An unexpected child.

We finished 2019 with a series of sermons on having a 20/20 vision in different areas of life and ministry.

So we started 2020 with great plans and vision. But something unexpected came to change our plans and ways of doing many things.

“The mind of man plan his ways, but the Lord directs his steps” Pro 16:9

“Many plans are in a man’s heart, but the counsel of the Lord will stand.” Pro 19:21

As a consequence of the unexpected, this Christmas will be also different in many aspects: shopping online for presents, no church dinner, limited number of people in our family Christmas Dinner, no holiday travel, etc.

The first Christmas, the birth of our Savior, was also unexpected in many aspects. It started with:

An expected pregnancy.

Matthew 1:18 NASB95

Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: when His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit.

A woman’s dream is to get married and have children. But this babe came at a moment she did not expect: She was not married yet! The baby came “before they came together”.

Can you imagine the anguish or affliction of that betrothed young girl when her tummy started to grow and she knew she had had no physical contact with future husband? I am sure she wondered, “how do I tell him?”, “how do I explain it to him, to his parents, to my parents?”

How the times have changed!! At that time, couples got married first and, then, had children. Now, it is the opposite...

From an unexpected father.

“she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit” 1:18c

That had never seen before! Even she was perplexed and afraid when the angel appeared to her and told her,

“Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you… for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son and you shall name Him Jesus...” Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin? The angel said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy child shall be called the Son of God.

She had expected to have children with Joseph, but God would be the father of her first child.

The unexpected situation took an unexpected turn

An unexpected turn.

mat 1:19-21

An unexpected groom’s reaction.

How would you react if your bride tells you that she is pregnant and you know you have never touched her?

The expected reaction from Joseph would be to be angry, to denounce her for immorality, and participate in the stoning, which was the punishment for those type of women.

Matthew 1:19 NASB95

And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man and not wanting to disgrace her, planned to send her away secretly.

Nowadays, you do not see men like that very often. Today, man’s first reaction is to insult her… “you are a...”, etc.

An unexpected advise.

Many man’s mistakes are due to lack of sound advice. If he consulted with his friends, what would they say?... If he consulted with the elders… “let’s stone her.”

The best we can do when face situations where we do not know what to do is wait for God’s advice.

Matthew 1:20 NASB95

But when he had considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.

God spoke to him and told him what to do! Wait on God! He will speak to you!

An unexpected name.

Most parents choose two possible names for their child to be born. If a girl… if a boy...

But neither Mary or Joseph were prepared for they were not even married. The angel gave them an unexpected name:

Matthew 1:21–23 NASB95

“She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet: “Behold, the virgin shall be with child and shall bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which translated means, “God with us.”

Although most Hebrew names honored God in their meaning Zachariah (God remembers), Daniel (God is my judge), Mathaniah (gift of God), how could this poor carpenter imagine that his adopted son would be named Iesous (the Greek form of the Hebrew Jehoshuah (God is salvation) and that he save Israel from their sins.

An unexpected visit.

Unexpected type of visitors.

“some magi” mat 2:1a

They were not magician, as some understand the translation. They were highly educated men, specialized in astronomy, natural science, and astrology.

Mary and Joseph were not surprised by the visit of the shepherds. They probably thought “these shepherds are bringing the sheep of this stable”.

But who could think that these so cultured men would visit such a poor couple from Nazareth who was not even at their house, but at a stable, surrounded by animals?

They came from an unexpected place.

From an unexpected place.

“from the east” 2:1b

Some other Jews from Nazareth were probably in town because they had come to be enrolled in the census. They had to do it in the land of birth. So, it is possible that some knew Mary and Joseph, and knew they were about to welcome the child.

But these men from the east? With those expensive clothes? With a caravan of camels and servants? That was not expected!

With unexpected adoration.

“When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. After coming into the house they saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell to the ground and worshiped Him.” 2:11b

Proskuneo (worship): to express by attitude and by position one’s allegiance to and regard for deity.

Like slaves to the feet of their master, like worshipers at the feet of their God, they worship baby Jesus.

They understood that God had become flesh; that He was Emmanuel (God with us).

They worshiped Him with heart and action: they brought Him unexpected gifts.

With unexpected gifts.

“Then, opening their treasures, they presented to Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.” 2:11c

They were not like many Christians who give God their leftovers or alms; they gave their best; they open their treasures and gave Him the most expensive gifts: gold for He is the king, frankincense (He is Priest), and myrrh (resin used as perfume and embalming substance; He would die for sinners).

The people expected a king who would defeat Rome and deliver them from the Roman yoke, but came to defeat death and Satan and to deliver sinners.

They expected a king who would enter triumphantly in white horse, but he entered riding a donkey.