Sermon Series: God’s Promises at Christmas for YOU
Today’s Message: A Father Watches Over You
Text: Isaiah 9:6; Matthew 1:18-25 (NIV)
Pastor Ken Squires December 24, 2006
Edited by Dale Weaver
(18) This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. (19) Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. (20) But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. (21) She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” (22) All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: (23)”The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel”-which means “God with us.”
(24) When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. (25) But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus. (Matthew 1 – NIV)
In December 1903, after many attempts, the Wright brothers were finally successful in getting their “flying machine” off the ground. Thrilled, they telegraphed this message to their sister Kathrine: ”We have actually flown 120 feet. Will be home for Christmas.” Kathrine hurried to the editor of the local newspaper and showed him the message. He glanced at it and said, “How nice, the boys will be home for Christmas.” He totally missed the big news -- after thousands of years and hundreds of attempts -- man had achieved flight. (1)
An expert, who by virtue of his profession was undoubtedly skilled at writing and spotting news stories, missed one of the biggest ever! Perhaps it was because he wasn’t expecting it. After all, nothing significant was ever going to come from the family of Wright brothers. Or maybe this editor was concentrating on more pressing and more impressive stories, failing to see the obvious. It happened in Herod’s day and still happens in ours! Christmas comes and Christmas goes -- Jesus will be home this Christmas. So, what’s all the fuss?
While the story of Christmas may still impress us with a fresh and still-like-the-first-time reading, how many see only a baby and somehow miss the Savior! This Christmas, many who stroll through malls, stand in line at Starbucks and drop off packages for overseas delivery to military personnel, really miss the big news -- God sent a Savior to secure salvation from our sins.
Do you realize that on the first Christmas a heaven-sent child begins to breathe for the first time? He who was used to breathing eternal air, now breathes human air? Who flung the massive stars now flails his little legs. Filling those tiny lungs for the first time with dry Palestinian air, humanity gets another chance to make it.
As we approach the 3rd of Isaiah 9:6’s promises this Christmas, we find ourselves asking a puzzling question: How unusual is it that the child Jesus -- who is the Son of God in the flesh -- should be called the Everlasting Father? Why is this phrased as such? The answer is found in the Jewish use of the word “Father.” The word father meant “originator” or “author.” The Christmas story is filled with the fingerprints of an Eternal Father who is at work!
For centuries Jesus Christ had been stepping toward Bethlehem. Every time an additional descendent was born and added to the Savior’s genealogy, the shout of Isaiah’s prophecy, “for to us a child is born, to us a son is given” (Isaiah 9:6) rang out that “Christ is Coming!”
As another link was added to the genealogy, and another ancestor arrived; the voice of prophecy awoke and shouted still louder: “Christ is Coming!”
As the genealogy was revealed it was repeated over and over, generation after generation, until that moment in Bethlehem when local shepherds, Magi who had traveled thousands of miles, and a star millions of miles above all declared:
“Christ has Come!”
Isaiah reminds us that this future child will possess qualities that are found in that of a father. The Eternal Father found an eternal-minded father to physically superintend all the challenges and cares of that first Nativity: Joseph of Nazareth. But who was this Joseph? He was the answer to the question: Whom could God trust with the most prized possession in eternity?
Reared in Nazareth, but registered in Bethlehem, Joseph pleased God with his obedience. He was a God-follower who was deemed qualified to serve as a surrogate God’s father. It is telling, also, that Joseph never speaks within the body of the Christmas narrative. What point is God making here?
Like Joseph, God wants to use us for his purposes this Christmas. You may be sitting there thinking, “Who, me? Used of God?” His answer is emphatically “YES!” YOU, not someone else. And right now, not tomorrow. Life has little value unless you are used by the Most High God to bless someone else.
As an example… this past week dozens of people from Marysville First Assembly in Marysville, Washington poured out into Snohomish County toting Christmas baskets filled with Turkeys, toys, canned goods and paper products. Carefully following their mapquest.com directions they arrived at apartments, mobile homes, condos and houses to deliver these Christmas blessings.
One such delivery went to an unsuspecting Ukrainian family in Arlington, Washington. The only English speaker in the house was an elementary school-aged child named Vinita who attends the local public school. It was a concerned school teacher who had placed the name of Vinita’s family on the Christmas basket list. Having prayed that each encounter would be directed of God, gifts were quickly placed under the family Christmas tree. The mom began to get misty-eyed as she held the turkey which had just been delivered. You see, Vinita’s little two-year-old brother lives with life-long disabilities due to the aftermath of the Chernobyl nuclear tragedy and this family had not been expecting much of a Christmas this year. As these delivery people, used of God, left this family the mom was heard to say, “Merry Christmas” in her accented and broken English. Friends, God not only wants to use you but, as Rick Warren says, “He plans to wear you out!” (2)
So who does God want to use? Those who live to do His will; those willing to sacrifice; and those who trust his promises. How Joseph handled the unusual circumstances he faced speaks volumes of the type of father that God chose for the adoption of His son Jesus. Joseph could be trusted.
God Your Eternal Father Can Be Trusted.
1. Eternal Father’s see God’s larger plan when the future is uncertain.
(18) This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. (19) Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.
Joseph’s privilege was not the result of royal lineage, but rather because Joseph understood and accepted God’s larger plan for himself, Mary and the Savior child. Although Joseph came from Kingly stock, and thanks to the Genealogies of the Bible we clearly see this, Joseph knew that God was using Him not because he rode the coattails of King David’s royal lineage. (Matthew 1:17)
(17)Thus there was fourteen generations in all from Abraham to David, fourteen from David to the exile to Babylon, and fourteen from the exile to Christ.
Joseph was a man who quickly understood God’s Larger Plan for Him, for Mary and for the child. Although he was registered in Bethlehem, Joseph and Mary had both come of age in Nazareth. The town of Nazareth during the first Century was widely known for one thing -- sin. The Roman Garrison at Sepporis was located just four miles from town and, when payday came and leaves were granted, Nazareth became the red light district of the Orient. It was into this world, filled with the heart-aches of men’s souls, that God first spoke to Mary about her future.
When Joseph of Nazareth made his first appearance in the biblical text he was looking for a divorce. The new information about the status of his engagement has plunged a dagger of desperation deep into Joseph’s heart.
Dear one, God is able to help you see His larger plan for your life, even when a dagger of desperation is plunged deep into the heart-ache of your life.
(4) ”So Joseph went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem to town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David (Luke 2).”
There is a mentality today that God only does the miraculous or the incredible if the setting is just right, the worship is anointed or the preaching makes you shout. Nothing could be further from the truth. Now, those elements of the ministry of the Spirit are vital. But, somewhere between Joseph’s engagement and the Holy Spirit’s conception we must cast off those silly notions. To limit the ministry of the Holy Spirit only to a stereotypically unnatural state presents a distorted picture of what God is interested in doing.
Don’t be fooled by the idea that supernatural and miraculous workings only happen in certain settings. God clothes Himself in the difficult dimensions as well as the divine dimensions. He comes to ordinary people. God’s message is that in an ordinary and sin-filled town (Nazareth) He dealt through a working-class Jewish man (1000’s of “Josephs” could have fit the bill) to work his Christmas wonder. God is able to pull off the larger plan for your life, whether or not the current conditions are unbearable or unremarkable, no matter where you live or who you are.
2. Eternal Father’s model emotional stability even when the present is unknown.
(20) But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. (21) She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” (22) All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: (23)”The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel”-which means “God with us.”
In the nightmare that was Joseph’s world he would not allow himself to be ruled by his emotions & feeling. Before long Joseph will not only learn that God can work a larger divine objective, but that God can give him supernatural grace to change his focus from His own misfortunes to those of others. Is it any wonder that Joseph has become a bible hero to so many? For this one reason:
…he moves from his own self-pity and declaration of how unfair life is, to instead be concerned about the needs of others.
We are deposited into Joseph’s world in the middle of a nightmare. He fell in love with a beautiful young Jewish girl who had come to adore him. He worked over time to get ready to support his new bride. In a few short verses, his heart is broken. He stands in a state of confusion. How should he respond to the recent disclosure of Mary’s apparent unfaithfulness? Joseph could have taken the way of the law and had her publicly stoned – thus clearing his own name.
The bible tells us that instead Joseph’s choice was that of mercy. He did not want her to be publicly humiliated. As a word was being dispatched from Heaven to Joseph he was already choosing mercy. The scriptures reveal in Joseph there was no malice, no desire for revenge, no bitterness, no pointed questions, (who is the father?) and no hurtful accusations (How could you do this?)
Joseph ran the risk of being misunderstood. His friends might cut him off -- might talk behind his back. But no matter what happened, he could not hurt Mary. Joseph’s response to Mary’s disclosure reveals more about the heart of this man than any word that could have ever been spoken.
You see friend, grace-filled husbands and wives, young people and others know how to model emotional stability when the present is so uncertain.
3. Eternal Fathers know their future is brighter to God than their past is to them.
(24) When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. (25) But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.
Have we become so obsessed with the wrapping of Christmas that we have missed the gift of Christmas?
The “Disneyfication of Christianity.”
This Christmas let’s not loose sight of the truth that each member of the Nativity has one goal: as bit players they direct our attention to the Christ child. Our only hope for eternal life. The one who holds in His hand all the power of the Universe. He knows your every thought. He stepped into humanity to take you back with Him to eternity.
But one thing concerns me about Christmas in our culture: that we don’t confuse the gift of God’s son with the humble wrappings that he arrived in: a lowly manger; an overcrowded city; an obscure couple. We can so romanticize the setting that we miss the Savior.
If you go to the Oxford dictionary you can get the following definition of American Christmas by the British Theologian, Donn Cupitt: “Christmas is the Disneyfication of Christianity.” (3) What he is saying - at least concerning Christmas in our culture – is that we have about as much chance of finding Jesus in Disneyland as we do of finding Jesus in Christmas! Ouch! Have we in America become so obsessed with the wrapping and the trappings that we have completely lost sight of the gift?
Some theological traditions have so deified Mary, that Jesus and His promise of hope for lost mankind have all but been cast aside. Yes, it is easy to lose sight of the gift. Pastor Don Dietrick reminds us that we should not confuse the gift with what it is wrapped in. (4)
(1)Gift-wrappings can be deceptive.
(2)The gift-wrapping is not the gift.
(3)The gift-wrapping is to be discarded; the gift is to be treasured.
Let’s not sit here piously and think that we are above slipping into Satan’s subtle trap that places more value on the wrapping than the gift. Dear one, we live in the most commercialized society of the world. God has to work overtime to make sure that his message, manger and miracles are not swept into the Disneyfication of Christmas. There is only one way to make that happen: Get back to enjoying and understanding Christmas from the child’s perspective.
A couple of examples of
“A Child’s Perspective”
After attending the Nativity Movie, this Christmas 2006, our 7 year old (also named “Joseph”) who is used to a bit more “action” in his movies exclaimed upon exiting the theatre, “Wow --that was boring!” However, such was not the case during the scene where Mary is giving birth. She was screaming in the throes of childbirth as her husband, Joseph, attends to her and plays mid-wife. Suddenly, the baby Jesus appears at which point our son Joseph said to my wife, “Hey mom, how did that baby get out?” Thankfully, her answer that “She pushed him out” seemed to suffice for now! The night after the movie our family sat around the Christmas tree and reflected on the simple and profound meaning of the movie. Our hope this Christmas is to return to a child-like and innocent consideration of the events of Bethlehem.
The story is told of a group of first graders who got together and decided to write their own version of the Nativity Story. It was more modern than the traditional drama. There were all the familiar members of the cast: Joseph standing tall, shepherds proclaiming good news, and an angel propped up in the background fighting back the urge to go to the restroom. But, Mary was nowhere to be found.
Suddenly, from behind some bales of hay, could be heard some loud groans and moans. Mary was in labor and she was letting everyone know it! Soon the doctor arrived dressed in a white coat with a stethoscope around his neck. An alarmed Joseph directs the doctor immediately to where Mary is in labor. The next scene reveals Joseph pacing back and forth nervously.
A few minutes later the “doctor” emerges with a big smile on his face and announces “Congratulations, Joseph -- It’s a God” (5). With child-like innocence that would-be doctor declared a profound truth: the baby is Immanuel, which means “God with us.”
God is truly with us as our Eternal Father. He helps us to see His larger plan for our lives. He offers support in our hour of emotional distress. Finally, the God-inspired hope that you have this Christmas outshines and outlives the fading memories of your past.
Joseph: pulled out of Nazareth and forced into Bethlehem. Joseph: pushed into fatherhood. Joseph: chased out of Israel. All at the hands of an Eternal Father working his eternal plan for a father willing to be used of God. And when God uses a person he is willing to use them up!
Christmas is about God stepping into humanity to take you back with Him to eternity. Let’s go! Don’t wait -- Make plans now! Ask the Savior of Bethlehem who died as our Sin-Bearer in Jerusalem to forgive your sins. Receive his eternal life. Receive his plan for your life. Receive his healing, help and hope for your life. Believe today. Live today. Celebrate today.
Isaiah, was right,
Christ Has Come!
Summary Comments
1. For centuries Jesus Christ had been stepping toward Bethlehem.
2. Like Joseph, God wants to use us for his purposes this Christmas. You may be sitting there thinking, “Who, me? Used of God?” His answer is emphatically “YES!” YOU, not someone else. And right now, not tomorrow. Life has little value unless you are used by the Most High God to bless someone else.
3. Don’t be fooled by the idea that supernatural and miraculous workings only happen in certain settings. God clothes Himself in the difficult dimensions as well as the divine dimensions. He comes to ordinary people. God’s message is that in an ordinary and sin-filled town (Nazareth) He dealt through a working-class Jewish man (1000’s of “Josephs” could have fit the bill) to work his Christmas wonder. God is able to pull off the larger plan for your life, whether or not the current conditions are unbearable or unremarkable, no matter where you live or who you are.
Surprising Comments
1. God not only wants to use you but, as Rick Warren says, “He plans to wear you out!” (2)
2. Dear one, God is able to help you see His larger plan for your life, even when a dagger of desperation is plunged deep into the heart-ache of your life.
3. If you go to the Oxford dictionary you can get the following definition of American Christmas by the British Theologian, Donn Cupitt: “Christmas is the Disneyfication of Christianity.” (3) What he is saying - at least concerning Christmas in our culture – is that we have about as much chance of finding Jesus in Disneyland as we do of finding Jesus in Christmas! Ouch! Have we in America become so obsessed with the wrapping and the trappings that we have completely lost sight of the gift?
4. He stepped into humanity to take you back with Him to eternity.
End Notes
(1) Daily Bread, December 23, 1991. SermonCentral. Com. Top Five Illustrations for Advent 2002.
(2) Rick Warren. How to be used by God this Christmas. Ministry Tool Box. Pastor’s.com; 12/20/06
(3) Contributed by Gordan Runyan. SermonCentral. Com. Top Five Illustrations for Advent 2002, pg. 4.
(4) Don Detrick. www.bethel-church.com. Message: Lessons About Gift Wrapping. Gifts-message 3. December 15, 2002.
(5) Contributed by Owen Bourgaize. SermonCentral. Com. Top Five Illustrations for Advent 2002, pg. 4.
