Advent 2002 - 3 Waiting Faithfully

Reading: Matthew 1:18-25
When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife.  Matthew 1:24 (NIV)

I.   The scandalous Secret

     A.  Mary was Pregnant

           1.  In the old days, she’d be in front of church

                 a.  Appear b/4 consistory to confess her sin, then in front of the whole church.

                 b.  Before that she’d have to wear a scarlet letter “A” for adulteress.

           2.  She was engaged

                 a.  Had she and Joseph been . . . you know

                 b.  Was she fooling around?

           3.  By law she should be stoned

                 a.  Deut. 22:23-24

                 b.  You thought confessing to the whole church was bad!

     B.  Joseph’s righteous Restraint

           1.  He was righteous but not “uptight”

                 a.  As a normal man he’d be hurt by this.

                 b.  As a religious man, he’d know she’d done wrong to him & before God.

                 c.  But he wasn’t going to hurt her unnecessarily.

           2.  The righteous are ruled by love (not law)

                 a.  The loving thing is always the right thing

                 b.  Although He was hurt, he still loved.

                 c.  He wasn’t going to use the law to club her on the head.

           3.  Though He felt betrayed, he was restrained

                 a.  This is a mark of righteousness.

                 b.  Wounds heal over time, reputations often don’t–especially this kind.

                 c.  He thoughtfully decided to divorce her quietly (it would be a divorce)

II.  The incredible Truth

     A.  An Unexpected messenger

           1.  Joseph wasn’t looking for a way out.

                 a.  He already decided what He had to do

                 b.  It seemed like a good sensible plan.

                 c.  He was at peace enough to sleep

           2.  An angel came as he slept on it.

                 a.  He showed up in Joseph’s dreams

                 b.  Don’t confuse this with an over-active imagination!

                 c.  God sometimes speaks through dreams

           3.  Don’t be afraid . . .

                 a.  Often the first three words of an angelic message!?

                 b.  Here don’t be afraid to marry Mary.

                 c.  Was he afraid? Sure! Wasn’t Mary’s pregnancy by someone else, evidence of her character?!

     B.  You are to Name Him

           1.  It is the father’s task to name His child

                 a.  Though the child wasn’t really Joseph’s

                 b.  This child is literally, and intimately God’s very-own child!

           2.  God entrusts His Son to Joseph!

                 a.  You are to give Him the name . . .

                 b.  Joseph is to be His father in God’s place

           3.  His name means “The Lord Saves”

                 a.  It is “Joshua,”or “Yeshua”in Hebrew

                 b.  He will be the Lord who will Save!

     C.  He is Immanuel

           1.  A virgin shall give birth to a son

                 a.  Isaiah 7:14

                 b.  This was a sign not asked for.

                 c.  Is this part of the angel’s message?

           2.  We do not have a distant God

                 a.  He is not remote, or removed from us.

                 b.  Jesus comes to literally and intimately be Immanuel “God with us.”

           3.  Our God is “with us!”

                 a.  Many claim to be on God’s side!

                 b.  God comes to be along side of us.

                 c.  What other god condescends to our level to lift us up to His?

III. The faithful Response

     A.  Joseph Simply accepts the message (24)

           1.  He doesn’t question it or struggle with it.

                 a.  Unlike Zechariah, or even Mary?

                 b.  He doesn’t Q. the trip to Egypt (2:13)

                 c.  He doesn’t Q. the return (2:20)

                 d.  Or the move from Bethl. to Naz.(2:22)

           2.  Although the message doesn’t make sense!

                 a.  Women don’t just get pregnant!

                 b.  There’s no such thing as a virgin birth!

                 c.  Jesus: The Lord saves/he will save ?!!

           3.  He just gets up, does a 180 and moves on.

                 a.  He set aside his divorce plans

                 b.  He accepts whatever disgrace might fall on him (folks could count 9 mos then 2)

     B.  He simply Obeys the message (24-25)

           1.  He does what He’s told (and more?)

                 a.  He wakes up and does

                 b.  He does all he’s told

                 c.  He does as he’s told

           2.  Mary comes to live under His protection

                 a.  She would have been ostracized

                 b.  He marries her

           3.  He practices righteous restraint again!

                 a.  He doesn’t sleep with her–though they’re married!

                 b.  If he can do that . . .

                 c.  Why? v.23? v.20?

     C.  Never be Afraid to follow God (20)

           1.  Even when it makes no sense!

                 a.  God’s will usually makes perfect sense

                 b.  Sometimes following God means risk

                 c.  Rarely, it doesn’t make sense until later

           2.  When God’s will is clear, follow it!

                 a.  If you find it in a dream, or in a deep-hearted conviction–follow it.

                 b.  If you believe it’s God talking–listen

                 c.  Jesus is our Savior, with us–Follow Him

The Bottom Line:

(HOR: R#193 O Come All Ye Faithful v.1)