Joseph's Response-ability (Matthew 1:18-25)
Gary McManus, 12/13/2021Part of the Christmas series, preached at a Sunday Morning service
December 12, 2021 Third Sunday in Advent
Matthew 1:18-25
You have heard about Joseph, Jesus’ “dad”
many times. Notice as we have each week, God’s
messenger came also to Joseph (in a dream).
God had to line up all the participants in our plan
of salvation.
We are not told much about Joseph in the Bible.
But Joseph and his response to God’s plans were
ESSENTIAL to the fulfillment of God’s plan
for our salvation.
Matthew 1:19: Joseph= a just man/ righteous man
. . .faithful to the law.
Joseph was an observant Jew. AND, Joseph’s adherence to the law is creates the problems for Joseph. Joseph’s problem and his solution tell us much. (See Deuteronomy 22:20-21)
Joseph would divorce Mary quietly so that
no one else would demand Mary’s death.
Denouncing Mary publicly was Joseph’s RIGHT
by law. But Joseph would demonstrate
the quality of mercy.
THEN. . .then Joseph had a dream.
God’s messenger said:
Mary’s baby was of the Holy Spirit—that Joseph
was to not be afraid to take Mary as his wife.
Why would Joseph have been afraid?
Mary’s shame or the shame of them both.
Were Mary and Joseph hypocrits?
Do you think you know what you would
have believed, 2,000 years ago if you lived
in Nazareth?
(See Matthew 23:23) Joseph had NOT forgotten mercy! Have American Christians forgotten mercy?
How hard it can be to show mercy.
How hard to be offended and keep the offense to yourself.
The Prosperity Gospel would suggest that there are
rewards for doing the right thing in this life.
Bible seems to say that the rewards come at the end.
( Isaiah 40:10, Isaiah 62:11, Matthew 5:11-12,
Matthew 6:20, Mathew 16:27, Matthew 19:28-39,
Romans 2:7, 1 Corinthians 3:11-15, 2 Corinthians 5:10, 1 Peter 1:7, James 1:12, Revelation 22:12).
Were there rewards or honor for being obedient to God’s messenger in a dream? Not even a room in Bethlehem?
There must be some message in Joseph’s obedience and Jesus’ birth among the household animals. (See Mark 10:45)
Joseph’s obedience did something most important. Joseph’s marriage (taking Mary home as wife) MADE the baby Jesus, Joseph’s baby.
No matter how that baby was conceived,
the baby would be Joseph’s child—by law.
Jesus would be known as son of Joseph (Luke 4:22).
Matthew’s first chapter takes great pains to explain how Jesus is of the House of David, a Son of Abraham, AND Son of God.
God’s plan from the beginning (Genesis 12:1-3,
the plan for our salvation) was going forward!
Amen.
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