Having hope in the unexpected

We are continuing our series this morning. No matter what life brings. In though all the unexpected thing. All the trials and pain. Christmas will and can never be cancelled.

The hope in Christmas is that God sent his son down to us. This son would save us for all the trails, pain, and sin.

This morning we will be in Matthew 1:18-25. if you have your bible you can go head and turn there or follow along on the screen in a few minutes.

Something life can throw us an unexpected thing. Wether it be a new job or lose of a job, buying a new home or selling a home, have to move away for home or back to your hometown, loss of a loved one or find out that you are going to have a baby.

Joseph had to deal with an unexpected event in his life. We can learn a lot for how he acted and what he did in the situation.

There not a lot to know about Joseph. In fact, most books refer to him has Joseph husband of Mary. Thourgh this unexpected event Joseph finds hope.

There is hope in the unexpected

No matter what the unexpected event is. There is always hope somewhere in it. We just have to be willing to find it. Willing to hold on to it not matter how small that hope is. There is still hope.

Matthew take a little bit of a different approach when telling of the birth of Christ. Matthew tells the story for the eyes Joseph. Where Luke tells it from Mary point of view. Join me has i read.

Matthew 1:18–25 CSB

18 The birth of Jesus Christ came about this way: After his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, it was discovered before they came together that she was pregnant from the Holy Spirit. 19 So her husband, Joseph, being a righteous man, and not wanting to disgrace her publicly, decided to divorce her secretly. 20 But after he had considered these things, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, don’t be afraid to take Mary as your wife, because what has been conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” 22 Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet: 23 See, the virgin will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and they will name him Immanuel, which is translated “God is with us.” 24 When Joseph woke up, he did as the Lord’s angel had commanded him. He married her 25 but did not have sexual relations with her until she gave birth to a son. And he named him Jesus.

There are three different aspect to this passage this morning. One of them being the unexpected thing that Joseph had to deal with.

First thing that we see here

Joseph and Mary are engaged

or has some bible read betrothed. During this time the being betrothed was different from engagement. The parents of a young man will chose a young woman be be engaged to their son. After some time the couple would enter into the betrothal stage. This stage is an official arrangements a prenuptial agreement before witness. The betrothed is a legally binding contract and can alone be broken by a formal divorce.

The betroth where considered to be husband and wife but sexual relations at this point was considered to immoral. So being unfaithful during the betrothal was considered to be adultery. Under the Mosaic law the punishment for adultery was death by stoning.

Mary was found be be with child

This right here is the unexpected event that Jospeh had to deal with. He was betrothed to Mary. Mary was already is wife. Yet she was just found out to be with child. Mary would have been about four months pregnant. After have spent three months with Elizabeth her realtive in. Luke 1:36, 56 tells us that part of the story.

Joseph had an option here. He could go stay with Mary or Divorce here. He decided that he would divorce her quietly. He was trying to maintain his personal righteousness but he also what to show Mary compassion. When it appeared that she be an adulteress.

Some pretty cool happen next that would chance Joseph decision. Someone came to visit him.

Matthew 1:20 CSB

20 But after he had considered these things, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, don’t be afraid to take Mary as your wife, because what has been conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.

The angel of the Lord

Which was and is Gabriel in Luke 1:26. This a key moment in the story of Joseph that Matthew told. Gabriel came to tell Joseph that it was going to be alright. He told Joseph to go ahead and marry Mary because she was still faithful to him. The child was conceived by the Holy Spirit. Then the Gabriel says that this baby would be name Jesus and he was to save all from sin. Jesus was Immanuel- God is with us.

I don’t know about you but if I had an angel appear to me I would not really no what to do. I most like would not have reacted very will. I might have run the other way. You see Joseph did none of those thing.

Joesph married Mary

He choice to lesson to what God had told him. When he face an unexpected brith. Joesph lead into God and what he was telling him to do.

There is not much more we know about Joesph. We are not really sure how long he lived. Or when he died. By the end of chapter 2 of Matthew Jesus is all grow up and Joesph is not really talk about again.

Despite this Joesph was still there for Mary. He did everything he could to do right by her.

Must like Joesph we face unexpected event.

Are you facing an unexpected event?

what will you do? Will you try to do it your own way. Most of the time when we face an unexpected event. We try to fix it on our own. We try our best to make it better. But most of the time we fell.

if Joesph had moved forward with his plans. Theres no telling what would have happened to Mary. I believe that God would have protected her. Instead of going about his plan he choice to follow God. He choice to lesson to God that it will be all ok. In fact, everything was great. He married Mary they had more kids. We know this because one of Jesus half bother was one of disciples.

What do we do when facing and unexpected event?

what do can you do?

Turn to Jesus

When you are facing an unexpected event.

just like Joesph fold God. So too we most rely on Jesus has our anchor.