Sermon for Sunday 5, 2010
Arrival: Family Portraits
Matt 1:18-25
Week two of our Advent series. Working our way through the book of Matthew. He is explaining the ARRIVAL of Jesus.
It is one moment in time, and it is the beginning of the climax of human history.
This week we learn more about Jesus' family.
Joseph Accepts Jesus as His Son
18 This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about[d]: 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[e] did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.
20 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “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. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus,[f] because he will save his people from their sins.”
22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23 “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel”[g] (which means “God with us”).
24 When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. 25 But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.
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Have you taken your Christmas family photo yet?
It is so difficult, particularly with small kids to get that perfect picture. Some one is picking their nose. Someone's collar is weird. Someone's eyes are closed.
Often it is not what is seen, but what is unseen in a family photo that makes it interesting...
Who is missing? Who is added?
Its often the back story that makes the picture so facinating...
I didn't know their family went these this year. Who knew that they like sky diving, or jeeping in moab, or...
In this passage, Matthew is giving the back story, that makes what is UNSEEN so amazing.
1) First back story: Whose son is he?
Jesus heritage is unseen (unexpected) and once you know who he is, the story gets really interesting.
Both Son of David - Jesus is a fulfillment of the promises to King David.
When the angel talks to Joseph, he is called the Son of David, thus linking the previous list of names to the current story.
And Son of God - Holy Spirit is responsible for the child inside of Mary.
This is said very tastefully in a rather rude, and vulgar society.
2) Second back story: What does a Messiah do?
This is a point that comes out often in the gospels. The Jews wanted a Messiah that would free them from the Romans.
"Jesus" came to free them from their sins. The meaning of the name Jesus is God saves.
At this point in the story, I don't think anyone knows what that means. How can a baby save the world from the curse of sin? Can he turn back time and undo the millions of bad decisions, and rebellious actions, and murderous blows? Joseph is left wondering.
3) Third back story: Immanuel
God with us.
This has two very surprising pieces.
a) God with us, should mean that we would instantly die, because we are not holy people. And yet we are not consumed.
b) One would think that God being with Joseph and Mary would be so obvious, that people would bow at they walk up and down the streets. And to be honest, in the years since the gospels were written, the Catholic church has raised Mary to a very high place. Why? They are trying to solve a puzzle. How can a Holy God dwell with sinful men and women?
I would argue from this passage, that God intends to dwell with us in ways unseen, which often leaves us in a place where we must simply trust the promises of God.
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To sum it up:
Jesus is the Messiah, and the Son of David, a savior and King - although that fact went completely unnoticed by nearly everyone. What was UNSEEN makes the story so amazing.
Jesus' purpose in coming was to save people from their sin - although at this time in the story, no one has the slightest idea what that mean, or what it will cost Jesus to accomplish this task. What is UNSEEN makes the story so amazing
Jesus is God with us - but no one knew. Here in manger is God and man, united in a way that will make theologians head spin for centuries. How is this even possible? And isn't it fascinating that God works so hard to make sure that his son lives a normal life on Earth. No parades and no palaces. Look at the last sentence. Its just a human dad, giving him a name, a name to his son: JESUS.
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