SLIDE: What Child is This?  Joseph’s Perspective

 

 

SLIDE: Joseph Accepts Jesus as His Son

Matthew 1:18-25  Pg. 783

 

READ…  Called into the Story!  Emotions.

Luke = Mary =  EXCITEMENT!  JOY!

 

SLIDE: Matthew 1:19 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.

 

Joseph is a good man!  A logical decision

 

Deut. 22:23-24 – Mary stoned

 

Christmas isn’t about…  Good men being Logical

 

Christmas  – WAY MORE!!!

 

Christmas = God calling for FAITH, TRUST in his plan, Belief that being “Good and logical” are not enough, and ACTION!

 

SLIDE:  Matthew 1:20 “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife…

 

DO NOT BE AFRAID!

 

 

“What is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit”

 

SLIDE:  Matthew 1:24 When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife.

 

Christmas = ACTION  

 

JOSEPH NEVER SPEAKS –  Actions speak louder than words!

 

Matthew 1:21 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.”

 

 

Jesus = the Greek form of Joshua =  God saves – God delivers

 

Christ = The Greek – Christos English – Christ.

 Messiah = Hebrew – mashiach =  “anointed one” or “chosen one.”

 

“Jesus Christ”  = “Jesus the Messiah.”

 

SLIDE:  Matthew 1:21 “will save his people from their sins”

 

 

 

SLIDE:  This story is…  Inconceivable

 

editorial comment…  to God.

 

How a story starts… matters.

 

How people respond to a story MATTERS!

 

story of God’s power.

 

CLOSE and Personal.

 

God is “WITH US” … with people.

 

Joseph is called to believe this…

 

Christmas is NOT about Good people making logical decisions!

 

 

SLIDE:  Matthew 1:24 When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife.

 

RECAP! 

 

 

I was just dating the girl over in the valley!  Whuuut?

 

BODOS! Mary is Pregnant!

 

I didn’t think so… you are a Good man… a logical man.

 

Holy Spirit

 

You don’t believe her do you?  I do.

 

A DREAM… that’s a nightmare!

 

You bring her here!

 

SLIDE:  Christmas… It is deeply PERSONAL and for a LIFETIME

 

Take her home…   THIS IS PERSONAL

 

To be your wife…  A LIFE TIME!

 

This PERSONAL –  LIFETIME!

 

Joseph stands in the story of many of us!!!

He is ME!

 

 

What seemed so CRAZY  …  I believe it.

 

Do YOU?!

You TOO?

 

Just like…  the original Christmas…