1.3.3 12.13.2020 Matthew 1.18-25 In the Bleak Midwinter a Manger Filled with Hope

Start

Entice:

Will we-can we-really ever be satisfied?

It is virtually impossible to be hopeful while being resentful. You cannot be filled with hope when you are filled with hate. You cannot receive hope if you are an emotional miser.

Jesus was satisfied to be humiliated in our presence.

Enough for Him, whom cherubim Worship night and day, A breastful of milk And a mangerful of hay; Enough for Him, whom angels Fall down before, The ox and ass and camel Which adore.

Engage: Well, our lives are more complicated than an infants. You and I understand the consequences of our actions and impact of our deeds. We understand that life is filled with both easy choices and difficult and that the way forward, the path of hope is often filled with hazard. Most of us can identify with Joseph whose role in the story is less relaxed than that slumbering infant.

Expand: The way forward was hard, very hard for Joseph:

Matthew 1:18–25 ESV

18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. 19 And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. 20 But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: 23 “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us). 24 When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, 25 but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.

Wow. Tough day for Joseph.

In less than 10 verses Matthew summarizes the salient details regarding the birth of Jesus and lays bear what was surely a humiliating experience for Joseph. He also emphasizes the liberating insight at the heart of the gospel. That insight was first liberating for Joseph. For in it and by it his humiliation was erased and his fiduciary responsibility within the economy of revelation was secured.

Excite: The satisfaction of an infant in parental love and nurture is hard to duplicate. The satisfaction of a secure place in God's plan is possible for each of us. Joseph is a model for how we can become a who that God can use.

Explore: How can we be like Joseph

...a hopeful and obedient servant in uncomfortable circumstances?

Explain: Matthew's summary of the birth of Jesus contains several answers.

First answer...

1. Character.

He was righteous

He was gracious

He was creative

next he acted with consideration

2. Consideration.

Think First

Then Act.

Next Joseph allowed for

3. Correction.

Extraordinary

= Angel.

= Virgin Conception.

= Intervention of Holy Spirit.

Ordinary

=Biblically focused.

Less about the nature of Jesus’ birth than about the purpose of His presence.

finally Joseph offers God his

4. Compliance.

4 Acts of compliance...

Did

What he was told

Took

Mary as his wife

Kept

her as a virgin till she was delivered

Named

The baby

Jesus

Hope...

Hope should not be our last resort it should be our first response.

No challenge should be bigger than our character. No choice outside of thoughtful consideration. No correction should result in resentment and ultimately submissive compliance is the way of faith.

Generally we all face different challenges throughout our lives. This year we have shared one huge challenge. Will you be like Joseph who saw hope in the manger rather than pain? Who saw love rather than resentment? How rose to the moment rather than retreating in shame? Choose character. Consider the options. Be correctable. Comply with God’s will…and you’ll be just fine.