Matthew 1:18-21 A Christmas Story

Matthew 1:18-21  “Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: when His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit.  And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man and not wanting to disgrace her, planned to send her away secretly.  But when he had considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, ‘Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.  She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.’" (NASB)

It is Christmas Eve and the family is all at home, the football game is on and Sharon is in the kitchen preparing the soup we will share with family later this evening.  It has become a tradition that following the evening candlelight service at church that we return here to a simple meal consisting of some kind of soup and various treats we and other family members provide.  We’ll all remark how wonderful the soup is – and truthfully so because Sharon truly is a remarkable cook.  Then we’ll settle in and watch “A Christmas Story” and hear those famous words, “You’ll shoot your eye out with that thing”.  Great tradition; great memories.  In the morning we’ll drag the kids out of bed (didn’t use to be that way) to see what “Santa” brought and eventually end up over at Sharon’s Mom’s to meet up with family again and have lunch.  This is our Christmas routine, our tradition and it is both comfortable and satisfying after all these years.

But if that were the beginning and end of Christmas as I’m afraid it is for many it would be hollow indeed.  In addition to the traditions of Christmas which look very similar to many in this country we put a focus on the essence and quite literally the essentials of the day.  While there are many passages from Scripture that predict, depict and explain the event of Jesus’ birth, I have chosen to share this passage from Matthew’s gospel.  In it we actually have an event that takes place prior to the arrival of Jesus so it is a prophecy of arrival albeit an immediate one.

Matthew records that, “Mary had been betrothed to Joseph”.  In that day the betrothal was a sort of point of no return much more than an engagement today.  To back out of the relationship before the actual marriage would have required a “Divorce”.  That is significant when weighed against the news that was revealed to Joseph.  Scriptures says that, “Before they came together she was found to be with child …”  Now Joseph when presented with the news of his betrothed coming up pregnant would have certainly been within his rights to, “Divorce” her for the act of infidelity.  But Joseph loved Mary and although deeply hurt by this news of her situation did not want to bring her shame by publicly divorcing her.  “Being a righteous man and not wanting to disgrace her, (he) planned to send her away secretly.”

What a standup guy Joseph was.  He didn’t know what had happened.  He just knew Mary had a baby in her womb and it wasn’t his.

As he was mulling all of this over the Lord sent a messenger to give him a clue.  “Behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, ‘Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife”.  I’ll be honest, “Afraid” is not the emotion I might be feeling.  Well, I suppose some fear might be involved because if he were to take Mary as his wife and claim the child as his own he would essentially be saying,  "We didn’t wait; we jumped the gun during our engagement and did not wait until we were properly wed to consummate our marriage".  So, fear could well have been an emotion on Joseph’s mind.  But the angel went on, “For the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit”.  WHAT?

Okay – so this reassurance from this messenger angel in Joseph’s dream tells him to chill out and not be afraid then gives the reason that the child has been conceived by the Holy Spirit.  Wow!  Would that calm you down?  I’m not thinking I would be more calm after receiving this news.  I’d be – freaking out!

So it is with that preamble that we come to the conclusion of the passage.  With Joseph in a slumber being addressed by a messenger from heaven and presented with this incredible news about his betrothed the final and most significant information is shared.  Stay with me here.  Joseph is asleep, Scripture says he was approached in a dream by the angel and it is in this state that the communication of this news takes place.  Asleep or not his heart had to be racing by the time this news of the Holy Spirit conceiving the child in Mary’s womb.  Then and only then does the angel share, “She will bear a Son”.  Okay Joseph might have stayed with him for this but then, “And you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”  Well, we know Joseph remembered the name part because he got that right.  But did he catch, “He will save His people from their sins”?  Did he?

That is the significance of Christmas.  I’m afraid with all the shock of the moment Joseph may have missed that essential part of the message delivered by the angel that night in his dream.  In his shoes I’m convinced I would have.  I’m equally convinced that many miss the significance of Christmas today.  All blended in with the traditions with friends and family which are all wonderful things there is one and only one essential meaning of Christmas.  “And you shall call his name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins”.  AMEN!

John 15:7-11 Joy Complete

John 15:7-11  "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.  "My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples.   "Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love.  "If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love.  "These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full”. (NASB)

There are those in Christian circles that claim what has been referred to as a “Prosperity” gospel.  Simply put it is a “Name it and Claim it” attitude that says God wants us to have everything we ask for.  All we have to do is go to Him earnestly in prayer and He will grant us whatever it is.

Poppycock!  That is just not the way it is.  Creator God is not a genie in a bottle waiting to grant our wishes.

This passage in John’s gospel however does point to some things that might be misunderstood as a prosperity gospel message when if fact that is not the case.  Let’s take a closer look at these words of Christ.

Let’s stipulate up front that the passage does say, “Ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you”.  If that was a standalone thought it might be argued that you have your genie in a bottle proof text.  That is not in fact the case.  The condition of, “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you” preceed the “Ask whatever you wish … “statement.  So what does He mean when He says “Abide in me” and regarding His words that they “Abide in you”?  Abide means to “Continue in a place” according to Webster.  I like to refer to it as taking up residence.  So you might paraphrase the passage to read, “If you live in Me and My words live in you …”.  So the condition on the name it and claim it appears to be an inseparable relationship with Christ.  Living in Christ and His word living in you results in the capacity to “Ask whatever you wish and …”. 

Now that sounds a little different than just dream something up and ask for it.  Why?  Because when you are that close with Jesus you won’t be thinking selfishly.  You will be in fact thinking correctly about things such that when you pray it will be according to His will.  Jesus prayed in the garden, “…, Your will be done” (Matthew 26:42 NASB).

So the bottom line here is that we can ask for and expect to come to pass exactly what we ask when we are praying perfectly in God’s will.  Sounds simple right?  Yep!  Do you know why?  Because of grace.  Grace provides a couple of helpers in the process.  First, a little humble pie though.  Scripture tells us quite clearly, “We do not know how to pray as we should”. (Romans 8:26 NASB)  So it’s hopeless then right?  Wrong!  The full passage reads this way, “In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words”.

But you said there were two helpers.  That’s right.  Jesus Himself helps in the process of prayer.  The book of Hebrews speaks in long passages of Jesus’ ministry as our “Great high priest” ministering on our behalf.  See Hebrews 6-8

Now there is a point to all of this praying and that is that when His will is accomplished when we pray that way then it can ultimately be counted or even measured.  There is something that has transpired that can be pointed to and taken not of.  In the same way a farmer harvests his crop bringing it to yield the Lord refers to the work that is accomplished through this ministry of prayer.  John records,  "My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples”.  This is a direct outcome of the abiding and the praying which of course is something that Christians that are submitting to the Lord do.  So the bearing of fruit or yielding good things for Christ is the way we can count the accomplishments that are done by God through his servants.

I want to get to what I see as a critical point in the passage and one reason I clipped this long passage in the first place.  John wraps up this section by showing us another result beyond fruit being produced when we submit to Him in our abiding and our prayer.  That result is a direct benefit to us, the believer.

JOY!

John records that when all of this abiding and yielding fruit takes place we are filled with joy.  Jesus said it this way, "These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full”.  So he is letting us in on this information for this specific purpose – so that His, “Joy may be in you”.  Isn’t it exciting to think that Jesus thought enough of us to share this thought with us letting us in on the understanding that if we will abide in Him, allow His word to abide in us and pray according to His will yielding fruit as His servants then His joy will be in us?  And that isn’t the whole thing.  He says, “That your joy may be made full”.  Other translations say “Made complete”.

Now that is a great closing thought indeed.  Jesus wants us to abide in Him and His word in us ultimately so that through the accomplishment of His will through us His servants we will receive abundant joy.  AMEN!