JESUS’ FATHER IS OUR FATHER (Outline)
January 3, 2021 - Christmas 2 - MATTHEW 2:13-23
INTRO.: Our text today reminds about the very special relationship God the Father has with his children. Earthly family relationships can be strained at times. Emotions interfere. Misunderstandings interrupt. This is never the case with our heavenly Father. His love, mercy, kindness, and forgiveness are always perfect. Perfectly loved. Fully forgiven. This is our Fathers divine relationship with his children. “If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?” (LUKE 11:13). Fathers (and mothers) always want the best for their children. Our heavenly Father knows what is best for us.
JESUS’ FATHER IS OUR FATHER. I. God always protects. II. God always provides.
I. GOD THE FATHER PROTECTS ALL HIS CHILDREN
A. Verse 13. Wise men came to bring Jesus gifts. Left. An angel appears to Joseph. A warning.
1. Joseph was to get up and go to Egypt. Take along the baby Jesus and his mother, Mary.
2. King Herod was worried about this new King. Would seek to put Jesus to death. Flee!
B. Verse 14. Joseph fled with Jesus and Mary during the night. Night travel not normal. Urgency.
1. Verse 15. Jesus’ family stayed in Egypt until Herod died. God protected Jesus’ family.
2. All these events happened as God foretold (Hosea 11:1). “Out of Egypt I called my son.”
C. Verse 16. Herod was furious the wise men did not return to him and report what they found.
1. In furious anger ordered the slaughter of boys under the age of two in the Bethlehem area.
2. The wise men had followed the star for about two years. Jesus now a toddler.
3. Verses 17, 18. This wickedness was known by the Lord. Jeremiah (31:15) foretold.
D. King Herod thought he could derail the plans God the Father had for his Son and King, Jesus. So it is throughout history that wicked worldly rulers think that they are in control. Remember Herod. His anger ruled his decision. Wiped about innocent children. God the Father protected his Son Jesus, his son Joseph, and his daughter Mary. Herod lost. The Lord God of Armies won. This is always the case. Authorities today are no different. They rule with their “wisdom”. All too often they look out only for their own interests. They opposes God’s good and gracious will. But, “thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” Nothing new. "The kings of the earth take a stand, and the rulers join together against the LORD and against his Anointed One” (PSALM 2:2). God scoffs at them.
E. Do not allow the devil to make you doubt that our heavenly Father does not always protect us. Do not let wicked, worldly authorities make you fear them. Do not permit your own human nature to forget the power of our heavenly Father to save us from harm. Always. Our loving, heavenly Father delivers us from danger time and time again. His protection for us goes far beyond anything earthly. “We know that anyone who has been born of God does not go on sinning. But the one who was born of God protects him, and the Evil One cannot take hold of him" (1 JOHN 5:18). By God’s Word we are born of God. We can turn away from sinning. Satan cannot conquer. Christ defeated him for us.
F. Jesus’ Father IS our Father. What a comfort for us! Our strength. Our joy. The early disciples faced persecution. The Apostle Paul was almost stoned to death. Almost drowned. Imprisoned. Yet he knew how the Lord protected him. “The Lord will rescue me from every evil work and will bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen." (2 TIMOTHY 4:18). Our Father protects us. True – we may face troubles. Our Father protects from eternal harm and danger. Jesus’ Father who is our Father will finally bring us safely into his heavenly kingdom.
JESUS’ FATHER IS OUR FATHER. Our heavenly Father protects all his children.
II. GOD THE FATHER PROVIDES FOR HIS CHILDREN
A. All of this fleeing for one’s life and return to Israel part of God’s protection for his children.
1. The Lord God of Armies frustrated the murderous plans of Herod. Father protected.
2. Verse 19. Now the Father provides. Angel in a dream appears to Joseph.
B. Verse 20. “Get up, take the child and his mother, and go to the land of Israel.”
1. Same words used in verse 13. Go to Egypt. Now return to Israel.
2. Verse 21. Joseph listens. Obeys. Returns to Israel along with Jesus and Mary.
C. Verse 22. Archelaus was Herod’s son. Being warned returned to Galilee, not Judea.
1. Verse 23. The family lived in Nazareth. Jesus from Nazareth therefore called Nazarene
2. ALL of this: fleeing, Herod’s murders, return, and Nazareth provided safety by Father.
D. Children of God our heavenly knows exactly what we need for this life. But especially for our eternal life. Our loving, heavenly Father also knows the exact and perfect time to provide what we need. The Lord’s love for us is perfect. Perfectly timed. Perfectly planned. Our plans are not too often perfect. Our sinful nature defies our Father’s good and perfect will. Ignores his divine plans. Things in this world do not always go the way we want. But that is a good thing. "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to give you peace, not disaster, plans to give you hope and a future” (JEREMIAH 29:11). Our Father wants to give us peace, hope, and a future. Who could want or even ask for anything more?!? Peace in forgiveness. Hope in things unseen. A future in heaven.
E. People seem to be lonelier than ever. Electronic devices distract from our human interaction. We need human contact. Conversation. Caring and concern. All too often we might feel a bit for-gotten. Forsaken. That is our human thinking. Emotional. Often impractical. Jesus’ Father does provide for us the assurance of his presence. “For God has said: I will never leave you, and I will never forsake you. So then we say with confidence: The Lord is my helper, and I will not be afraid. What will man do to me?” (HEBREWS 13:5b, 6). Listen again: “…never leave…never forsake…confidence…Lord is my helper…I will not be afraid. What will man do to me?” Children of God do not be afraid. Man cannot do anything to me that affects our eternity. Our Father provides us the perfect eternity we need.
F. Jesus’ Father who is our Father daily provides for us on earth and forever in eternity. Rejoice! We consider the past year. Each of us have been blessed with an abundance. Earthly. Spiritual. We know that our Father will not stop providing for us. "Now to him, who is able, according to the power that is at work within us, to do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine, to him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen." (EPHESIANS 3:20, 21). God gives more than we can ask or imagine. Peace…Hope…a Future!
CONC.: Jesus’ Father IS our Father! This is God’s amazing grace. Undeserved love. Mercy. As earthly parents we know how to give good gifts. Sometimes they last. Other times they fail all too quickly. Our heavenly Father’s gifts are always perfect. Jesus’ Father, our Father, protects all of his children from eternal harm and danger. Jesus’ Father, our Father, provides for us his children for time and eternity. “Every good act of giving and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the lights, who does not change or shift like a shadow" (JAMES 1:17). Protects. Provides. Always in ALL ways. JESUS’ FATHER IS OUR FATHER. Amen. Pastor Timm O. Meyer
CHRISTMAS 2 rdgs: MICAH 5:2-5a; HEBREWS 2:10-18; JOHN 7:40-43; (PSALM 148)
SERVICES: 8:00am @ McCook (SUN) / 10:30am @ Redeemer (SUN)
BIBLE STUDIES following worship
redeemernorton.org & trinitymccook.com
