Thanksgiving and Joy
Modeled by the First Family
Luke 1: 26-56
As we enter this Thanksgiving and Advent season I want us to look at the First Family – Joseph and Mary – as a family that modeled “thanksgiving and joy.”
Luke chapters1 and 2 the background is given about the miracle of two births – the birth of John the Baptist and the birth of Jesus. John the Baptist was born to Grandpa Zachariah and Grandma Elizabeth.
An angel appeared to Zachariah, a priest, as he was taking his yearly turn to enter the sanctuary to burn incense. While at the altar an angel appeared to him and Zachariah was nearly paralyzed in fear. The angel reassured him, “Don’t be afraid, your prayer has been heard. Elizabeth your wife will bear a son by you. You are to name him John. You’re going to leap like a gazelle for joy and not only you, but many will delight in his birth.”
Zachariah responded, “Don’t expect me to believe this, I’m an old man and my wife is an old woman.” The angel said, “I am Gabriel, sent by God to give you good news. Since you did not believe you will not be able to say a word until John is born.”
Six month later the Angel Gabriel appeared to a teenage virgin named Mary and greeted her: “Good morning! You’re beautiful with God’s beauty. Beautiful inside and out! God be with you. Mary was thoroughly shaken, wondering what was behind a greeting like that. But the angel assured her, “Mary, you have nothing to fear. God has a surprise for you. You will become pregnant and give birth to a son and call his name Jesus.”
Mary said, “How is that possible, I have not slept with a man.” The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you the power of the Highest hover over you, therefore, the child you bring to birth will be called Holy, Son of God.”
After Mary heard the good news she didn’t waste any time and traveled to her Cousin Elizabeth’s house. When Mary entered Elizabeth’s home and greeted Elizabeth the baby in Elizabeth’s womb leaped for joy. (Luke 1:42) Mary’s news brought joy to six month old unborn John the Baptist. Thirty years later John the Baptist would introduce Jesus as the “Lamb of God who takes away the sin of world.” Unborn John the Baptist experienced the feeling of joy. Unborn babies are not an "it," unborn babies are alive with feelings of both pain and joy.
Before Jesus was born he brought joy to his cousin John the Baptist. An angel of the Lord announced to the shepherds watching their flock of sheep near Bethlehem, “Behold I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.” During his life and ministry Jesus brought good tidings of great joy.
Elizabeth greeted Mary and said, “Blessed are you among women, and the babe in your womb, also blessed! And why am I so blessed that the mother of my Lord visits me?”
Mary then sang out with a spontaneous outpouring of deep emotion do thanksgiving and joy. The song we call the “Magnificat.” Mary speaks both as a poet and a prophetess.
“My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.” Mary declares that she is bursting with God-news and is dancing the song of Her Savior.
Mary has an adequate view of God. God is Almighty. God is merciful. Holy is His name. God puts down those who oppose Him. God is in control of all things.
When you have a Biblical view of God like Mary, you sing forth with thanksgiving and praise.
We hear the story of the first family and all they went through to start a family. In spite of all the hardships and challenges we see in the lives of Mary and Joseph a couple that modeled the attitudes of thanksgiving and joy.
I. Joseph and Mary welcomed Jesus into their home.
Joseph and Mary welcomed the new born baby into their home. Joseph had to be convinced that his bride was expecting a child that was God’s Son. Joseph did all he could to care for his expecting wife and sheltered her from possible accusations and criticism. He accepted the unborn baby as his own.
Have you talked to young couples and asked them if they wanted to have children. Often they will reply: “Yes, when we can afford them.” Guess what, children usually come when you can least afford them. Our first son, Tim was born when I was in seminary in Wilmore, KY.
When Tim was born he brought mostly joy to our home. I confess that when I first saw him I was shocked. I was not prepared for wrinkled skin, an out of shape head. Slimy body, I thought, “Is he normal, is he okay?” Carollyn looked up at me and said: “Don’t you like him.” My face must have shown confusion and shock. I was able to softly say, “Sure I like him, he’s a neat package.” Later when he was all cleaned up he looked good – he had all his fingers and toes. I was excited with joy to be a father.
Tim was the start of our family of four – they married – then eight, now plus 13 grandchildren – 21 and this Christmas we will add one more to our family – Joseph Ray McDugald. Our youngest daughter is having her first baby – December 10th. New babies do bring thanksgiving and joy. After 12 years of marriage Bob and Janette are making all kinds of preparations for their new addition. They have a room full of furniture and a colorful wall painting to welcome Joseph Ray into their home.
Just as Jesus brought thanksgiving and joy to the first family He also brings thanksgiving and joy to every family that welcomes him into their home today.
Children have such sincere faith. Children often lead the way in living a life of faith. They are open and honest in their faith. Dr. James Dobson, President of Focus on the Family tells about his son Ryan: When our son, Ryan, was 5, he offered the following prayer during our family devotions: "Dear Jesus, sorry for the mess we made in the yard today." After a slight pause, he concluded, "Thank you for the fun we had doing it."
In his book Living Life on Purpose, Greg Anderson shares the story of one man’s journey to joy:
... His wife had left him and he was completely depressed. He had lost faith in himself, in other people, in God--he found no joy in living.
One rainy morning this man went to a small neighborhood restaurant for breakfast. Although several people were at the diner, no one was speaking to anyone else. Our miserable friend hunched over the counter, stirring his coffee with a spoon.
In one of the small booths along the window was a young mother with a little girl. They had just been served their food when the little girl broke the sad silence by almost shouting, "Momma, why don’t we say our prayers here?"
The waitress who had just served their breakfast turned around and said, "Sure, honey, we pray here. Will you say the prayer for us?" And she turned and looked at the rest of the people in the restaurant and said, "Bow your heads."
Surprisingly, one by one, the heads went down. The little girl then bowed her head, folded her hands, and said, "God is great, God is good, and we thank him for our food. Amen."
That prayer changed the entire atmosphere. People began to talk with one another. The waitress said, "We should do that every morning."
"All of a sudden," said our friend, "my whole frame of mind started to improve. From that little girl’s example, I started to thank God for all that I did have and stop majoring in all that I didn’t have. I started to choose happiness."
Jesus was obedient to his parents as he grew up and followed in his father’s trade as a carpenter. At the age of 30 Jesus entered the public ministry as Messiah and Lord. As Messiah Jesus did what no other man could do:
• He healed the sick
• Forgave sin
• Was crucified for the sins of humankind
• Rose from the dead
• Ascended into Heaven
• And is coming again
Jesus brings thanksgiving and joy to every home that welcomes him as Lord and Savior. Is Jesus welcome in your heart and home?
Jesus was part of the first family. Mary and Joseph personally knew Jesus. They had first hand knowledge of the Messiah and Lord. Do you have first hand or second hand knowledge of Jesus? First hand knowledge and experience is knowing Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior. Second hand experience is knowing someone who knows Jesus.
II. Joseph and Mary Built their Marriage on the Foundation of Trust.
Joseph and Mary modeled thanksgiving and praise –
They welcomed Jesus into their home
They build their marriage on the foundation of trust.
Mary, a teenager, was surprised by the Angel Gabriel – “Mary you are highly favored by God. You are honored and blessed among all women. You will have a baby conceived by the Holy Spirit. You will call his name Jesus, “He will save your people from their sins.”
Mary responded to the angel: “How can this be I have not know a man, I am a virgin?” The angel made it clear that her birth would be a supernatural birth. Not long after than Mary knew she was pregnant. She had to tell Joseph whom she was engaged to be married that she was pregnant. Mary knew that their engagement was as binding as marriage and could only be ended by divorce or death.
It may have taken Mary days to get up the courage to say: “Joseph, I love you. Joseph I’m pregnant, but I’m not pregnant by man. God made me pregnant. I’m going to be the mother of Jesus. Joseph probably responded, “O sure you are!” Joseph was shocked. He couldn’t believe what he was hearing. He trusted Mary. He believed the only way out was to divorce Mary privately and save face.
But the Angel Gabriel spoke to Joseph in a dream and assured Joseph: “Joseph, Mary has been faithful to you. She is still a virgin. The baby is conceived of the Holy Spirit. Do not be afraid to take her as your wife.
Joseph believed God and trusted God and became the step-father of Jesus.
Trust is the foundation stone of a happy home. Trust is earned. Trust is a byproduct of integrity and honesty. For husband and wife and children in the home to be able to say to each other: “I trust you. I trust what you say to me. I believe it and that settles it.”
Trust is closely connected to an active faith in God. Mary and Joseph were in tune in touch with God.
When both husband and wife have an active faith in God they get closer to each other as they get closer to God. It’s like a triangle. God is at the top and husband and wife at the bottom. Broken vows in marriage happen when there is first a broken vow with God.
Willard F. Harley, Jr. has a helpful suggestion to maintaining marriage vows in his book, Fall in Love, Stay in Love. He encourages couples to keep their love banks full by putting more deposits in then with drawing.
Your love bank is an emotional record of how you treat each other in the family. For example when your spouse makes you breakfast and serves you in bed your Love Bank may raise 7 or 8 units. However when your spouse calls in the afternoon to cancel dinner plans because of a deadline at work, that some balance may fall by 3 or four love units. You enjoy being around the people that give you a positive Love Bank balance and dislike those who leave you with a negative Love bank balance. Here’s the key: “If you want to make Love Bank deposits and avoid making withdrawals, you must change your behavior.” If you are patient and really listen you can learn what adds or withdraws to your wife or husband’s love bank and to the love bank of your children.
Be careful of love busters. Love busters are those things you do on a regular basis that make your spouse unhappy. Love busters would include: selfish demands, disrespectful judgments, angry outbursts, annoying behavior and dishonesty.
Dishonesty is like a wall that comes between marriage partners. Honesty is like flu shot. It may give a short, sharp pain, but it keeps you healthier over the following months.
When you are honest you can express your feelings and say: “When you say or do that it makes me feel…………..”
Jesus said, ‘You will know the truth and the truth will set you free.” When you build your marriage and family on the foundation of trust you experience Thanksgiving and Joy.
III. Joseph and Mary did not have a perfect Family But They were Still Blessed of God
Your family can enjoy thanksgiving and joy when you welcome Jesus as a vital part of your family, when you build your family on the foundation of trust.
Mary and Joseph did not have a perfect marriage. Their time of engagement was shaky. Mary was skeptical at first – “How can this be?” Joseph doubted – “That impossible, God will have to convince me that with God all things are possible.”
Jesus was born in a lowly, smelly, manger and barn made for animals not as a baby nursery. Before Jesus was two years old his family had to flee to Egypt to escape the wrath of King Herod. At the age of 12 Jesus stayed in the temple discussing Biblical truths with teachers in the temple and neglected to tell his parents where he was until they found him three days later.
Many of you grew up in imperfect homes as I did. My own parents did not live in harmony. They did not agree politically. One was a democrat and one a republican. One was a Christian and one was one. One had a steady job and the other did not. My mother was the spiritual leader in the home.
For you that are single parents you can still experience God’s blessing. Your family may not be ideal but many families are not ideal. You have the community of Faith to encourage you forward. For me my community of faith/local church, Christian relatives and Christian friends along with my mother kept me going forward and growing in my Christian faith. It is crucial that people in the community of faith are united in mission and love and practice the one another’s of Scripture.
This Thanksgiving let’s learn lessons from the first family – Welcome Jesus into our home and have a first hand experience of know Him. Build our family relationships on the foundation of trust and if you are a single parent you have the assurance of God’s blessing as you take advantage of the community of faith to partner with you.
I encourage you to welcome Jesus into your heart and home. When Jesus is present there is an atmosphere of “thanksgiving and Joy.” I also encourage you to build your family relationships on the foundation of trust. Where there is trust there is “thanksgiving and joy.” Regardless of your family situation – Jesus wants to give you His blessing.
