Glory to the Adopted King: Jesus, Joseph, and You

No Condemnation

WELCOME

Romans 8:1—There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

Welcome! (in-person/online)

In just a moment we’ll hear a reading from the text for today’s sermon in Matthew 1:18. Turn there now.

While you’re turning, 4 quick announcements:

1) A word about PBC. We are missionaries.

Two ways you can get involved on mission:

1) Afghan relief fund

2) Trunk or Treat

2) Derick has a quick announcement about tonight’s TableTalk

3) Q&A with elder nominee Bubba Jones—September 19 at 5:30 PM

Either come with your questions or submit them in advance at the blue flag, or via email to any of the elders

4) Men’s Retreat

September 23-25 at Camp Piankatank

Now look in your Bibles at Matthew 1:18 as Tasha Tollison comes to read for us.

Scripture Reading (Matthew 1:18-25)

Prayer of Praise (God is perfect)

Let the Nations Be Glad

The Wonderful Cross

Prayer of Confession (Discontentment, Cliff Hall)

The Lord Is My Salvation

New City Catechism #36

Pastoral Prayer (Mike Klaassen)

SERMON

Six months ago our family was in Bogota, Colombia finalizing our adoption of little Ezekiel.

SHOW FAMILY PICTURE AND LEAVE IT UP FOR THE STORY

One day we walked from our apartment to a little grocery store for some fresh fruit. I don’t know about you, but shopping with five children stresses me out a bit, so once we picked out everything we needed I took our crew of kiddos outside and waited on the sidewalk while Holly paid for the groceries.

As I stood there with our five children, a parking lot attendant walked towards me and said “todos tus hijos?” (are these all your children?)

Holly and I both have been asked questions like this before.

You can’t have more than two children in 21st-century America without being occasionally subjected to shocked stares or comments like “you know what causes that don’t you?”

So I smiled at the parking lot attendant and answered, Si. Yes, these are all my children.

He looked at me, somewhat confused, and tried again. “Todos?” (all of them?).

I looked at him and smiled and answered Si again.

He looked at me again. Then looked at my children one by one. By this point I knew what this man was thinking. One of these kids is not like the other.

Finally he looked at Ezekiel and pointed at him. “Y el?” What about him?

I smiled again and told the man in broken Spanish that Ezekiel was my son through adoption.

The man finally understood.

Then in a moment of political incorrectness that may be normal for parking lot attendants in Bogota, the man told me he had been confused because Ezekiel’s skin was much darker than everybody else’s.

Ezekiel’s story didn’t make sense until he understood it was an adoption story.

Turn to Matthew 1:18

Of course, this passage is one of those stories that we love to tell at Christmastime

Whether we realize it or not, I think many of us think of the characters in the Christmas story the same way that man in Bogota thought about my family. One of these things is not like the other.

There’s baby Jesus, who of course is the central figure of the Christmas story.

Then there’s Mary, from whom Jesus is born.

The angel is important because he tells Mary what to expect and why she’s expecting.

The shepherds remind us that Jesus came for the lowly and the outcast.

The wise men remind us that Jesus is a king worthy of worship.

Even the manger is significant because it shows us that Jesus is an unlikely king.

But what about Joseph? Does he really matter to the story?

Is Joseph sort of like Indiana Jones in The Raiders of the Lost Ark? You’ve heard that criticism, right? That everything that happened in the movie would’ve happened whether Indy was there or not.

Is Joseph even necessary to the Christmas story? This morning, I want you to see that Joseph is more than a walk-on character in the drama of the Christmas story. He’s more than an usher that gets Mary to Bethlehem, to Egypt, and then to the temple in Jerusalem a decade later.

Joseph’s story makes sense when you understand it’s an adoption story.

But from the very beginning, Matthew wants us to see that this adoption story is different.

1:18—Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way....

The word translated “birth” is actually that word “genesis” again

Matthew’s giving us a clue that this isn’t just any birth story. This is a new kind of Genesis.

So as we study this story, we’ll see a portrait of Jesus, the object of our faith.

As the story continues, we’ll notice that Matthew’s version of the Christmas story is very different from Luke’s

Not contradictory. Luke is telling the story from Mary’s perspective, Matthew from Joseph’s.

Why? Because Jesus’ claim to the throne comes through His adoptive father Joseph

That’s why the angel refers to Joseph as a “son of David” in 1:20

So as we study this story, we’ll see a portrait of Joseph, an example in the faith.

This story is much more than a neat story to dust off the shelves every December. It’s an invitation to faith!

First, this story invites you to...

1) Know the OBJECT of Your Faith.

Back when I used to listen to K-Love, they played this song that drove me crazy...

I've seen dreams that move the mountains Hope that doesn't ever end Even when the sky is falling I've seen miracles just happen Silent prayers get answered Broken hearts become brand new That's what faith can do

Faith has no power apart from its object!

Like an extension cord that only has power when its plugged into a working electrical outlet

Is your faith like an unplugged extension cord? Or is it rooted in something? Better yet, is it rooted in Someone?

This adoption story gives us a portrait of Jesus, the object of our faith.

Three truths this story teaches us about Jesus:

A. He is Truly GOD

1:18—...When His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit.

Explain betrothal:

Like engagement but more binding (required divorce to end)

After the marriage ceremony, the bride would move into the husband’s house and the marriage would be consummated

Very different from today’s hookup culture. Even among many professing Christians. Like in early 2019, when Chris Pratt and his fiancée, Katherine Schwarzenegger announced that they would not move in together until they were engaged because of their Christian faith.

The Bible limits all sexual activity to marriage between one man and one woman

Joseph took this seriously...

Joseph wasn’t perfect, but he was pure

Side note: It is possible to be pure, even if it’s difficult in our hyper-sexed culture

Even though she’s pregnant, Mary has been pure too!

Mary’s pregnancy is unlike any other in human history.

Russell Moore—“Joseph was not Jesus’s biological father; not a trace of Joseph’s sperm was involved in the formation of the embryo Christ. No amount of Joseph’s DNA could be found in the dried blood of Jesus peeled from the wood of Golgotha’s cross. Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit completely apart from the will or exertion of any man.” [1]

And it’s not only Joseph’s DNA that’s absent. No man was involved in the conception of this baby. Mary’s been pure, she’s a virgin. But she has a child growing in her womb.

Perhaps you’re thinking, “How can that be?”

That’s exactly what Mary said when she was told what was about to happen

Luke 1:34-35—And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God.

Notice Luke connects Jesus’ virgin conception to His deity

Matthew also sees the virgin conception as evidence that Jesus is truly God...

1:22-23—All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call His name Immanuel” (which means, God with us).

Jesus, the object of our faith is truly God. But also...

B. He is Truly MAN

1:18—...Mary … was found to be with child...

Jesus wasn’t born with a halo or with a man-face like all the famous paintings.

“No crying He makes” —WRONG!

He was truly human. He was born a bed-wetting, milk drinking, crying, cooing, baby boy

He was truly human...

Physically (slept, ate, etc.)

Mentally (He grew in knowledge, Luke 2:52)

Emotionally (cried, troubled, etc.)

Everybody knew Jesus was human. It was His divine nature that was hard to accept.

Matthew 13:54-56—And coming to His hometown He taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished, and said, “Where did this man get this wisdom and these mighty works? Is not this the carpenter’s son? Is not His mother called Mary? And are not His brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Judas? And are not all His sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?”

These verses completely bust a myth taught by the Roman Catholic church, that Mary was a perpetual virgin—Jesus had brothers and sisters

They also demonstrate that Jesus looked like an ordinary guy to most people

Jesus, the object of our faith is truly man. But also...

C. He is the SAVIOR

1:21—“She will bear a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”

How will Jesus save His people from their sins?

By dying in their place

Matthew 20:28—The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.

Why must our Savior be truly God?

Only God can live without sin

Only God can bear God’s righteous anger for all our sin

Only God can rise from the dead

Why must our Savior be truly man?

Only a man can be tempted, yet live fully obedient to God’s law

Only a man can suffer and die

Jesus, the object of our faith, is the Savior.

What’s your faith connected to? Is it an unplugged extension cord? Or is it plugged into something or someone that has no power?

Is your faith in science? Government? Work? The economy? Yourself?

Put your faith in Jesus!!!

If you feel like that’s too hard, keep listening because this story also invites you to...

2) Follow an EXAMPLE of True Faith.

I love the introduction to Sally Lloyd-Jones’ Jesus Storybook Bible...

“[Some] people think the Bible is a book of heroes, showing you people you should copy. The Bible does have some heroes in it, but… most of the people in the Bible aren't heroes at all. They make some big mistakes (sometimes on purpose). They get afraid and run away. At times they are downright mean.” [2]

She’s right, the Bible isn’t primarily a book of heroes. There’s one hero, His name is Jesus.

That said, the Bible does sometimes give us other examples to follow (as we follow Jesus!) and I believe that Joseph here is an example of faith that we would do well to follow.

This adoption story gives us a portrait of Joseph, an example of true faith.

Why “true” faith? Not all faith is created equal.

Joseph’s biological son, James, wrote a lot about faith...

James 2:19—You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!

Demons have a type of faith, but its not true faith. On the contrary, Joseph is an example of true faith.

Three lessons this story teaches us about true faith:

A. True faith is never EASY

A virgin born baby. A sinless man. Miracles. A crucified God. Resurrection.

“Too hard to believe!!!”

True faith is never easy!

Put yourselves in Joseph’s shoes for a moment. You’ve just heard that your fiancee is pregnant, but she insists she’s been faithful to you!

“Well there’s no way I could believe that. This is the 21st century! Science tells us that’s not how it works!”

People in 1st-century Palestine knew how babies were conceived too. They weren’t stupid.

As Russell Moore says, “When Mary tells Joseph she is pregnant, his first reaction isn’t a cheery ‘It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas.’” [3]

Joseph doesn’t believe Mary...

1:19—And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly.

Husband = literally “her man Joseph”

Just = literally “righteous,” meaning he knows and keeps God’s laws

Unwilling to put her to shame = Joseph knows the law requires a harsh penalty for what he believes is Mary’s sin (Deuteronomy 22)

Within Joseph is this conflict between justice and mercy.

After much consideration (v. 20), he chooses to show mercy to Mary by ending the relationship as delicately as possible

Here’s the point: it’s always hard to believe! True faith is never easy!

Virgins don’t have babies. People don’t walk on water. A few pieces of bread and fish aren’t enough to feed thousands of people. Blind people don’t see. The deaf don’t hear. The lame don’t walk. The mute don’t speak. The dead don’t rise.

None of those things happen. . . ordinarily.

All of those things are hard to believe because they require us to believe in the extraordinary, in the supernatural.

Faith invites you to believe in more than what your eyes can see!

“It’s not hard for me to believe” Don’t let anybody fool you. It’s always hard

Matthew 10:29-31—Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.

Is any Christian in this room ever afraid? Why are we afraid? Because it’s hard to believe that our heavenly Father is in control. Because it’s hard to believe that we really are valuable to Him.

Matthew 11:28-30—“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Is any Christian in this room ever slow to come to Jesus? Why do we so often ignore Him? Because it’s hard to believe that He will really give us rest, that His yoke is really easy, that His burden is really light, that He’s really gentle and lowly.

True faith is never easy. That’s why we need each other.

Joseph’s example reminds us that true faith is never easy. But also...

B. True faith is never BLIND

Ben Franklin once said, “The way to see by faith is to shut the eye of reason.”

Some people think that faith is blind. You just take a leap of faith and believe!

That’s foolish! That’s not what Joseph did, and it’s not what we should do either!

1:20-21—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.”

Joseph is preparing to break up with Mary

God sends an angel to stop him

The angel tells Joseph to adopt Jesus (naming him!)

Here’s the point: Joseph doesn’t adopt Jesus based on blind faith. He adopts Jesus based on revelation.

God speaks to him through an angel in a dream!

“I would believe if God spoke to me!”

Hebrews 1:1-2—Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.

Examine the Scriptures!

Joseph’s example reminds us that true faith is never blind. But finally...

C. True faith always WORKS

Many years after an angel told Joseph to adopt Jesus, Joseph’s biological son James wrote this about true faith:

James 2:14-17—What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

You can say “I believe” all you want, put here’s the question: does your faith go to work? Does your life give evidence that you believe?

Joseph’s faith was true faith. Joseph had faith that works...

1:24-25—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.

What about you? Does your faith work?

None of us will ever face a situation like Joseph’s. The virgin conception of Jesus was a one-time historical event that will never happen again. Never again will a man be asked to marry his virgin fiancee and care for her and her unborn supernaturally-conceived child. In that sense, Joseph’s story is unique.

But in another sense, it’s not unique at all. Since the first Adam fell, our world has been filled with opportunities for us to follow in Joseph’s footsteps.

Not surprisingly, Joseph’s son James tells us one of the clearest evidences of true faith is to care for the most vulnerable

James 1:27—Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

Think about what’s happened in Afghanistan...

Advertisements with pictures of women’s faces painted over

Image of a baby being passed over a wall and barb wire

“But problems like Afghanistan are so far away! What can I do about it?”

Think about your own zip code...

There are single moms, struggling to make ends meet, feeling like damaged goods because they chose life in a culture of death

There are pregnant teenage girls, thinking about driving to the clinic on Jefferson Avenue because their boyfriends told them to “take care of it”

There are young children bouncing from one foster home to another, wondering if this year they’ll get Christmas presents

There are highschoolers about to age out of the foster care system, and if the statistics are right they’re doomed to a life of homelessness, crime, drug abuse, or worse

Not everybody is called to work for the vulnerable in the same way. But all of us are called to work.

We don’t work for faith, we work from faith.

Joseph’s example reminds us that true faith always works.

Getting Ezekiel’s file

“Are you okay with a dark-skinned child?”

Some people aren’t.

Apparently some people don’t want to adopt someone that isn’t like them. There’s a fear for some that the child won’t fit in.

If anybody should’ve felt that way, it would’ve been Joseph.

How does a simple carpenter from Nazareth bond with his adopted son when that son is God Himself?

Joseph’s adoption of Jesus points to an even more significant adoption. An adoption where, you would think, the adoptees could never fit in.

God the Father adopts us

Galatians 4:4-5—But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.

Unbeliever: repent and believe

Christian: if you’ve been loved this way, love this way

One of the biggest challenges of adopting is integrating everyone into a new family...

LORD’S SUPPER

This is our family dinner!

1 Cor. 11:26—For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.

Jesus and you moment as you pray silently, preparing your heart for Communion

Confess sin to God and (if necessary) to others

PRAISE HIM FOR HIS GRACE!!!

Jesus and others moment as you come to a table, one of our pastors prays over you, and you eat the bread in a small group of friends/family

Sit and pray as long as you need. Then when you’re ready, just walk towards the front and gather around a table in groups of 3-5 or so

Jesus and everybody moment as we take the cup together as a church family

After you eat the bread, you’ll walk down the side aisles back to your seat while we wait for everyone to finish then we'll eat the bread together

More important than how we celebrate communion is who:

Christian: This is Jesus' gift to encourage you! Receive it with joy!

Not a Christian: Don’t receive the symbol, receive the reality. If you're ready to receive Him today you can come to one of the tables and talk to one of our pastors. Let us know of your desire to give your life to Jesus and we’ll happily drop everything to talk and pray with you. If you're not ready to do that today just remain in your seat.

Let’s bow our heads and prepare our hearts.

After I finish praying, you can remain in your seat and pray or come to a table when you’re ready.

Silence for thirty seconds

Pray

Jesus, we thank you that on the night when You were betrayed You took bread, and when You had given thanks, You broke it, and said, “This is My body, which is for us. Do this in remembrance of Me.”

After everyone has had the bread...

In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”

Let’s sing together

Jesus Paid It All

Benediction (Mike Klaassen)