Joseph is faithful - he responds in obedience in this section and in

Matthew 2:13–15 “After they were gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Get up! Take the child and his mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I tell you. For Herod is about to search for the child to kill him.” So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night, and escaped to Egypt. He stayed there until Herod’s death, so that what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet might be fulfilled: Out of Egypt I called my Son.”

Matthew 2:19–23 “After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying, “Get up, take the child and his mother, and go to the land of Israel, because those who intended to kill the child are dead.” So he got up, took the child and his mother, and entered the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus was ruling over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. And being warned in a dream, he withdrew to the region of Galilee. Then he went and settled in a town called Nazareth to fulfill what was spoken through the prophets, that he would be called a Nazarene.”

We must respond like Joseph, living righteously (how?), merciful (regardless), and faithful (response)

***Divine action calls for faithful human response***

The divine action is not just the Angel and the promises to Joseph, but also what the Angel says about who Jesus will be, what that meant for the people of God, and what it means for us.

If we look back, the Angel tells Joseph that this child that Mary is pregnant with will be named:

Jesus - Yahweh saves or rescues (will save people from sins)

Psalm 130 “Out of the depths I call to you, Lord! Lord, listen to my voice; let your ears be attentive to my cry for help. Lord, if you kept an account of iniquities, Lord, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness, so that you may be revered. I wait for the Lord; I wait and put my hope in his word. I wait for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning— more than watchmen for the morning. Israel, put your hope in the Lord. For there is faithful love with the Lord, and with him is redemption in abundance. And he will redeem Israel from all its iniquities.”

Immanuel - God is with us (Is 7:14)

Psalm 139:1–18 “Lord, you have searched me and known me. You know when I sit down and when I stand up; you understand my thoughts from far away. You observe my travels and my rest; you are aware of all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue, you know all about it, Lord. You have encircled me; you have placed your hand on me. This wondrous knowledge is beyond me. It is lofty; I am unable to reach it. Where can I go to escape your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I make my bed in Sheol, you are there. If I live at the eastern horizon or settle at the western limits, even there your hand will lead me; your right hand will hold on to me. If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me, and the light around me will be night”— even the darkness is not dark to you. The night shines like the day; darkness and light are alike to you. For it was you who created my inward parts; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I will praise you because I have been remarkably and wondrously made. Your works are wondrous, and I know this very well. My bones were not hidden from you when I was made in secret, when I was formed in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw me when I was formless; all my days were written in your book and planned before a single one of them began. God, how precious your thoughts are to me; how vast their sum is! If I counted them, they would outnumber the grains of sand; when I wake up, I am still with you.”

GOD RESCUES AND IS WITH US - this is the call of the Gospel, the “***Divine action (that) calls for faithful human response***”

Closing and Application

John 3:16–17 “For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”

Zephaniah 3:14–20 “Sing for joy, Daughter Zion; shout loudly, Israel! Be glad and celebrate with all your heart, Daughter Jerusalem! The Lord has removed your punishment; he has turned back your enemy. The King of Israel, the Lord, is among you; you need no longer fear harm. On that day it will be said to Jerusalem: “Do not fear; Zion, do not let your hands grow weak. The Lord your God is among you, a warrior who saves. He will rejoice over you with gladness. He will be quiet in his love. He will delight in you with singing.” I will gather those who have been driven from the appointed festivals; they will be a tribute from you and a reproach on her. Yes, at that time I will deal with all who oppress you. I will save the lame and gather the outcasts; I will make those who were disgraced throughout the earth receive praise and fame. At that time I will bring you back, yes, at the time I will gather you. I will give you fame and praise among all the peoples of the earth, when I restore your fortunes before your eyes. The Lord has spoken.”

THIS IS LOVE. THIS IS DIVINE ACTION. WHAT IS YOUR RESPONSE?