Advent 4/2019

New Living Translation Chapter 1

18 This is how Jesus the Messiah was born. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. But before the marriage took place, while she was still a virgin, she became pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit. 19 Joseph, to whom she was engaged, was a righteous man and did not want to disgrace her publicly, so he decided to break the engagement quietly.

20 As he considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. “Joseph, son of David,” the angel said, “do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. 21 And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”

22 All of this occurred to fulfill the Lord’s message through his prophet:

23 “Look! The virgin will conceive a child!

She will give birth to a son,

and they will call him Immanuel,

which means ‘God is with us.’ ”

24 When Joseph woke up, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded and took Mary as his wife. 25 But he did not have sexual relations with her until her son was born. And Joseph named him Jesus.

NLT

18 This is how Jesus the Messiah was born. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. But before the marriage took place, while she was still a virgin, she became pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit. 19 Joseph, to whom she was engaged, was a righteous man and did not want to disgrace her publicly, so he decided to break the engagement quietly.

20 As he considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. “Joseph, son of David,” the angel said, “do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. 21 And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”

22 All of this occurred to fulfill the Lord’s message through his prophet:

23 “Look! The virgin will conceive a child!

She will give birth to a son,

and they will call him Immanuel,

which means ‘God is with us.’ ”

24 When Joseph woke up, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded and took Mary as his wife. 25 But he did not have sexual relations with her until her son was born. And Joseph named him Jesus.

Joseph has to be in my opinion one of the most overlooked people in the Scriptures. part of that reason is that after the birth of Jesus you do not hear much about him.

But I would say that we know all we need to know about Joseph from this passage of Scripture.

Joseph has to be in my opinion one of the most overlooked people in the Scriptures. part of that reason is that after the birth of Jesus you do not hear much about him. But I would say that we know all we need to know about Joseph from this passage of Scripture. In fact I would say that Joseph’s story here is a picture perfect example for all of us to model our lives after

In fact Joseph’s story is a perfect example for all of us especially for men to model our lives after.

Joseph was compassionate.

Joseph could have legally exposed Mary’s pregnancy in the town square, humiliate her and her family and free himself of this fallen woman and after all who would have blamed him?

Here was a man trying to do the right thing and all of the sudden his fiancé comes up pregnant and to cover it up she comes up with the most unbelievable story you have every heard…She was touched by the Holy Spirit…not another man…but God himself chose her out of all the people on earth to become pregnant with His Child.

Joseph could legally expose Mary’s pregnancy in the town square, humiliate her and her family and free himself of this fallen woman....who would have blamed him…If you have every been betrayed in any degree great or little you know how hard it is to fight the urge to get revenge.

This had to not only make Jospeh feel more betrayed...but it had to call into question Mary’s character and her sanity.

If you have every been betrayed in any way great or small you know how hard it is to fight the urge to get revenge. Joseph had plenty of ammunition to get revenge.

If you have every been betrayed in any degree great or little you know how hard it is to fight the urge to get revenge.

However Joseph was a righteous man and at his core Joseph did love Mary!

Even in this moment Joseph Loved Mary…but it was only possible to love her with the Love that comes from God.

Joseph did love Mary after all he had entered into the beginning stages of making her his wife yet the betrayal was obviously too much.

They were going to begin a life together he had dreams of lots of Children and of a happy home with this women.

He would have done anything to make this work…but this was too much.

But even in the midst of this perceived betrayal Joseph would seek God and a way to gently deal with the one he loved. He decides to “dismiss her quietly”. 

Although Joseph would not stay with Mary at any cost, he decides to “dismiss her quietly”. 

l not stay with Mary at any cost, he decides to “dismiss her quietly”. 

News that proclaims Mary’s unfaithfulness does not provoke Joseph to revenge and we know he still cares for her. 

The Holy Spirit present when Mary became pregnant is present with Joseph in the face of great disappointment. 

Joseph chooses to act softly and close this chapter in his life.  He drifts off to sleep and is visited by the divine.

Joseph was thoughtful

Joseph did not make his decision on impulse. Joseph had contemplated the outcomes for Mary, her family, his family and himself. Even after he had made the decision is was open to the voice of God.

The Holy Spirit present when Mary became pregnant is present with Joseph in the face of great disappointment. 

Joseph did not make his decision on impulse. Joseph had contemplated the outcomes for Mary, her family, his family and himself. Even after he had made the decision is was open to the voice of God.

Joseph chooses to act softly and close this chapter in his life.  He drifts off to sleep and is visited by the divine.

This passage wants us to understand if we are open and seeking the voice of God in any situation we will hear God’s voice.

It may be a dream, a passage of scripture, words of a friend or even a sermon that seems like it was meant just for us.

The Holy Spirit present when Mary became pregnant is present with Joseph in the face of great disappointment. 

Joseph chooses to act softly and close this chapter in his life then he drifts off to sleep unaware that he would be visited by the divine!

He drifts off to sleep unaware that he would be visited by the divine!

Read v 20-23

Joseph was Obedient

I hesitated using this word because it has some pretty negative connotations. To be obedient means that are being told what to do…and no one likes this.

Joseph could have heard the angel and decided to go with the orginal plan he thought out in verse 19 to end things quietly.

Joseph could have heard the angel and decided to go with the plan he thought out in verse 19 to end things quietly.

and human n

Instead he risked his future and his reputation to step out on faith and obey. I DON’T THINK WE GRASP THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS....PEOPLE COULD DO MATH…THEY WOULD KNOW THAT MARY WAS WITH CHILD BEFORE THEY MARRIED…THIS WOULD COST THEM DEARLY SOCIALLY IN A SOCIETY THAT PLACED HIGH VALUE ON SOCIAL STANDINGS....

Joseph was not a passive participant in Jesus’ birth but followed God’s instructions without argument. 

He did not have to understand the finer points of what was going to happen but placed his fear and disappointment in the hands of God.      

APPLICATION

The times we find ourselves in during this Advent season are arguably as uncertain and tumultuous as it was during the time of Jesus birth. It seems there is a large amount of division and strife politically, and socially within our country that has bled over into the Church of Jesus Christ.

However even though

But the good news is we can change this at least in our part of the world by taking a page out of Joseph’s book.

Instead of being held hostage to the social pressures to take one side or the other…we should seek to be compassionate, thoughtful and obedient so we can both experience and pass on the peace that comes from knowing that the Kingdom of God has come as a baby just as it was prophesied thousands of years ago.

God’s plan is an unexpected solution that shows the intentionality of the God we serve. 

God uses ordinary people like Mary, Joseph and us to do the most extraordinary things.

God is still in the business of unexpected solutions.

His wisdom is beyond conventional wisdom.

His wisdom is beyond popular wisdom.

His wisdom is beyond my wisdom.

His wisdom is beyond your wisdom.

His wisdom is required and is free in abundance to any and all who would ask for it.

ESV If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.

With this wisdom will come peace. Peace that passes all understanding. Peace when the world does not make sense. Peace when your life does not make sense.

This peace is needed now more than ever in the Church.

With all of the division we are experiencing in our country right now we need a Church that is more interested in peace than in taking sides.

It is important that we conduct ourselves not as partisan believers in any human ideology but as Compassionate, Thoughtful, and Obedient Servants of Jesus Christ.

In the end Joseph had to Choose the will of God over his rights. Joseph had a right to be vindictive, he had a right to be impulsive, he had the right to choose disobedient to God and no human would have blamed him.

But instead he chose to be compassionate, thoughtful and obedient…This was possible for Joseph and it is also possible for you and me.

What areas of your life need to be surrendered to the will of God so you can experience peace?

Family Issues, Financial Issues, Interpersonal Issues, Pride Issues, What Idol do you need to lay at the feet of Jesus today?

Jesus came as a helpless baby, to fulfill the prophecies of Messiah and to walk the earth with His creation.  It required greater sacrifice from Jospeh and Mary than we will ever be called to.

God’s plan of Salvation did not make any sense to the world and unfortunately this plan still does not make sense to many people.

That does not take away the beauty of its truth.

Jesus came as a helpless baby, to fulfill the prophecies of Messiah and to walk the earth with His creation.  It required greater sacrifice from Jospeh and Mary than we will ever be called to.

Let us celebrate this glorious freedom of Emmanuel: God with us by partaking of the Lord’s Supper together.

Communion

On the Night before Jesus died.....

Come to the table with a Spirit of Compassion, Thoughtfulness, and Obedience.

Benediction:

May Jesus, Emmanuel be more than just a dream in our hearts. With the apostles, prophets, and saints, save us, restore us, and lead us in the way of grace and peace, that we may bear your promise into the world.

Amen.