Sermon Tone Analysis
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Introduction
If you have a Bible or device for looking up scripture, turn or scroll to .
This morning we have a lot going on so I’m going to try and be quicker with what I need to say and you are going to have to listen fast.
This is an important message.
Today we are going to talk about the one person who may be the most forgotten character in the entire story of the birth of Christ.
I want to look at who
I. Joseph was a common man.
Joseph was not some kind of superhuman dude.
He was blue collar.
From what we know of him, he was a carpenter.
He worked with his hands.
He was from a little place called Nazareth.
His family heritage was from a place called Bethlehem because he was from the line of David.
We learned about this as we studied the genealogy of Jesus last week.
As many young Jewish men, he was betrothed to a young lady, a virgin named Mary.
Betrothal is a cultural element that we don't really have today.
It is similar to engagement but deeper and more meaningful than even than.
Let me explain: The betrothal period was generally one year.
So they parents would decide on a good marriage partner for their child and there would be a betrothal.
I was part of a betrothal ceremony once which has got to be pretty rare in these days.
Anyway, the betrothal period lasted one year and during this time the couple would act just as if they were married with the exception that they did not live together and they were not physically intimate with each other.
So basically, it was like something between what we see as engagement and marriage.
It was so serious of a bond, in fact, that to break it you actually had to get a divorce.
II.
Joseph had an uncommon dilema.
So, here we have this common, blue collar dude and his virgin wife to be, his betrothed, turns up pregnant.
And to make things stranger, she says it's the Son of God that she is carrying.
In this culture, it’s not like today where an unwed mother is a common thing.
This was scandalous.
Was he embarrassed?
Was he hurt?
We don’t know this for sure.
But we do know he was human and probably would have some human emotions connected to this news.
What we can see is that he was an honorable man.
He did not want to dishonor Mary.
So he decides to divorce her quietly.
He doesn’t want her dead.
In their culture if he wanted, he could public ally accuse her of being unfaithful and she could potentially be stoned.
He is honorable and doesn’t want this.
III.
Joseph made an uncommon decision.
Joseph is visited by an angel in a dream.
The angel lays out the plan for him and lets him know what he is supposed to name the child and that the child will save His people from their sins.
So according to scripture, not only did Mary know but Joseph also knew.
Where is the song about that?
Joseph you did know...
The author, Luke, points out that this was a fulfillment of , which says:
We have confirmation here that this was the plan from the very beginning.
God had a plan and God was sovereignly carrying it out and Joseph was to be involved in that plan.
Imagine the weight of that.
IV.
Joseph sets an uncommon example.
After this we don’t hear a lot more about Joseph.
He appears with Mary when Jesus is in the temple at age 12. His parents leave for home assuming the boy Jesus is with other people and they discover that He is not with them.
They go to look for him and find him in the temple.
That’s really all we hear about him.
He most likely died.
It’s okay because he isn't the main character here anyway.
But we do see a really cool example in Joseph.
Let me show you how this connects with the gospel.
A. Joseph protected Jesus through obedience.
God used Joseph to continue His ultimate redemptive plan.
After the visit of the Magi-wise men - later on, maybe two years later...
b.
Jospeh adopted Jesus as his own.
He raised Jesus with Mary as long as he was around from what we can tell.
Now, let me show you something about this:
C. Because of Jesus coming, we could be adopted into the family of God.
Joseph adopting Jesus pictures us being adopted by God.
How great is that?
And more.... Look at that passage in John again.
Jesus came and revealed God to us! Through Him we can have life!
d.
The holidays can be a sad time for people, especially if you have family strife.
especially if you have family strife.
Jesus has come and he offers us the change to be part of God’s family, to be adopted in and to become children of God.
Not all people are children of God.
Those who He has saved by His death on the cross have been adopted into the family of God.
Those who receive Him.
Jesus has come and he offers us the change to be part of God’s family, to be adopted in and to become children of God.
Not all people are children of God.
Those who He has saved by His death on the cross have been adopted into the family of God.
Those who receive Him.
The gospel is GOOD NEWS!!!
We go from enemies of God to family of God.
From enemies at war with God to adopted and loved sons and daughters of God!!!
Incredible news!
JOY to the world indeed!
Admit, Believe, Confess.
Repent and believe the good news.
God used Joseph to continue His redemptive plan.
He wants to use you too.
Yes, in a different way.
But this good news of great JOY that we have in the gospel came to you, because it was on its’ way to someone else.
What better time of the year to share this good news with someone than Christmas.
Pray
Break
Business meeting
Dismiss lunch ladies
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