A Christmas Journey--It Began in Nazareth

A CHRISTMAS JOURNEY-- IT BEGAN IN NAZARETH Spring Valley Mennonite; December 7, 2021; Luke 1:26-28, Matthew 1:18-24, 2:19ff. One of the best-known daily devotionals is a volume entitled "My Utmost for His Highest" by Oswald Chambers. I find this quote instructive: "Jesus Christ was born into this world, not from it. He did not emerge out of history; He came into history from the outside. Jesus Christ is not the best human being the human race can boast of-He is a Being for whom the human race can take no credit for at all. He is not man becoming God, but God Incarnate-God coming into human flesh from outside it. His life is the highest and the holiest entering through the most humble of doors. Our Lord's birth was an advent-the appearance of God in human form. This is what is made so profoundly possible for you and for me through the redemption of man by Jesus Christ." "Advent" means "arrival". Jesus Christ arrived on earth, born of the virgin Mary; God the Son, the second Person of the Trinity, took on human flesh; He is the only begotten of the Father. From His birth until Jesus returned to heaven comprised His First Advent. So, at Christmas we celebrate and remember His first Advent, and we anticipate and look forward to Jesus' second Advent. The season of Advent for the believer is a time of heart preparation, a time of contemplation about the wonder of God the Son leaving the glories and holy presence of heaven to enter this dark and sinful world. As we continue our journey toward Christmas, we find ourselves in Nazareth, for Nazareth was the home of Mary and Joseph, and the environment in which Jesus grew up. I. WHY NAZARETH? We have heard much about the country of Haiti in recent weeks. Haiti has the dubious distinction of being the poorest country in the Western hemisphere. Much of the country is controlled by criminal gangs, and violence is a way of life. We would be very surprised if a great and respected statesman gifted in leadership would arise from Haiti. We would question, "Can anything good come out of Haiti?" Nazareth was regarded much like we would think of Haiti. To say 'Nazareth was not highly regarded by the Jews of Judea' would be an understatement. Remember the response of Nathaniel when Philip wanted to introduce him to Jesus? "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" But Jesus was to be the Savior of the whole world, not only of the Jews, so God selected a place where Jesus could grow up and be exposed to the predominant culture of the time. At the time of Christ, Nazareth was a small and insignificant town of perhaps 400 people. Its location lay about halfway between the Sea of Galilee and the Mediterranean. It was greatly overshadowed by Sepphoris, a much larger city only three miles to the north. Sepphoris was an important Greco-Roman city of 30,000 residents who enjoyed streets lined with majestic columns, an imposing theater of 4000 seats, a gymnasium, baths and ornate villas and palaces of limestone and marble. This city was undergoing an expansion during the period when Jesus was growing up, and laborers were conscripted from the neighboring villages by Herod Antipas, Herod the Great's son. I have little doubt that Joseph and Jesus spent time laboring in Sepphoris. It is ironic that Nazareth survived the millennia, while Sepphoris deteriorated into dust. One can imagine the temptations for young Jewish men living so close to a pagan city. What does this have to do with Mary and Joseph? Simply this: God did not pick some sheltered and safe place for His Son to be raised; instead, He picked a location and a godly set of parents who would live near, yet not be a part of the predominant culture of the day. Mary and Joseph, growing up near this Greek and Roman center of pagan influence, had each personally dealt with living with, but not yielding to the worldly influence of Sepphoris. Isolation from temptation is not always God's plan. We parents have the responsibility to guide our children and model a godly lifestyle in the midst of a wicked and perverse culture. II. A MAIDEN FROM NAZARETH Let's consider for a moment this maiden from Nazareth whom God chose to be the mother of Jesus. Mary was a simple Jewish girl, living in a small town far from the religious center of Jerusalem, yet in the shadow of a major Greco-Roman city. Her life became much more complicated when something extraordinary happened in her life. Read with me the account of Mary's visit by the angel Gabriel; We find this account in Luke chapter 1, beginning in verse 26 (read through v. 28). We are left with very little information about Mary other than the facts that she was unmarried, although engaged; she was from Nazareth, and of the tribe of Judah, and of the family of King David. We must piece together information about her from studying the culture of the time, but much about her is left to speculation. Young Jewish girls could become betrothed-engaged-when they were as young as 12 years old, yet we don't know for sure how old Mary was. I would speculate she was in her late teens, but that is only my opinion. What was there about this girl that moved the Heavenly Father to choose her? We know that Mary was from a religious home and was well versed in the Holy writings of the Old Testament. In the Magnificat, the words of Mary to Elizabeth recorded in the first chapter of Luke, we find 15 discernable quotations from the Old Testament. While it is wonderful how God can take sinful human beings at any time in their lives and transform them into His choice servants, it has been my observation that those who have been brought up in the Christian faith have much a greater likelihood of being chosen as the ones to take on great roles in the Kingdom of God. Note that I am speaking in generalities, to which exceptions abound, but children who become believers early in life and are surrounded by Christian love, example and biblical teaching are at the head of the pack when it comes to God's choice of leaders. Good training and modeling are essential, but we all know that is not enough. God has no grandchildren; each child and individual must choose to follow God on his or her own. Mary had done that for she had found "favor with God." Literally, "favored one" means "full of grace." Mary had personal integrity as a teenager. While life as a teenager is much different today, the challenges faced are much the same. There is the increased responsibility, the challenge of continual obedience to parents, and of dealing with the new emotions which come with a maturing body. Yet Mary weathered these storms without losing God's favor. There is encouragement here for parents of preteens who worry about the challenges to come: with God's grace, both you and your teen can survive it, and they have a great chance to come through it as did Mary. Next, we turn to Joseph, God's choice to protect and guide Jesus in His early years. III. JESUS' PROTECTOR AND TRAINER As a character in the Christmas story, Joseph pretty much stays in the background, but his importance is undisputed. Have you ever wondered why God selected Joseph? What was there about this simple carpenter that qualified him to have such a significant part in the life of our Savior? My Dad worked as a carpenter for a number of years, but Dad's role was very different than that of a first century carpenter. For starters, there were no lumber yards around the corner. If you were a carpenter, you first went to the forest, cut down a tree, sawed it into usable lengths, carried it back to your shop or job site, sawed it into planks, and planed it smooth; only then could the carpenter make it into whatever was needed. His vocation was extremely labor intensive. He not only helped construct houses, but also the furniture in those homes. He also would make wooden plows and other farm implements. Remembering that Jesus didn't begin his ministry until the age of thirty, our Lord most likely spent 15-20 years working in the carpentry trade. When Jesus visited Nazareth and spoke in the synagogue, as recorded in Mark 6:3, the people remarked, "Is this not the carpenter?" As the oldest son, Jesus would have been the first among his brothers to learn the trade. Jesus was born neither into affluence nor poverty, but he came from a blue-collar family where He learned to work. Jesus had calloused hands and worked in a vocation that required physical strength. He became a skilled craftsman before He began his ministry. Jesus' training by Joseph enabled him to relate to the common, working-class people who were attracted to His teachings. This tells us how God considers good, honest, and hard work. Jesus' years as a carpenter lends nobility to work! Returning to Joseph, the most important thing about him was not that he was a carpenter. Often we assign worth to a person according to his or her vocation. And while our vocation or job is important, we are much more than just what we do to earn a living. The most important thing about us is our character-what is inside. This is especially true of we who are followers of Jesus Christ. I am a full-time Christian and a part-time anything else. So, what kind of person was Joseph? What kind of man does God select to be the guardian, protector and teacher of His Son? And what can we learn about becoming and living as a person God chooses to use significantly in His Kingdom? All we read about Joseph is contained in three chapters of scripture; Matthew 1 and 2 and Luke 2. Turn to the first chapter of Matthew's Gospel, and follow along as I read, beginning in verse 18 (read through v. 23.) Note in verse 19 that Joseph is called "her husband." A betrothed couple was considered to be married, although they did not yet live together. Like Mary, Joseph was of the house and lineage of King David, as verse 20 states. We must remember that his family background had nothing to do with Jesus' bloodline, which came through Mary. However, because Joseph was of the tribe of Judah and of the family of King David, when the edict concerning the census went out, Joseph had to go to Bethlehem, the ancestral home of King David. Micah 5:2 had clearly stated that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem. God moved the heart of the Emperor, Caesar Augustus, to require this census and taxation. It was Joseph's family ties which moved the holy family to Bethlehem, for Joseph was of the family of David. I find it somewhat humorous that this great and mighty Caesar, so filled with self-importance and worldly power, is now only remembered because he ordered a census which took a Jewish carpenter and his pregnant wife to Bethlehem where Biblical prophecy would be fulfilled. So, Joseph had the required family background. But let's consider family in the more common sense. I have found that our family of origin determines much about how we raise our children. We raise our children much in the same way we ourselves were raised. I would be very surprised if both Mary and Joseph did not come from strong and caring families. Consider the impact of both Mary and Joseph's parents in raising godly children whom God could use. Two of Jesus' brothers became leaders in the early church: James became the leader of the church in Jerusalem, and Jude wrote the New Testament book that carries his name. Parents, your most significant contribution to the Kingdom of God may be through your children. This is the truth of Psalm 127:4-5: "Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one's youth. How blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them..." Arrows extend the effectiveness of an archer. What an opportunity parenting offers to change the world! What a responsibility! Joseph was a man of action. Everyone else in the Christmas story speaks: Mary, the angel Gabriel, Zechariah and Elizabeth, the shepherds, angels, the wise men, Herod: everyone has lines-except Joseph! There is never a word recorded that Joseph spoke! He simply obeyed immediately. Although he obeyed immediately, we don't get the impression that Joseph was impulsive; upon learning that Mary was pregnant, and before his vision from the angel, he deeply considered how he should respond to the situation. He did not react impulsively. But when given divine direction, he responded immediately. Here is a lesson for us: when faced with a crisis or decision, we should not react impulsively, but respond in a godly, considered way. When we are sure a course of action is of God, then we should obey immediately. Look at Matthew 1:24: And Joseph awoke from his sleep and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took Mary as his wife. My impression is that Joseph hardly waited for morning, showing immediate obedience. Now look at 2:13: Now when the Maji had gone, behold an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, "Get up! Take the Child and His mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is going to search for the Child to destroy Him." So Joseph got up and took the child and His mother while it was still night and left for Egypt. Again, Joseph obeyed immediately. Verse 19: But when Herod died, behold an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying, "Get up, take the Child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel; for those who sought the Child's life are dead. So, Joseph got up, took the Child and His mother and returned to the land of Israel." (Read vv. 22-23) Joseph once proved himself a man of action, obeying God's direction. He was ready immediately. No words are recorded for Joseph, just complete obedience to God. God knew the dangers His Son would face in the world. Jesus' safety as an infant and child depended upon a man who would not hesitate to obey God's voice. Joseph didn't procrastinate; he didn't try and figure out the "whys" of God's commands. He didn't question God's will-he simply obeyed immediately. In Matthew 1:19, Joseph is described as a "righteous" man. In God's eyes, to be considered a righteous meant that you did more than simply follow all the Jewish laws and traditions. Joseph obeyed Jewish law. For instance, when Jesus was 40 days old, He was taken by Joseph and Mary to the Temple for His dedication to the Lord, and where the price of redemption of a first-born male was paid. Furthermore, Scripture tells us that every year Joseph and his family made the trip to Jerusalem to keep the feast of Passover (Luke 2:41). But Joseph kept more than the letter of the law as demonstrated by his response when Mary became with child by the Holy Spirit: he decided to take the compassionate response and he planned to quietly divorce her (as required under the rules of betrothal). He was a righteous man who looked for a merciful solution for a difficult situation. He carefully weighed the alternatives. While a man of decisive action, Joseph prudently thought through the situation. As we observed before, Joseph was not impulsive. Righteousness tempers justice with mercy. Also related to Joseph's righteousness was his kindness and tenderness. I believe we can read love and devotion in his response to the surprise pregnancy of his bride-to-be. I believe we can read between the lines and see a man who was caught between his love for Mary, and the desire to do what was right as required by the Law. As we look at God's pattern for marriage, we husbands are told to love and cherish our wives. I cannot doubt that the family God chose for His Son was filled with a deep mutual love between Mary and Joseph. It is a true saying that the best thing I as a father can do for my children is to love their mother. As we look at Mary and Joseph, we see two people who loved and obeyed God completely and wholeheartedly. They didn't completely understand what was going on, but they obeyed without questioning. Joseph, by his actions, proved he, like Mary, was the bondservant of the Lord. It is not easy to be a father. But imagine being given the task of raising God's Son! Yes, it was a great honor to be chosen to guide and train God's Son yet think of having that responsibility! What a humbling experience to raise a son who never sinned! Jesus really was the perfect son being raised by an imperfect father. How did Joseph face this challenge? He did the best he could, realizing that God does not call us to do the impossible. With any task God gives us, He gives us the resources and ability to do it. And I think we completely underestimate the courage it took to return back to Nazareth, choosing to live with the talk and gossip of small-town life. When Joseph married Mary, in the eyes of others, it was admitting that he was the father of the child and that they were guilty of immoral behavior. What kind of person does God choose to do His work? He chooses one like Joseph: a righteous man of integrity, kindness and compassion, a person who makes the right choices to obey God contrary to the conventions of society. He chooses one who is willing to act obediently rather than just talk about it. He chooses ordinary people to do His will, for an ordinary tool in the hands of an extraordinary God can accomplish amazing and extraordinary things. Joseph was just such an ordinary man in the hands of an extraordinary God. Joseph passes from the scene after Luke chapter 2. He quietly did his job well and without fanfare. Yet over 2000 years later, we honor him as a father we should imitate. Why Nazareth? It was there where God found a virtuous maiden and a strong, courageous, compassionate and merciful man to nurture and care for His Son in the first 30 years of His life. We do well to imitate the character qualities we find in Mary and Joseph. We can all take courage that godly children can be raised surrounded by ungodly influences. 2