Joseph, The Man of Christmas

There is a rather poignant Christmas story about a little girl who watched her mother & dad getting ready for Christmas. To her, it seemed that dad was preoccupied with burdens & bundles, & mom was concerned about parties & presents, & they just had no time for her. She felt that she was being shoved aside. In fact, it seemed to her that she was always being told, "Would you please get out of the way?" So one night in December she knelt beside her bed & prayed this prayer, "Our Father who art in heaven, please forgive us our Christmases as we forgive those who Christmas against us."

At Christmas time it’s easy to get pushed aside in all the hustle and bustle of the season. This little girl sure felt pushed aside and even neglected.

Well on that first Christmas night of long ago, was there anyone there that possibly felt pushed aside or neglected? How about the man of Christmas, Joseph? Is it possible that he felt a little pushed aside and neglected that first Christmas some 2000 years ago? It is clear that much emphasis is placed upon the infant Jesus, as well it should. But after Jesus, there is a great amount of emphasis placed upon Mary and even angels and shepherds. Turn with me this morning to a passage that does place some emphasis on Joseph. It’s found in Matthew 1:18-25 . Read.

Matthew 1:18–25 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. And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man and not wanting to disgrace her, planned to send her away secretly. 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. “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.” And Joseph awoke from his sleep and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took Mary as his wife, but kept her a virgin until she gave birth to a Son; and he called His name Jesus.

As we focus upon Joseph this morning, the man of Christmas, I want you to notice 4 things we learn from him.

1. LIFE’S PLANS CAN CHANGE.

- And they usually do – many times several times.

- Do you think that Joseph and Mary had shared a lot about their hopes and dreams as they talked about their marriage and life together? Of course they did! Most couples do! You marry and everything is bliss right – you have great plans! Then life sets in!

- So we can conclude Joseph and Mary had – but no where in their wildest dreams had they thought that something like this would ever happen to them! That God would choose them to bring the Son of God into the world – so He could be the God/Man and bring salvation to the world!

- Boy did life’s plans ever change!

- APP: Have your life plans ever been changed?Most of us here this morning would yes Pastor – O how they have!

- Listen 1. When God is at work and 2. When you submit yourself to His = God has a way of changing YOUR plans! And bringing your life into line with HIS plans!

TS – A 2nd thing we learn from Joseph…

2. BE WILLING TO DO GOD’S WILL

- Now this can be tough some times if we’re honest!

- Because sometimes…

1) God’s will is hard to understand.

2) God’s will goes against MY will

- We see that Joseph here need a little extra help from the Lord.

- What did God do? Had an angel appear to him in a dream and give him a message – to try and help him to understand what was going on here.

- And Joseph was willing to do God’s will!

- Did he fully understand it? I doubt it. But he was obedient and did God’s will!

- APP: The same is true in your life sometimes – sometimes God asks you to do something that you don’t understand or goes against YOUR will – and some times God has to give you a little extra help.

- The big question becomes: Are you going to be willing to do God’s will?

TS – A 3rd thing we learn from Joseph…

3. BE WILLING TO TRUST GOD.

- Joseph sure had to put a lot of trust in God didn’t he!

- You know, Joseph was dealing with a major crisis in his life – an unbelievably difficult situation.

1) His betrothed wife to be was found to be pregnant – this woman who he was already legally married to but the ceremony hadn’t been held yet and so no sexual relations yet, was pregnant – had she been unfaithful to him? Joseph knew he wasn’t the father! What was he too think?

2) He had a reputation and good name to be concerned about – this would make he and Mary and their families the talk of the town.

3) Could he trust Mary?

- It is clear that Joseph was very close to divorcing Mary and doing this privately in order to spare her of as much shame as possible – we’re told he was a righteous man.

- It would take a lot of faith and trust on Joseph’s part to go ahead and take Mary to be his wife!

- APP: Do you ever find yourself put into situations that are difficult – situations that take a lot of faith and trust?

- God is notorious for putting you and me in these situations! And every time He does, He wants you to respond with TRUSTING HIM!

- When you do, He always…

1. Takes care of things

2. Blesses you!

TS – A 4th thing we learn from Joseph…

4. GOD IS VERY MUCH INVOLVED IN HIS CREATION.

- There had been a 400 year period of silence between the Old Testament and the New Testament – called the Silent Years but God hadn’t been absent – He’d been very much with His people through those days.

- And now His purpose and plan established before the creation of the world was unfolding.

- As Galatians 4:4 says, “But when the fulness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law,”

- The story of Joseph reveals to us that God is very much involved in His creation!

- APP: So the next time you think God is distant– or you think God doesn’t care – or you think isn’t listening, remember: He is very much involved in your life – He loves you and caresabout you – and in His time He will answer and see you throughwhatever it is you are dealing with in your life.

Conclusion Well here are 4 things we learn from Joseph, the man of Christmas – and aren’t you thankful Joseph was willing and obedient…as Matthew 1:24-25 says…24 And Joseph awoke from his sleep and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took Mary as his wife, 25 but kept her a virgin until she gave birth to a Son; and he called His name Jesus.