DREAMS OF CHRISTMAS #2/6

#1 · December 3, 2007, 11:15 am

Quote from Forum Archives on December 3, 2007, 11:15 am
Posted by: bhfbc <bhfbc@...>
DREAMS OF CHRISTMAS #2/6

JOSEPH DREAMS OF A WONDROUS BIRTH

December 2, 2007

Text: Matthew 1:18-25

As I began last Sunday, this Advent season we are dreaming of Christmas. Because of our long history and personal experience with Christmas, it is not hard for us to imagine what dreams of Christmas might be. In the familiar poem, Twas the Night Before Christmas, the children have visions of sugarplums dancing in their heads. In the movie A Christmas Story, Ralphie dreams of his official Red Ryder, carbine action, two-hundred shot range model air rifle, with a compass in the stock. We dream of special presents, family gatherings, and good food. Yes, there are plenty of Christmas dreams to go around.

The Bible mentions some dreams of Christmas, too. However, they are nothing like the dreams we associate with Christmas. Last week, we heard about Simeon and Anna who had visions of seeing the Messiah. That was their Christmas dream. As we have learned from Matthew 1, Joseph was given his own Christmas dream.

Im sure that the setting is very familiar to us. The scene is clearly set in verse 18: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. At this time, the process of marriage was quite different than what we are used to. For the most part, there was no such thing as dating. Marriages were typically arranged by families. I do not know how much influence various parties had in the outcome. For instance, there is no way of knowing if either Joseph or Mary had any say in the matter. It is even conceivable that their respective families arranged their future marriage when they were still small children. If the marriage planning took place when they were older, perhaps Joseph and Mary had some input. We dont know. Ultimately, it does not matter. At the time of their engagement, a pledge a covenant or contract was made. The engaged couple are pledged to be married to each other, meaning that they cannot legally have any type of romantic or sexual relationship with anyone else. This is the religious, cultural, and legal setting in which Joseph and Mary lived.

Now comes a most difficult situation. Mary is pregnant. Joseph is a moral man. He has honored his pledge. He thought Mary was a moral woman. But she's pregnant. How does Joseph feel as this news crashes into his world like a rock through a ceramic vase?

He would likely feel betrayed. Mary came from a good family. Traditional studies indicate that she was from the priestly tribe of Levi. Her cousin, Elizabeth, mother of John the Baptist, was married to Zechariah the priest. Accordingly, one would expect Mary to be a woman of purity and devotion.

Joseph was a man of similar quality but from the tribe of Judah. His ancestry could be traced to David, Israel's greatest king. To David it was promised, "I will establish your line forever and make your throne firm through all generations." (Psalm 89:4) We can think of Joseph as a prince. The present political reality, though, was that David's dynasty was dead. Rome ruled the world and Herod, as Rome's official agent, sat on David's throne. So royal descendants like Joseph typically lived "under the radar" and intentionally avoided notice by the authorities. Life could be short in those days for those with royal aspirations. It was safer just to be a carpenter with a common name.

Until this time, Joseph and Mary lived as two ordinary young people whose goals were probably like anyone else's in their culture. Their marriage was arranged Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph. All things being normal, they would be wed, have children, live and work in Nazareth, die, and then be forgotten.

God had other plans. Mary and Joseph were to be parents of the king. Officially the only rightful ruler of Judea was Herod. Rome had said so. Officially, the divine promise that David's throne would be established forever had been suppressed and forgotten. Officially in accordance with the plans of men. But God had not forgotten. When God makes a covenant, He keeps it.

So it was that from an obscure family from an obscure town in Galilee that God chose a young woman, a virgin named Mary, to bear a child. Born into the house of Joseph, he would be the son of David. Conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit, he would be the Son of God. It was just as God planned and as predicted by His prophets. The necessary events in history had come to pass. All was in readiness for the new king to be born. He only needed a family; a mother to bear him and a man willing to marry the mother of a child not his. This latter condition would require a truly exceptional man.

In those days, marriage was essential to guaranteeing the legal rights of heirs. If you were the son of a nobleman or a landowner or anyone else with property, but your mother was not married to your father, his land, title or office was denied you. With married parents, however, what was theirs became yours. As a royal descendant, Joseph's son could lay claim to the throne of David if the political circumstances ever changed. Taking Mary as his wife meant the child she bore would have the status of Joseph's firstborn son. He'd be the first in line to the throne from that household. Joseph would have to be willing to pass that claim on to a child that wasn't really his if he took Mary as his wife. If Joseph married someone else, he wouldn't have to do that. His own son would be the heir.

That was just one problem. As already mentioned was the perception that Joseph and probably his parents had been dishonored. Legally, infidelity was considered adultery, and punishment was severe. It appeared that Mary had been unfaithful, and that she had disgraced Joseph. What else could it be but unfaithfulness? She was pregnant and Joseph wasn't the father. Perhaps she had told him her story. Would you believe it if you were Joseph? Joseph had some tough decisions to make.

Scripture reveals to us that Joseph had in mind to divorce her quietly. What is indicated here is that Joseph did not seek any kind of vengeance on Mary. He was willing to do what he could to keep her from being disgraced and punished. Then, Joseph dreamed of Christmas.

In his dream, an angel of the Lord appears to him bringing good news of a great miracle that heals Joseph's troubled heart. "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 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 news of her pregnancy is not the bad news Joseph suspected but the surprising good news of the Gospel. "What is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit!" This isn't the child of an adulterous relationship. Rather, he is the Son of God conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit. A powerful confirmation of this is the instruction to name the son Jesus. The custom of naming children in that day was significant. The father had the right to bestow upon the child a family name that would carry on the lineage. The angel gave a different instruction, though. You are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins. This instruction is confirmed by a reference to the foretold prophecy: "The virgin will be with child and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel which means 'God with us.'"

This is Josephs dream of Christmas. Joseph dreams of a wondrous birth. Joseph hears the angel. He compares the angel's word with Scripture, and Joseph is convinced. His response is belief. Given the events laid out before him, Joseph believes and acts in faith. "He did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife."

As I have mentioned both this morning and last Sunday, our dreams of Christmas have become far different than the dreams of those living in the time of Jesus birth. Many different traditions and experiences shape our dreams differently than those we read about in Scripture. However, when we remember that Jesus is the reason for the season, our dreams of Christmas are not so very different than those of Joseph or anyone else. Joseph dreamed of a wondrous birth. He was given this dream the vision by God. Josephs Father is also our Father. Consequently, Josephs dream is also our dream. Our dream of Christmas is that of a wondrous birth.

Dreams of presents and family gatherings and good food are all well and good. But God has something much better in mind as a result of Christmas. From Gods perspective and what can be more significant than Gods perspective? Christmas is about deliverance and salvation. Gods dream is that every man, woman, and child He has created be raised up by His mercy and be born again into new life with Him. This dream is made real because of the event we celebrate as Christmas the birth of the Messiah. This is Gods dream and His purpose. What is our dream this Christmas?

Rev. Charles A. Layne

First Baptist Church

PO Box 515

170 W. Broadway

Bunker Hill, IN 46914

765-689-7987

bhfbc@bhfirstbaptist.com

www.bhfirstbaptist.com
-- To unsubscribe, send ANY message to: abesermons-unsubscribe@welovegod.org   

Posted by: bhfbc <bhfbc@...>

JOSEPH DREAMS OF A WONDROUS BIRTH

December 2, 2007

Text: Matthew 1:18-25

As I began last Sunday, this Advent season we are dreaming of Christmas. Because of our long history and personal experience with Christmas, it is not hard for us to imagine what dreams of Christmas might be. In the familiar poem, Twas the Night Before Christmas, the children have visions of sugarplums dancing in their heads. In the movie A Christmas Story, Ralphie dreams of his official Red Ryder, carbine action, two-hundred shot range model air rifle, with a compass in the stock. We dream of special presents, family gatherings, and good food. Yes, there are plenty of Christmas dreams to go around.

The Bible mentions some dreams of Christmas, too. However, they are nothing like the dreams we associate with Christmas. Last week, we heard about Simeon and Anna who had visions of seeing the Messiah. That was their Christmas dream. As we have learned from Matthew 1, Joseph was given his own Christmas dream.

Im sure that the setting is very familiar to us. The scene is clearly set in verse 18: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. At this time, the process of marriage was quite different than what we are used to. For the most part, there was no such thing as dating. Marriages were typically arranged by families. I do not know how much influence various parties had in the outcome. For instance, there is no way of knowing if either Joseph or Mary had any say in the matter. It is even conceivable that their respective families arranged their future marriage when they were still small children. If the marriage planning took place when they were older, perhaps Joseph and Mary had some input. We dont know. Ultimately, it does not matter. At the time of their engagement, a pledge a covenant or contract was made. The engaged couple are pledged to be married to each other, meaning that they cannot legally have any type of romantic or sexual relationship with anyone else. This is the religious, cultural, and legal setting in which Joseph and Mary lived.

Now comes a most difficult situation. Mary is pregnant. Joseph is a moral man. He has honored his pledge. He thought Mary was a moral woman. But she's pregnant. How does Joseph feel as this news crashes into his world like a rock through a ceramic vase?

He would likely feel betrayed. Mary came from a good family. Traditional studies indicate that she was from the priestly tribe of Levi. Her cousin, Elizabeth, mother of John the Baptist, was married to Zechariah the priest. Accordingly, one would expect Mary to be a woman of purity and devotion.

Joseph was a man of similar quality but from the tribe of Judah. His ancestry could be traced to David, Israel's greatest king. To David it was promised, "I will establish your line forever and make your throne firm through all generations." (Psalm 89:4) We can think of Joseph as a prince. The present political reality, though, was that David's dynasty was dead. Rome ruled the world and Herod, as Rome's official agent, sat on David's throne. So royal descendants like Joseph typically lived "under the radar" and intentionally avoided notice by the authorities. Life could be short in those days for those with royal aspirations. It was safer just to be a carpenter with a common name.

Until this time, Joseph and Mary lived as two ordinary young people whose goals were probably like anyone else's in their culture. Their marriage was arranged Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph. All things being normal, they would be wed, have children, live and work in Nazareth, die, and then be forgotten.

God had other plans. Mary and Joseph were to be parents of the king. Officially the only rightful ruler of Judea was Herod. Rome had said so. Officially, the divine promise that David's throne would be established forever had been suppressed and forgotten. Officially in accordance with the plans of men. But God had not forgotten. When God makes a covenant, He keeps it.

So it was that from an obscure family from an obscure town in Galilee that God chose a young woman, a virgin named Mary, to bear a child. Born into the house of Joseph, he would be the son of David. Conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit, he would be the Son of God. It was just as God planned and as predicted by His prophets. The necessary events in history had come to pass. All was in readiness for the new king to be born. He only needed a family; a mother to bear him and a man willing to marry the mother of a child not his. This latter condition would require a truly exceptional man.

In those days, marriage was essential to guaranteeing the legal rights of heirs. If you were the son of a nobleman or a landowner or anyone else with property, but your mother was not married to your father, his land, title or office was denied you. With married parents, however, what was theirs became yours. As a royal descendant, Joseph's son could lay claim to the throne of David if the political circumstances ever changed. Taking Mary as his wife meant the child she bore would have the status of Joseph's firstborn son. He'd be the first in line to the throne from that household. Joseph would have to be willing to pass that claim on to a child that wasn't really his if he took Mary as his wife. If Joseph married someone else, he wouldn't have to do that. His own son would be the heir.

That was just one problem. As already mentioned was the perception that Joseph and probably his parents had been dishonored. Legally, infidelity was considered adultery, and punishment was severe. It appeared that Mary had been unfaithful, and that she had disgraced Joseph. What else could it be but unfaithfulness? She was pregnant and Joseph wasn't the father. Perhaps she had told him her story. Would you believe it if you were Joseph? Joseph had some tough decisions to make.

Scripture reveals to us that Joseph had in mind to divorce her quietly. What is indicated here is that Joseph did not seek any kind of vengeance on Mary. He was willing to do what he could to keep her from being disgraced and punished. Then, Joseph dreamed of Christmas.

In his dream, an angel of the Lord appears to him bringing good news of a great miracle that heals Joseph's troubled heart. "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 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 news of her pregnancy is not the bad news Joseph suspected but the surprising good news of the Gospel. "What is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit!" This isn't the child of an adulterous relationship. Rather, he is the Son of God conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit. A powerful confirmation of this is the instruction to name the son Jesus. The custom of naming children in that day was significant. The father had the right to bestow upon the child a family name that would carry on the lineage. The angel gave a different instruction, though. You are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins. This instruction is confirmed by a reference to the foretold prophecy: "The virgin will be with child and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel which means 'God with us.'"

This is Josephs dream of Christmas. Joseph dreams of a wondrous birth. Joseph hears the angel. He compares the angel's word with Scripture, and Joseph is convinced. His response is belief. Given the events laid out before him, Joseph believes and acts in faith. "He did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife."

As I have mentioned both this morning and last Sunday, our dreams of Christmas have become far different than the dreams of those living in the time of Jesus birth. Many different traditions and experiences shape our dreams differently than those we read about in Scripture. However, when we remember that Jesus is the reason for the season, our dreams of Christmas are not so very different than those of Joseph or anyone else. Joseph dreamed of a wondrous birth. He was given this dream the vision by God. Josephs Father is also our Father. Consequently, Josephs dream is also our dream. Our dream of Christmas is that of a wondrous birth.

Dreams of presents and family gatherings and good food are all well and good. But God has something much better in mind as a result of Christmas. From Gods perspective and what can be more significant than Gods perspective? Christmas is about deliverance and salvation. Gods dream is that every man, woman, and child He has created be raised up by His mercy and be born again into new life with Him. This dream is made real because of the event we celebrate as Christmas the birth of the Messiah. This is Gods dream and His purpose. What is our dream this Christmas?

Rev. Charles A. Layne

First Baptist Church

PO Box 515

170 W. Broadway

Bunker Hill, IN 46914

765-689-7987

bhfbc@bhfirstbaptist.com

http://www.bhfirstbaptist.com

-- To unsubscribe, send ANY message to: abesermons-unsubscribe@welovegod.org