What We Can Learn From Mary And Joseph

WHAT WE CAN LEARN THIS CHRISTMAS

This is a second on the series on the Christmas message.

Last week, we talked about the three wise men who traveled from a far away place in search for the baby Jesus, the King of the Jews.

They just followed the star for many years with great perseverance until they arrived to the right place.

There, they worshiped Jesus and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.

In coming home, they went through another route to avoid the evil intention of King Herod.

Surely, we see the hand of God at work in making sure the first Christmas was fulfilled.

Many of you have heard of the song, "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year."

It is a popular Christmas song written in 1963 and released that year by pop singer Andy Williams for his first Christmas album.

The song is a celebration and description of the various activities associated with the Christmas season.

It focuses on getting together between friends and families.

If you listen carefully to the lyrics, among the activities included in the song is the telling of "scary ghost stories."

It's true, during the Victorian times, it was a tradition to tell spooky tales on Christmas Eve.

Thank God that it isn't done anymore.

However, some great activities in celebrating Christmas from the song include hosting parties, spontaneous visits from friends and spending time with loved ones.

Others also include sledding with children, kissing under the mistletoe, roasting marshmallows and sharing stories about the previous Christmases and of course, singing Christmas carols in increment weather.

Since then, it became one of the top ten Christmas songs of all time.

Christmas indeed is the most wonderful time of the year.

Let me also share to you a Quote on Christmas from Joel Osteen, the pastor of the largest Christian church in the United States based in Houston Texas:

"Christmas is the perfect time to celebrate the love of God and family and to create memories that will last forever.

Jesus is God's perfect, indescribable gift.

The amazing thing is that not only are we able to receive this gift,

but we are able to share it with others on Christmas and every other day of the year."

True, because of Christmas, we can share the love of Christ to others.

But to many, Christmas is just a good tradition that we do every single year.

During that time, they set up the Christmas lights, the Christmas tree and all the other Christmas decorations.

Then, all over you go in various department stores, you will hear those Christmas carols being sung over and over again.

Christmas can often loose its real meaning and significance.

People look forward for this date to receive and give out gifts.

But do you know that we can learn some important spiritual truths as we celebrate Christmas?

It should not just be a tradition year in and year out, but a learning experience for all of us.

If we want to learn about Christ, we must start with Christmas.

Because Christmas is all about the birth of Christ.

That He was born of a virgin.

That Christ is fully God and fully man.

That God in Christ became one of us in order to save us from our sins and give us eternal life.

You see, when we deny this essential doctrine of the virgin birth and the incarnation,

We deny the Scripture, we deny Christ and we deny our very own salvation.

Brothers and sisters, we truly believe in the virgin birth of Christ.

That Christ was born of the virgin Mary.

And today, we will examine the important spiritual things that Mary and Joseph learned that first Christmas day.

First, we will look at what Mary learned about the value of a Savior.

Then, we will examine what Joseph learned about the value of trusting God's plan.

Finally, we will learn how both Mary and Joseph learned the value of God's Word.

I invite you to open your heart and learn with us the most wonderful time of the year.

1. MARY LEARNED THE VALUE OF A SAVIOR.

Matthew 1:18-19 (niv) "18 This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit.19 Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly."

These verses talks about the simple explanation of how the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place.

There was Mary pledged to be married to Joseph.

They were not yet married.

They had no physical or sexual union at that time.