SERIES: CHRISTMAS CLASSICS
(adapted from a series from Southeast Christian Church)
“HOME ALONE”
MATTHEW 1:18-25; 2:13-15, 19-21
OPEN
This morning we start a new series called Christmas Classics. This series is developed around well-known movies based around the theme of Christmas. The first message is : Home Alone.
I’m not sure how many of you have seen this movie but it is a very funny film to watch. Here is a basic summary of the plot and the characters:
It’s the story of 8-year-old, Kevin McCallister, who lives with his wealthy family in a large house in
Chicago. For Christmas, the family is taking a vacation to Europe. As all the relatives show up, there is a
lot of confusion in the house, and Kevin, being in that in-between age where he is neither cute nor mature,
causes a ton of trouble.
When things get out of control, he is sent to the attic bedroom to sleep. In the midst of this tantrum,
Kevin tells his mother who punished him that he hated her and that he wished he’d never have to see his
family ever again.
The next morning arrives and everyone wakes up late. In all the hustle and bustle of trying to get out the
door and make it to the airport on time, Kevin is forgotten, left sleeping in the attic. All the while, the
parents believe Kevin is with them, hanging out with his cousins.
Kevin finally wakes up to find that he is the only one in the house. And in his understanding, he comes to
the conclusion that his wish has been granted – his family has disappeared – to his delight!
So now he is home alone with the full run of the house. He eats all the junk food he wants. And he
doesn’t have to answer to anyone. He can do whatever he wants. He can watch whatever he wants on
television. He can go into his brother’s room and snoop all he wants. He can play with anything that he
wants. And nobody is there to tell him, “No! You can’t do that!” Nor is there anyone to make fun of him
when he does whatever he wants.
Kevin’s life begins to have added excitement when two crooks, Harry and Marv, are robbing houses in
the neighborhood, as most families are away on vacations, and they target Kevin’s house next. In the movie,
of course, we laugh hysterically as Kevin successfully sets up booby traps that will capture the crooks.
But as the success of his antics comes to an end, he discovers he has a problem. Being home alone is not
what he thought it would be. His freedom has brought on problems that are worse. He’s lonely. And now
he is sorry that he has wished his family away and wants them back again.
Have you ever felt lonely? Lee Strobel, in his book God’s Outrageous Claims said that people today will admit any problem - drugs, divorce, alcoholism “but there’s one admission that people are loath to make,
whether they’re a star on television or someone who fixes televisions in a repair shop. It’s just too embarrassing. It penetrates too deeply to the core of who they are.” “People don’t want to admit that they are (sometimes) lonely.” He continues, “Loneliness is such a humiliating malady that it ought to have its own politically correct euphemism: ‘relationally challenged.’ Or its own telethon. Anything to make it safer to confess. Because right now it’s a taboo, an affliction of losers and misfits. And - to be honest - of respectable people like you and me.”
According to Los Angeles psychiatrist, Dr. Leonard Zunin, despite the fact that the average American meets as many people in one year as their ancestors met in a life time 100 years ago, loneliness is the main problem facing Americans today.” Author Thomas Wolfe said, “The whole conviction of my life now rests upon the belief that loneliness, far from being a rare and curious phenomenon, peculiar to myself and a few other solitary men, is the central and inevitable fact of human existence.”
Loneliness is a common, everyday experience for a lot of people. And the feeling of loneliness is compounded at Christmas because this is the time of year when families get together and everyone exchanges love and joy.
But the feeling of loneliness at Christmas is nothing new. The very first Christmas, Joseph faced situation after situation in which he must have felt alone. Let’s look together at three events in Joseph’s life that show us how he faced loneliness and how God showed him that he was not alone.
IN NAZARETH:
When he felt betrayed by one he trusted
Mt. 1:18-25 – “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.
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. 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. 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.’ All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: ‘The
virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel’ —which means, ‘God with us.’ When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home
as his wife. But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.”
Imagine how Joseph felt when he first learned Mary was pregnant. The culture of dating and marriage was much different in ancient Israel than it is today. People didn’t meet, fall in love and decide to get married. The decision as to marry or whom to marry was never theirs to make Marriages were business transactions arranged for them by their fathers.
In our passage Joseph and Mary were in the stage of the process known as betrothal. This ancient form of engagement lasted between six months to a year. Unlike our marital engagements today, betrothal was as binding as marriage. To be released from a betrothal, you had to engage in divorcement proceedings.
While very little is mentioned concerning Joseph’s feelings, we can only imagine that his heart must have broken when he discovered that the one he had loved betrayed him. He would probably have wondered what kind of gossip would travel around concerning this situation. Nazareth was a small town, where information probably got circulated fast. Some things never change regardless of the time or place.
Joseph had to come up with a course of action for this unpleasant situation. At this point Joseph wasn’t only battling some earth-shattering emotions, but compounding his feelings he had to make a wise decision on how to handle this situation. The stress of such a decision would have made anyone feel alone and abandoned.
Here was Joseph’s dilemma: 1. As a righteous man (being one who follows the Law) he couldn’t complete the marriage contract. 2. Marrying a woman carrying a child known not to be his child would reflect badly not only on him but his entire family – his mother and his father.
Joseph is pondering over two options. Option 1: Accuse Mary of adultery and let her face the consequences. In this case a divorce would be granted. But there would be dire consequences. In many countries at the time adultery was considered a heinous crime, with punishments to fit .
In Egypt they cut off the guilty woman’s nose. In Persia it was both the ears and nose. But the penalty was even harsher in Israel. The guilty woman could be stoned to death.
Option 2: Put Mary away quietly. In using this option a divorce would also be granted but no reason would be given for the divorce. During this time period, no reason was needed, all the man had to do was say, “I divorce you”.
That was the quandary that Joseph faced. He could rightfully have Mary executed or He could mercifully put her away quietly. Joseph decided to act according to Micah 6:8 – “And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”
It ‘s at this point when it looks as if Joseph is all alone that God steps in to bring much needed resolution to the situation. An angel appears to him in a dream and tells him not to fear taking Mary as his wife. He awakes and realizes that he has not been alone. God has been there with him all the time, and has provided much needed guidance. He now has been given a third option, which is to take Mary home as his wife
God didn’t abandon Joseph in this lonely and stressful time in his life, and he won’t abandon us either. He promises us that. Dt. 31:8 – “The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” Mt. 28:20 – “I will be with you always...”
IN BETHLEHEM:
When he was overwhelmed by his personal responsibilities
Lk. 2:1-7 – “In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone
went to his own town to register. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register
with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.”
As he and Mary traveled towards Bethlehem one can only imagine the intense pressure Joseph must have been under. There were the financial pressures of making such a trip. Travel has never been cheap. There were pressures in the act of travel itself. There were no interstate highways or Holiday Inns. Then Joseph had to provide for Mary and the new baby once they arrived. The whole ordeal must have been very overwhelming to Joseph and no doubt he felt very alone.
Being thrust into a position of great responsibility can be a lonely experience. To top off the stress that he was surly under, came the added responsibility of being a surrogate father to the Son of God. Could you imagine being a parent to God? It’s almost too unbelievable to comprehend. But for Joseph it was reality.
Chuck Swindoll, in his book The Quest for Character, tells about a PBS program from some years ago that told about the Library of Congress. Swindoll relates: “About halfway through (the program), Dr. Daniel Boorstin, the Librarian of Congress, brought out a little blue box from a small closet that once held the library’s rarities. The label on the box read: Contents of the President’s Pockets on the Night of April 14, 1865. Since that was the fateful night Abraham Lincoln was assassinated, every viewer’s attention was seized. Boorstin then proceeded to remove the items in the small container and display them on camera. There were five things in the box: 1). A handkerchief, embroidered ‘A. Lincoln’ 2). A country boy’s pen knife 3). A spectacles case repaired with string 4). A purse containing a $5 bill--Confederate money(!) 5. Some old and worn newspaper clippings”
“ ‘The clippings,’ said Boorstin, ‘were concerned with the great deeds of Abraham Lincoln. And one of them actually reports a speech by John Bright which says that Abraham Lincoln is ‘one of the greatest men of
all times.’
Swindoll continues: “Today that’s common knowledge. The world now knows that British statesman John Bright was right in his assessment of Lincoln, but in 1865 millions shared quite a contrary opinion. The President’s critics were fierce and many. His was a lonely agony that reflected the suffering and turmoil of his country ripped to shreds by hatred and a cruel, costly war. There is something touchingly pathetic in the mental picture of this great leader seeking solace and self-assurance from a few old newspaper clippings as he reads them under the flickering flame of a candle all alone in the Oval Office.” Swindoll concludes: “ Remember this: Loneliness stalks where the buck stops.”
Joseph’s responsibilities may have seemed to outweigh his ability, but again in this situation he wasn’t alone. Even with all this stress and no doubt feelings of loneliness the events that had transpired reinforced the fact that God was watching over him.
Not only that but he had become the adopted father of a son that was indeed special. When he was born shepherds had come from their fields to worship him. Kings from the east did the same, with the star in the heavens to guide their way. The heavenly host had filled the night sky. Joseph came to understand that God had been with him the whole time.
God is with us as well. It was prophesied that Jesus would be Immanuel – “God with us”. Even when Jesus was preparing for the final hours of His life – knowing that the days ahead would bring his death, burial, resurrection and ascension – He promised His presence through His Holy Spirit. Jn. 16:7 –“But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.”
The very Spirit of God indwells us, comforts us, guides us, speaks for us in prayer. He teaches us and empowers us to be like our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We are not alone!
IN EGYPT:
Where he had to flee out of fear to escape danger to his family
Mt. 2:13-15 – “When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. ‘Get up,’ he said, ‘take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.’ So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: ‘Out of Egypt I called my son.’”
Joseph was under attack by a malicious and determined foe. This foe was Herod the Great, King of the Jews. Herod was King of the Jews and he would stand for no other. He was after Jesus, not to worship him as he had told the Magi but to kill him.
Herod was a ruthless and brutal ruler. He had wives, sons, and other relatives and friends all executed because he suspected they were plotting against them. He was a man who was willing to go to any lengths to maintain his power. He was a deranged tyrant, sick in both mind and body, and he wasn’t about to be usurped by a baby. He went after Jesus with everything he had and left nothing but destruction in his wake.
Mt. 2:16-18 – “When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi. Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled: ‘A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.’”
Fear can be a debilitating emotion. It can drive us from the right path or even freeze us in our tracks. We all have fears.
Mental health professionals have chronicled hundreds of different kinds of fears that plague the lives of people all over the world. Some of them are common. Others are rare. Some are logical. Others are illogical. Here are some chronic fears suffered by real people: 1. Peladophobia - fear of baldness and bald people 2. Aerophobia - fear of drafts. 3. Porphyrophobia - fear of the color purple. 4. Chaetophobia - fear of hairy people. 5. Levophobia - fear of objects on the left side of the body. 6. Dextrophobia - fear of objects on the right side of the body. 7. Calyprophobia - fear of obscure meanings. 8.. Odontophobia - fear of teeth (better not be a dentist if you have that one!.) 9. Graphophobia - fear of writing in public. 10. Phobophobia - fear of being afraid.
John Ortberg, in his book If You Want To Walk On Water You’ve Got To Get Out Of The Boat, writes: “The single command in Scripture that occurs more often then any other-God’s most frequently repeated instruction-
is formulated in two words: Fear Not. Do not be afraid. Be strong and courageous. You can trust me.
Fear not. Why does God command us not to fear? Fear does not seem like the most serious vice in the world. It never made the list of the Seven Deadly Sins. No one ever receives church discipline for being afraid. SO why does God tell human beings to stop being afraid more often than he tells them anything else? My hunch is that the reason God says ‘Fear Not’ so much is not that he wants us to be spared emotional discomfort.
In fact, usually he says it to people to do something that is going to lead them into greater fear anyway. I think God says, ‘fear not’ so often because fear is the number one reason human beings are tempted to avoid doing what God asks them to do.”
Did you ever ask yourself, “Why Egypt?” Why was it that God chose Egypt as the place to send Joseph, Mary, and the infant Jesus? Well, there were several reasons.
The fist reason is that it was the fulfillment of prophecy. Mt. 2:15 – “And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: ‘Out of Egypt I called my son.’” (Hos. 11:1)
The second reason it that Egypt was a place of safety for the child and His mother. It put them away from the reach and influence of Herod.
The third reason, I think, is the most important reason. The third reason is that it was the element of obedience. You see, the only way to overcome fear is to totally trust in God’s love and mercy. 1 Jn. 4:18 tells us that “perfect love drives out fear”
Have you ever heard God asking you to step out in faith and do something but fear has held you back? Maybe it was giving a substantial financial gift but you didn’t give because you were afraid that you might not have enough afterwards. Maybe it was serving the needs of someone you really don’t care for in the first place because you’re afraid that they probably wouldn’t appreciate it anyway. Maybe it was talking to the family member, co-worker, or neighbor about your relationship with Jesus because you’re afraid that they will reject you or ridicule you. Whatever the reason, don’t you think it’s time that you just trusted God?
Mt.2:19-23 – “After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, ‘Get
up, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who were trying to take the child’s life
are dead.’ So he got up, took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel. But when he heard that
Archelaus was reigning in Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. Having been warned in a dream, he withdrew to the district of Galilee, and he went and lived in a town called Nazareth. So was
fulfilled what was said through the prophets: ‘He will be called a Nazarene.’”
The lesson we see is that even when Joseph was afraid, He wasn’t alone. God stepped in to give the needed guidance. God speaks to Joseph in a dream and tells him what to do. Now Joseph, just like his ancestral father Abraham before him, went out not knowing what lie ahead but was just totally dependent on God. Joseph again discovers that he is not alone - even when he and his family were under a vicious attack
Again, God provides. God had a plan to save the world. He wasn’t going to let anything stop His plan. God had provided the resources to make the trip. The wise men had brought valuable gifts that could used to finance the trip to and the stay in Egypt.
God also provided a place to live in. Large numbers of Jews lived in Egypt at this time and Jewish synagogues were familiar sights. God provided fellowship and community for them when they got there
I heard about a couple who were just married and were on their honeymoon. The husband was bragging about how he hadn’t spared a penny paying for the honeymoon – especially on the hotel room.
They got there in the wee hours of the morning. They were taken to their hotel room and it wasn’t really what they were expecting – not what the travel agent had told them about. The bathroom was kind of small. There were no windows in the room. The room itself was small. The worst part was that there was no bed –
just a couch that pulled out into a bed. But both of them were tired, it was very late, and they decided to just get a good nights’ sleep and deal with it in the morning.
The next morning the husband marched down to the front desk and asked for the manager. He laid out his list of complaints and when he was done, the manager was just smiling. He asked the husband, “Did you open the door inside your room?” “You mean the closet door?” The manager said, “It’s a little more than a closet.
Tell you what, just go on back upstairs, open the door and tell me what you think.”
The husband did and there was the suite they had reserved – huge rooms, a great big bed with chocolates on
the pillows, and decorated with fresh cut flowers. The best part was the great view of the ocean.
Many times we do the same thing in our lives. We become so focused on the circumstances in front of us that we don’t see the big picture. We don’t open the doors God has in front of us. Many times the imperfect circumstances keep us from the blessing that’s just beyond the door.
CLOSE
Max Lucado wrote an imaginary prayer of Joseph, standing outside the stable: This isn’t the way I planned it, God. Not at all. My child being born in a stable. This isn’t the way I thought it would be. A cave with sheep and donkeys, hay and straw. This isn’t at all what I had imagined.
I imagined family – grandmothers, neighbors, friends standing by my side. I imagined the house erupting with the first cry of an infant, slaps on the back, loud jubilation. That’s how I thought it would be. It just doesn’t seem right.
What kind of husband am I? I provide no mid-wife to aide my wife; no bed to rest her back; her pillow is a blanket off a donkey. My house for her is a shed of hay and straw. The smell is bad; the animals are loud. Did I miss something, God? This isn’t the way I wanted it to be.
This is not the way I wanted my son … oh my, I did it again. I did it again, didn’t I Father? I don’t mean to do that, it’s just that I forget. He’s not my son; He is Yours. The child is Yours, the plan is Yours, the idea is Yours. And forgive me for asking, but is this how God enters the world?
The big question for us is, “When things look bad and I feel all alone, do I trust God?” You see, God’s plan may not make sense to us but it makes sense to Him. Just when we think everything is falling apart, God says, “Just trust me. I’ve got a plan and a purpose and I will provide.”
The words that Moses spoke to Joshua are just as relevant to us today as they were when they were spoken. Deut. 31:8 – “The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” If Jesus Christ is your Lord and Savior, that promise belongs to you as well.
