Christmas Eve Service
Luke 2:1-14
"Joseph"
Sermon
2:1 ¶ In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be enrolled.
2 This was the first enrollment, when Quirinius was governor of Syria.
3 And all went to be enrolled, each to his own city.
4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David,
5 to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.
6 And while they were there, the time came for her to be delivered.
7 And she gave birth to her first-born son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
8 And in that region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear.
10 And the angel said to them, "Be not afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which will come to all the people;
11 for to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a babe wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger."
13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
14 "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom he is pleased!"
Grace and peace to you from our Lord and Savior, Jesus who was born this night. Amen
Of all the characters in the Christmas Story, I can relate to Joseph the best. Who ever gives him any credit? From the biblical record he is the most nondescript person you will ever find. Why, even his identity with his son is lost. Most Jewish boys were called son of Joseph, as in Matthew’s gospel when Jesus was referring to Peter at the time of Peter’s great confession of faith, he said, "Peter bar Jonah," Or Peter son of Jonah, but what about Jesus himself, in our hymn of the day; the last line of the 1st verse says "Haste, haste to bring him laud, the babe, the Son of Mary." Sonof Mary, not son of Joseph. He might not of bore him, but he helped raise him, he was a son in the sense that Joseph trained him in the skills of a carpenter. But beyond this, Joseph had a problem with his betrothed. We need to take a moment to understand the Jewish marriage system for all of this to make sense.
A man and woman were engaged when they were small children and this was announced by their parents. The next stage was the betrothal. This was the one-year-period during which the couple ratified the previous engagement during which they were known as husband and-wife, lived together, but did not have the rights of husband and wife. Then the finally stage of marriage was when the couple were granted all the rights of a husband and wife.
The story of the Christmas event begins in the betrothal stage, so it is understandable why Joseph is devastated by the pregnancy of Mary. Joseph is a just man, a righteous man, a man of principles. No wonder he was humiliated!! The woman he loved was pregnant, and she cannot explain to him exactly how.
This righteous man knew his options. He could expose Mary by bringing her before the court, or he could privately hand her a bill of divorcement in the presence of 2 witnesses. But his righteousness was clothed in compassion. There were rules covering his situation, but the love of Joseph was more than legalistic. His sense of what was right was also tempered by compassion and forgiveness. Even though he was deeply hurt, he was not vengeful, he could forgive Mary.
Joseph was faithful to Mary. Joseph thought of Mary. Not himself, not of what others might think. He thought of Mary. Even though he didn’t understand all about her condition, he was not willing to put her to shame. Don’t call him weak. He was strong in a compassionate, caring kind of way.
Not only was Joseph compassionate, caring, as he related to Mary, but Joseph also learned to listen to God’s voice in his life. God came to Joseph in a vision and told him he had a special plan for him. God wanted Joseph to stay with Mary, and name this baby Jesus. God came to Joseph and asked him to break with tradition. To do something out of the ordinary. God said to Joseph, stay with his wife who was pregnant even though you aren’t - even in the marriage stage of your relationship, stay with her, support her, and then raise this son as if it were your own. And beside all of this, God says, "and you don’t have to worry about a name for your son I have taken care of that already too, his name will be Jesus."
Can you imagine anyone listening to this kind of story from God? But Joseph did. He was determined to obey even when he did not understand. He embraced meaning as he was willing toparticipate in the mystery. Joseph did not plan the Christmas story. There was no way he could have predicted it. But after much wrestling, he opened himself to it and allowed himself to participate it.
Joseph, the quiet, strong man, knew that he would obey God, knew that he would love Mary, knew he would see this through to the end. So he packed up Mary and a donkey and headed for Nazareth, not knowing the future, but willing to participate in it whatever might happen.
Joseph acted on faith, with trust in God and trust in his own heart, that what he was doinig was right.
I wonder how many of us would had heeded the words of God, and acted as Joseph did?? How many of us would have be willing to break with tradition, with the way things are, with they way things always have been, to let God’s creative hand move into our lives? How many of us would have been willing to participate in a mystery of God that we didn’t understand? How many of us would have surrendered to God in the way Joseph did?? I wonder.
Can you imagine what Joseph’s family and Mary’s family might of thought about all of this? How did they react?
I would like to read you a letter from Joseph to his mother after the Christmas event. He tries to explain to her everything he could not explain beforehand.
" Dear Mom,
We’re still in Bethlehem -- Mary and I and little Jesus.
There were lots of things I couldn’t tell you about last summer. You wouldn’t have believed me then, but maybe I can tell you now. I hope you can understand.
You know, Mom, I’ve always loved Mary. You and dad used to tease me about her when she was still a girl. She and her brothers used to play on our street. Our families got together for supper. But the hardest day of my life came scarcely a year ago when I was twenty and she only fifteen. You remember that day, don’t you? The trouble started after we were betrothed and signed the marriage agreement at our engagement. That same spring Mary had left abruptly to visit her old cousin Elizabeth in Judea. She was gone three whole months. After she got back, people started wondering out loud if she were pregnant.
It was cloudy the day when I finally confronted her with the gossip. "Mary," I asked at last, "are you going to have a baby?"
Her clear brown eyes met mine. She nodded. I didn’t know what to say. "Who?" I finally stammered.
Mom, Mary and I had never acted improperly -- even after we were betrothed.
Mary looked down. "Joseph," she said. "There’s no way I can explain. you couldn’t understand. But I want you to know I’ve never cared for anyone but you." She got up, gently took my hands in hers, kissed each of them as if it were the last time she would ever do that again, and then turned towards home. She must have been dying inside. I know I was.
The rest of the day I stumbled through my chores. It’s a wonder I didn’t hurt myself in the wood shop. At first I was angry and pounded my frustrations out on the door frame I was making. My thoughts whirled so fast I could hardly keep my mind on my work. At last I decided to end the marriage contract with a quiet divorce. I loved her too much to make a public scene.
I couldn’t talk to you. Or anyone, for that matter. I went to bed early and tried to sleep. Her words came to me over and over. "I’ve never cared for anyone but you.... I’ve never cared for anyone but you...."
How I wished I could believe her!
I don’t know when I finally fell asleep. Mom, I had a dream from God. An angel of the Lord came to me. His words pulsated through my mind so intensely I can remember them as if it were yesterday.
"Joseph, Son of David," he thundered, "do not fear to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit." I couldn’t believe my ears, Mom. This was the answer! The angel continued, "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."
The angel gripped my shoulders with his huge hands. For a long moment his gaze pierced deep within me. Just as he turned to go, I think I saw a smile on his shining face.
I sat bolt upright in bed. No sleep after that! I tossed about for a while, going over the words in my mind. Then I got up and dressed quietly so I wouldn’t wake you.
I must have walked for miles beneath the moon less sky. Stars pricked the blackness like a thousand tiny pinpoints. A warm breeze blew on my face.
I sang to the Lord, Mom.
Yes, me, singing, if you can imagine that. I couldn’t contain my joy. I told Him that I would take Mary and care for her. I told Him I would watch over her and the child--no matter what anyone said.
I got back just as the sun kissed the hilltops. I don’t know if you still recall that morning, Mom. I can see it in my mind’s eye as if it were yesterday. You were feeding the chickens, surprised to see me out. Remember?
"Sit down," I said to you. "I’ve got to tell you something." I took your arm and helped you find a seat on the big rock out back. "Mom," I said, "I’m going to bring Mary home as my wife. Can you help me make a place for her things?"
You were silent a long time. "You do know what they’re saying, don’t you, my son?" you said at last, your eyes glistening.
"Yes, Mom, I know."
Your voice started to rise. "If your father were still alive, he’d have some words, I’ll tell you. Going about like that before you are married. Disgracing the family and all. You.... you and Mary ought to be ashamed of yourselves."
You’d never have believed me if I’d tried to explain, so I didn’t. Unless the angel had spoken to you, you’d have laughed me to scorn. "Mom, this is the right thing to do," I said.
And then I started talking to you as if I were the head of the house. "When she comes I don’t want one word to her about it," I sputtered. "She’s your daughter-in-law, you’ll respect her. She’ll need your help, if she’s to bear the neighbors’ wagging tongues!"
I’m sorry, Mom. You didn’t deserve that. You started to get up in a huff.
"Mom," I murmured, "I need you." You took my hand and got to your feet, but the fire was gone from your eyes.
"You can count on me, Joseph," you told me with a long hug. And you meant it. I never heard another word. No bride could hope for a better mother-in-law than you those next few months. Mom, after I left you I went up the road to Mary’s house and knocked. Her mother glared at me as she opened the door. Loudly, harshly she called into the house, "It’s Joseph!" almost spitting out my name as she said it.
My little Mary came out cringing, as if she expected me to give her the back of my hand, I suppose. Her eyes were red and puffy. I can just imagine what her parents had said. We walked a few steps from the house. She looked so young and afraid. "Pack your things, Mary," I told her gently. "I’m taking you home to be my wife."
"Joseph!" She hugged me as tight as she could. Mom, I didn’t realize she was so strong. I told her what I’d been planning. "We’ll go to Rabbi Ben-Ezer’s house this week and have him perform the ceremony."
I know it was awful sudden, Mom, but I figured the sooner we got married the better it would be for her, and me, and the baby.
"Mary, even if our friends don’t come, at least you and I can pledge our love before God." I paused. "I think my Mom will be there. And maybe your friend Rebecca would come if her dad will let her. How about your parents?" I could feel Mary’s tiny frame shuddering as she sobbed quietly.
"Mary," I said. I could feel myself speaking more boldly. "No matter what anyone says about you, I’m proud you’re going to be my wife. I’m going to take good care of you. I’ve promised God that."
She looked up.
I lowered my voice. "I had a dream last night, Mary. I saw an angel. I know."
The anguish which had gripped her face vanished. She was radiant as we turned away from the house and began to walk up the hill together.
Just then her mother ran out into the yard. "Wait," she called. She must have been listening from behind the door. Tears were streaming down her cheeks.
"I’ll get your father," she called, almost giddy with emotion. "We," she cried as she gathered up her skirts. "We," she shouted as she began to run to find her husband. "We ... are going to have a wedding!"
That’s how it was, Mom. Thanks for being there for us. I’ll write again soon.
Love, Joseph1"
Can you feel the love Joseph had for Mary? Can you feel his strength, his compassion, his love of his mother? Joseph, being the quiet character of Christmas, can come across as a good man, a devout man, a man of deep convictions and deep strength.
I would wish that all of us could have those characteristics.
Amen
Written by Pastor Tim Zingale December 6, 2005
1 from Robbie... at Gracemail at http://www.eGroups.com/list/gracemail/
