A Dream that Changed the World

Introduction

This third week of Advent, I want to take a look at another character in the Christmas story. One that is often overlooked, but I think plays a very important role in the narrative. But first let me ask you.....

Have you ever had a difficult decision to make? One that hurts, and is full of disappointment? What role does your character play in this type of decision?

Often when we have difficult decisions to make surrounding something emotional, we as human beings make the emotional decision rather then the grace filled decision. I think it is in moments like these that our true character come out.

A Test of Character

This is how Joseph the man pledged to be Married to Mary would have felt after finding out his wife was pregnant without ever sleeping with her.

His character would be put to the test. Does he stone her to death, ridicule her and ruin her life? He has the power to do either of these things.

Matthew 1:18–25 NIV

This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.

Joseph’s Distress (1:18)

Heartbroken, assuming Mary was unfaithful.

“Before they came together” (vs 18) meaning they had not had marital relations, it was impossible for Mary to be pregnant with his child, so it must be someone else's.

Can you imagine this conversation, Joseph and Mary who are both young teenagers, Mary explaining that she is pregnant but still a virgin.

They are pledged to be married, in their day and age being pledged was as good as married. Transactions had already happened where the groom would have paid a dowry for his bride.

In Jewish tradition you were to be pledged or betrothed to be married for a year before the marriage was consummated.

Consummating a marriage was the final part of the process and meant a lot. It was the two becoming one.

This had not happened yet, so there have a huge problem.

He must have thought she was insane.

Joseph’s Decision (1:19)

Not Wanting to disgrace her, he determines to break their engagement secretly.

The passage tells us that Joseph was faithful to the law, meaning he followed the law and knew what he had to do.

It says even though he was faithful “and yet” he didn’t want to do what the law said he could do.

The Law says this about cheating wives.

Deuteronomy 22:23–24 NIV

If a man happens to meet in a town a virgin pledged to be married and he sleeps with her, you shall take both of them to the gate of that town and stone them to death—the young woman because she was in a town and did not scream for help, and the man because he violated another man’s wife. You must purge the evil from among you.

d. The penalty was death, but at this point in history not many chose this path, instead they would ridicule the woman and make her a disgrace in society.

e. The fact that Joseph wanted divorce her quietly shows us something about him.

He must have loved Mary

He wanted to give her grace, obey the law but allow her to have some dignity.

His decision show the reader that he was a man who wanted to honour God, a man with compassion and integrity.

The story shifts a bit after telling us about this dilemma. The narrative moves from Joseph making a decision to divorce her quietly to a dream he has that night.

Joseph’s Dream (1:20-25)

The Message in the dream (1:20-25)

Concerning the purity of Mary

In the dream Joseph is reassured that Mary’s pregnancy was cased by the Holy Spirit. (1:20)

He is told that she isn’t insane, it’s for real.

Concerning the Child (1:21)

The angel tells Joseph that Mary will have a son and he is to name him Jesus. The father always named the child.

Because he will save his people from their sins

Concerning the Prophecy about Mary (1:22-23)

This son, conceived without the aid of a human father, is the fulfilment of Isaiah’s prophecy

Isaiah 7:14 NIV

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.

Also notice the angel addresses Joseph as the son of David. This is also important to notice. It is through Joseph that Jesus is in the line of David, not Mary. In Matthews genealogy before this passage he links Jesus to Mary, but not Joseph.

The Marriage Following the Dream (1:24-25)

Joseph takes Mary to be his wife.

He responds to the dream without question.

Fulfilling the prophesies of a virgin birth and a messiah in the line of David.

By Joseph naming the child Jesus it shows that he adopted him as his son. This solves the problem of the messiah also coming from the line of David. He is now in that lineage through his adopted father.

He waits to consummate the marriage until after the birth.

Matthew is stressing the fact that Mary was completely a virgin until after Christ’s birth.

Joseph Shows Character

Joseph shows a lot about who he is a a person through his decision, and through listening to the dream.

Each of us have a dilemma in life.

How would we respond to a difficult situation like Joseph was in?

would you offer grace, or would you have Mary killed?

Joseph goes on to be the father of Jesus, he mentors him into the family business, treating him like his own.

3. This story gives us a picture of what Christmas is all about.

a. It is about grace, offering grace to those who don’t always deserve it.

b. It’s about stepping up and responding when God calls you to.

i. Joseph was in a difficult spot, but he responded and stepped up. He became the father of Christ because God told him to.

Big Idea: The story of the birth of Jesus gives us a beautiful picture of the grace that God offers us. We don’t deserve it, yet he offers it anyway through love. We see this grace shown in all of the characters throughout the Christmas story. Christmas is all about grace!

Matthew confirms for us the reader that Jesus belongs to Joseph’s genealogy by adoption, showing Jesus to be the Davidic Messiah and the embodiment of God’s presence to save.

Joseph’s decision to listen to the angel, and adopt Jesus is critical to the entire Christmas story. The grace Joseph shows Mary is just a taste of the grace Jesus offers to each of us.

So in this Christmas season remember the grace that you have been given. Reflect on the season by letting it show you that grace is for everyone. You have been given it and should also give it to others. This is the way of Jesus, and the way of those who follow him.

Grace is part of the meaning of Christmas.