I Joseph
Matthew 1:18-25
One of the greatest jobs in scripture for angels is as heralds of God to man- bringing news and help from on high. Angels were the messengers- the Heralds of Messiahs coming
The Angel Gabriel brought the message to Mary - telling her “you will conceive in your womb, and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High;”
Angels brought the message to the Shepherds in the field- Good news, of a great joy, which shall be to all people.
An Angel also brought news to a distraught young man named Joseph – a man whose life seemed out of control.
Wow, I’m not used to speaking in front of so many people. My name is Joseph. Your pastor asked me here this morning to share my story with you. It’s a story of confusion, and love, angels and the Messiah, but I’m getting ahead of myself. My father Jacob always told me always told me to tell a story right you have to begin in the beginning.
As a young man I worked with my father Jacob. I learned the family business and became a carpenter. We were a family of Jews living in what had become a gentile land. Nazareth was my hometown- its located in lower Galilee almost half way between the Sea of Galilee and the Mediterranean. Nazareth was a small town we only had one spring of fresh water for the whole village. During the years of my childhood Gentile temples to pagan gods were built around Nazareth and the whole town was overrun. Every day the world around us became darker and darker as my hometown became a den of iniquity. Things would get so bad in fact that later men would ask the question - Can anything good come out of Nazareth.
All the while my father and I toiled away in the business and tried our best to remain faithful to the God of our fathers.
One day my eyes fell on a young girl as she carried water from the well. Her name was Mary. I knew her family. They had a bright reputation as a righteous and God fearing family in our dark town. Her father came to synagogue and we knew them well. Something about her that day caught my eye as never before. Maybe I was finally growing up. After a time I asked her father for her hand in marriage. The engagement was done and we were set to be married a year later. To understand what happened next you have to understand our customs. Engagement was very different for us. Lasting one year essentially as far as the law was concerned we were already married. To break this betrothal would require a writ of divorce.
At this time I thought my life was just about perfect. Mary and I talked about our future together. A home, a family, all the things young couples dream of. Everything was perfect until that night when Mary told me she was with child. “How can this be? I demanded. She told me a story about an angel, and the Holy Spirit- but I could not see past my own pain and betrayal to the truth of her words. I left her house a ruined man. My hopes my dreams all shattered. What of my reputation- would people think me the father? What would the people say? If I told them I was not the father - Mary would be taken to the city gate and stoned as an adulteress. What should I do. I walked the town almost all night. What should I do? I made up my mind to put her away quietly and save her the shame. She could leave Nazareth and go somewhere else to save her shame.
I remember that night as if it were yesterday. It was a clear cool night in Nazareth. I cried as I lay in my bed that night- my heart broken for all the dreams that were shattered. My life that had seemed so wonderful now seemed so out of control. All my dreams lay in ruins at my feet. Or so it seemed to me. I got on my knees and cried out to God - why has this happened to me- what am I to do?
I fell asleep crying that night. As I slept I dreamed and it seemed to me that the whole world lit up. I sat up from my bed blinking in the brightness to find a man standing near to my bedside. He was dressed all in dazzling attire immediately I knew him in my heart to be the messenger of God an answer to my prayer. I fell to the floor at his feet and bowed my head.
The angel said to me - Do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife what is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit- A thousand thoughts went through my head. It all came flooding back to me. Do not be afraid- That’s what Mary said the angel told her. The angel that told her she would conceive a child even as a virgin. Now the angel tells me the same thing- And I didn’t believe her. I didn’t listen to what she told me. Would she ever forgive me for my doubt of her?
Then the angel spoke again - she will bear a Son and you shall call his name Jesus - Jehovah is Salvation - It is He who will save His people from their sins. This child would be the one foretold-Isaiah the prophet told us - A virgin shall conceive and give birth to a son and His name shall be call Emmanuel - God with us.-
How could it be - this baby in Mary’s womb would be the Messiah- Could it be that God would entrust to me the care and responsibility of raising His son. I wanted to say no - that I couldn’t possibly live up to that kind of responsibility. That God must have made a mistake in choosing me. But I remembered finally the words of Mary - Be it done to me even as you have said. I awoke and I rested my future in the hands of the living God -
I took Mary as my wife - and she remained a virgin until a son was delivered -
That took place on a still quiet night in the town of Bethlehem some 80 miles from our home but that story is for another day.
I leave you today with two reminders-
1) When your life seems out of control - all your dreams in ruins at your feet - God is still on the Throne - It was at the moment that I thought my life was over that God spoke to me of the plans that He had for me - The prophet Jeremiah speaking from God said “I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” God wasn’t through with me and He is not through with you.
2) Secondly - A child was born that night in Bethlehem- I was not his father - God was His father - He was Messiah - Emmanuel -God with us.- He came to save us - that includes you from your sins - If you will only trust in Him.
The question is do you?
Do you believe in this Christmas Story-
If you do - you need not be afraid- God is with you and God is in control
If you don’t I encourage you to examine your hearts - I promise you will find Jesus true
It’s a story of confusion, and love, angels and the Messiah. but I’m getting ahead of myself.
My father Jacob always told me always told me to tell a story right you have to begin in the beginning.
learned the family buisness and became a carpenter. We were a family of Jews living in a gentile land. Nazareth was my hometown
Gentile temples to pagan gods were built
Can anything good come out of Nazareth.
One day my eyes fell on a young girl
I knew her family.
Maybe I was finally growing up.
you have to understand our customs.
I thought my life was just about perfect.
Everything was perfect until that night when Mary told me she was with child. “How can this be?
I could not see past my own pain and betrayal to the truth of her words.
I had two choices- go to the court
give her a writ of divorce in the presence of two witnesses
As I slept I dreamed and it seemed to me that the whole world lit up
The angel said to me - Do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife what is concieved in her is of the Holy Spirit-
she will bear a Son and you shall call his name Jesus - Jehovah is Salvation - It is He who will save His people from thier sins.
Isaiah the prophet told us - A virgin shall concieve and give birth to a son and His name shall be call Emmanuel - God with us.-
1) When your life seems out of control - all your dreams in ruins at your feet - God is still on the Throne - The prophet Jeremiah speaking from God said “I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” God wasn’t through with me and He is not through with you.
2) Secondly - A child was born that night in Bethlehem- I was not his father - God was His father - He was Messiah - Emmanuel -God with us.- He came to save us - that includes you from your sins - If you will only trust in Him.
