WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:10.000 Well, the fourth candle on the Advent ring has been lit. Christmas Day is four days away. 00:00:10.000 --> 00:00:20.000 ! It's the time of year when £21 billion will be spent on gifts. Amazon take 41 orders per second. 00:00:20.000 --> 00:00:30.500 10 million turkeys will be cooked across the UK. 300 million crackers are pulled on Christmas Day. 00:00:31.399 --> 00:00:42.359 740,000 portions of Christmas pudding will be eaten and 7.5 million mince pies are bought. 00:00:42.359 --> 00:00:51.659 It's also the time of year when a whole mix of reactions take place within us all. 00:00:51.659 --> 00:00:57.859 For some of us at this stage, everything is ready. We're feeling very calm and excited, 00:00:58.439 --> 00:01:05.659 and we can't wait to celebrate the birth of Jesus. But for some of us, we're feeling very stressed. 00:01:05.659 --> 00:01:11.879 We can't believe there are just four days to go. There is so much still to do, 00:01:12.099 --> 00:01:19.519 and we're not sure how it's going to get done, let alone spend time thinking about Jesus. 00:01:20.620 --> 00:01:27.920 And there are others for whom this time of year is just too overwhelming. It's been a very difficult 00:01:27.920 --> 00:01:32.859 year, and it's hard to focus on and celebrate anything. 00:01:32.859 --> 00:01:37.939 A well-known Christian author called Max Lucado said, 00:01:38.120 --> 00:01:43.340 however we are feeling towards the end of the year, Christmas compounds it. 00:01:43.640 --> 00:01:51.700 If we're feeling depressed, we feel more depressed. If we're grieving, the burden of our grief is heavier. 00:01:52.560 --> 00:01:56.319 If we are lonely, we feel even more alone. 00:01:57.120 --> 00:02:00.200 Let's just think about loneliness for a moment, 00:02:00.200 --> 00:02:06.240 as it's very common at this time of year. It affects one in four adults. 00:02:07.040 --> 00:02:11.360 2.3 million older people wish for company, 00:02:12.020 --> 00:02:19.539 and approximately 4 million over 65s are likely to eat Christmas dinner alone. 00:02:19.539 --> 00:02:28.280 I'm reminded of my childhood. My parents loved Christmas and entered into celebrating it wholeheartedly, 00:02:28.280 --> 00:02:32.899 and they didn't like the thought of anyone they knew being alone at Christmas. 00:02:33.579 --> 00:02:38.120 So each year, they would invite people who were on their own to join us. 00:02:38.639 --> 00:02:42.079 My brother, sister, and I used to complain every year, 00:02:42.080 --> 00:02:44.760 Oh gosh, who's coming this year, Mum? 00:02:45.360 --> 00:02:49.460 But as we grew up, we did commend their hospitality. 00:02:51.640 --> 00:02:56.860 Today's Gospel reading from Matthew reminds us of the very first Christmas, 00:02:57.420 --> 00:03:02.200 and it ultimately reminds us of the real meaning of Christmas, 00:03:02.199 --> 00:03:08.819 the birth of Jesus, also called Emmanuel, which means God with us. 00:03:09.479 --> 00:03:13.319 And it doesn't mean God just with us when we're full of joy. 00:03:13.639 --> 00:03:16.119 It means God with us when we're lonely, 00:03:17.019 --> 00:03:18.899 God with us when we're depressed, 00:03:19.699 --> 00:03:21.359 God with us when we're grieving, 00:03:22.039 --> 00:03:24.239 and God with us when we're overwhelmed. 00:03:24.240 --> 00:03:32.540 And when we turn to him, he will give us a deep comfort and peace that only he can give. 00:03:33.460 --> 00:03:37.780 The birth of Jesus and the surrounding events are well known, 00:03:38.020 --> 00:03:41.820 but what is the Lord saying to us afresh this Christmas? 00:03:42.480 --> 00:03:47.960 What is he saying to us through the reading that he wants us to hear today, 00:03:48.360 --> 00:03:50.740 this Christmas in 2025? 00:03:50.740 --> 00:03:57.659 In our reading, the angel Gabriel appears to Joseph in a dream. 00:03:58.040 --> 00:04:02.100 We are probably all familiar with the angel appearing to Mary 00:04:02.100 --> 00:04:05.000 to tell her she is to be the mother of Jesus, 00:04:05.520 --> 00:04:08.740 and much has been written and said about that. 00:04:09.320 --> 00:04:14.580 But the part Joseph was to play is just as important as Mary's. 00:04:14.920 --> 00:04:18.980 He was to be the husband of Mary and father of Jesus. 00:04:18.980 --> 00:04:23.280 Gosh, no wonder the angel says, do not fear. 00:04:23.819 --> 00:04:30.040 I'm sure Joseph was terrified and completely daunted by what was being asked of him. 00:04:30.720 --> 00:04:33.300 And there is much we can learn about him. 00:04:33.439 --> 00:04:39.120 And I'd like us to think about two things that I would suggest we can learn from Jesus 00:04:39.120 --> 00:04:46.080 that encourage us in our own relationship with Jesus and our lives as Christians. 00:04:46.079 --> 00:04:51.199 Firstly, Joseph never speaks a word. 00:04:52.000 --> 00:04:57.500 Not just in Matthew's account that was read for us earlier, but throughout the entire Bible. 00:04:58.300 --> 00:05:05.500 In Luke's account of the birth of Jesus, an angel appears to Mary and tells her she's going to be the mother of Jesus, 00:05:06.039 --> 00:05:07.519 the saviour of the world. 00:05:07.519 --> 00:05:12.099 And Luke tells us how Mary reacts and what she says. 00:05:12.539 --> 00:05:21.279 And later on, she bursts into that well-known song, the Magnificat, which is sung throughout churches to this day. 00:05:22.379 --> 00:05:26.959 Here in Matthew's account, we have the angel appearing to Joseph, 00:05:27.359 --> 00:05:30.519 but we have very little of his reaction. 00:05:31.039 --> 00:05:34.560 We're not told anything that Joseph says. 00:05:34.560 --> 00:05:40.680 In fact, there's no record of Joseph saying anything about the birth of Jesus. 00:05:41.639 --> 00:05:47.899 I was reminded of this on one occasion when I was working in a church and we were holding the annual nativity 00:05:47.899 --> 00:05:51.540 and all the parts had been allocated to the children. 00:05:52.220 --> 00:05:54.180 But one young boy was very upset. 00:05:54.959 --> 00:05:57.220 He said, I don't want to be Joseph. 00:05:57.639 --> 00:05:59.139 I want another part. 00:05:59.139 --> 00:06:06.259 When he was asked why he didn't want to be Joseph, he said, Joseph doesn't say anything and he doesn't do a lot. 00:06:07.259 --> 00:06:10.180 Oh, the joys of organising a nativity. 00:06:10.680 --> 00:06:13.539 But the young boy actually had a point. 00:06:13.839 --> 00:06:20.060 Joseph doesn't say anything, but he powerfully reminds us that character is revealed, 00:06:20.779 --> 00:06:24.860 not necessarily in what we say, but in what we do. 00:06:24.860 --> 00:06:33.060 Joseph is clearly a man of few words, and I'm sure we all know some men like that. 00:06:33.840 --> 00:06:40.199 And in becoming the husband of Mary and the father of Joseph, that is actually his strength. 00:06:40.840 --> 00:06:44.439 True righteousness is revealed in our actions. 00:06:45.520 --> 00:06:49.780 Behind the scenes, Joseph quietly did an awful lot. 00:06:49.779 --> 00:06:56.579 He did what God asked him with no questioning, no arguing and no fuss. 00:06:57.839 --> 00:07:05.399 And perhaps God is challenging us to do the same, to not just speak truth, but live it like Joseph did. 00:07:05.959 --> 00:07:13.639 There are times in each of our lives when God will call us to do something and we will need to be like Joseph. 00:07:14.119 --> 00:07:16.679 Say nothing, but just do it. 00:07:16.680 --> 00:07:23.180 Secondly, Joseph was a man who faithfully obeyed. 00:07:23.699 --> 00:07:31.100 Four times the angel appeared to him, and each and every time Joseph doesn't say anything. 00:07:31.699 --> 00:07:35.680 But he does do what the angel asked without question. 00:07:35.960 --> 00:07:38.680 I'm certainly not a woman of few words. 00:07:38.680 --> 00:07:47.439 And if an angel appeared to me four times in dreams, I would be having many conversations about it. 00:07:48.019 --> 00:07:57.500 But Joseph's faith is so strong, and his desire to do what God asks and be obedient to him is so strong too. 00:07:58.120 --> 00:08:04.139 Stronger than worrying what people thought of him and what the consequences might be. 00:08:04.139 --> 00:08:06.779 Let's just recap again. 00:08:06.779 --> 00:08:10.360 We're told that Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph. 00:08:10.899 --> 00:08:15.779 And in those days, a pledge of marriage was a very strong commitment. 00:08:16.139 --> 00:08:18.060 Stronger than it is today. 00:08:18.360 --> 00:08:20.620 It was in fact legally binding. 00:08:21.399 --> 00:08:28.539 And that is why we are told Joseph had it in mind to divorce her quietly and cancel the pledge. 00:08:28.540 --> 00:08:34.240 Cancel this pledge because Mary, being pregnant before they were married, 00:08:34.659 --> 00:08:38.340 would make people believe that she had committed adultery 00:08:38.340 --> 00:08:42.480 and would bring great shame on her and her family. 00:08:43.159 --> 00:08:50.019 So Joseph wanted to do the right thing and separate from her before she gave birth. 00:08:50.480 --> 00:08:54.980 He didn't want to cause her any public disgrace or any shame. 00:08:54.980 --> 00:08:58.940 He really did want to do the right thing by her. 00:08:59.800 --> 00:09:06.940 Then the angel appears to him in a dream and tells him not to be afraid to take Mary as his wife 00:09:06.940 --> 00:09:12.240 and explain that what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit 00:09:12.240 --> 00:09:17.740 and that she will give birth to a son and you are to give him the name Jesus 00:09:17.740 --> 00:09:23.240 because he will save his people from their sins. 00:09:23.240 --> 00:09:33.039 We are then told that when Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord commanded him 00:09:33.039 --> 00:09:36.379 and he took Mary home as his wife. 00:09:37.340 --> 00:09:42.039 Imagine for a moment, each of you, waking up from a dream 00:09:42.039 --> 00:09:46.940 where the angel Gabriel appears to you and tells you to do something. 00:09:46.940 --> 00:09:58.880 Joseph has a wonderful relationship with God. 00:09:59.040 --> 00:10:00.440 That's quite apparent. 00:10:01.100 --> 00:10:06.840 He has the utmost trust in God and he doesn't need to actually question him. 00:10:07.500 --> 00:10:12.040 That's a challenge for us in our own relationship with God, isn't it? 00:10:12.039 --> 00:10:15.399 I wonder personally if I'm as trusting. 00:10:15.719 --> 00:10:17.699 I'm not sure I am. 00:10:18.539 --> 00:10:23.799 One thing we do know about Joseph is that he was your everyday carpenter. 00:10:24.199 --> 00:10:27.939 There was nothing unusual or special about him. 00:10:28.519 --> 00:10:32.279 And we can see throughout the Bible that time and time again, 00:10:32.719 --> 00:10:37.779 God uses everyday people to do special things for him. 00:10:37.779 --> 00:10:42.079 Moses, who had a stutter but spoke out for God. 00:10:42.639 --> 00:10:47.100 David, the small shepherd who killed the giant Goliath. 00:10:47.740 --> 00:10:52.480 Rahab, a prostitute who helped the spies of Jericho escape. 00:10:52.879 --> 00:10:57.179 Lydia, who was a seller of purple cloth and a prophetess. 00:10:57.939 --> 00:11:02.279 They were all different but all everyday people. 00:11:02.279 --> 00:11:07.519 But the one thing that they did have in common was their faith in God, 00:11:07.779 --> 00:11:09.839 which was bigger than their fears. 00:11:10.319 --> 00:11:12.120 And it's the same with Joseph. 00:11:12.879 --> 00:11:16.839 He was fearful of Mary being pregnant and the consequences, 00:11:17.519 --> 00:11:19.799 but his faith was much bigger. 00:11:20.819 --> 00:11:23.759 There are times in our lives for each of us 00:11:23.759 --> 00:11:26.699 when the task ahead is scary and daunting. 00:11:26.700 --> 00:11:30.680 And we need then to remember that God is bigger 00:11:30.680 --> 00:11:33.720 and look to him and not the task. 00:11:34.300 --> 00:11:38.060 We need to get a big picture of God in our minds, 00:11:38.580 --> 00:11:42.379 something that Joseph was clearly very good at doing. 00:11:43.440 --> 00:11:45.440 God didn't just choose Joseph 00:11:45.440 --> 00:11:48.240 because he knew he'd be a good husband to Mary 00:11:48.240 --> 00:11:50.180 and a good father to Jesus. 00:11:50.820 --> 00:11:53.000 He knew he would be obedient 00:11:53.000 --> 00:11:55.960 and stand firm in his faith, 00:11:55.960 --> 00:12:00.080 especially when opposition and accusation came, 00:12:00.340 --> 00:12:04.879 as it surely would when Mary's pregnancy became public knowledge. 00:12:05.580 --> 00:12:10.120 But Joseph heard from God and obeyed in faith. 00:12:11.400 --> 00:12:15.740 Perhaps some of us here today may face the scorn of others 00:12:15.740 --> 00:12:17.420 for believing in Christ, 00:12:18.180 --> 00:12:22.560 but God has given us something far greater than a dream. 00:12:22.559 --> 00:12:26.019 He has given us his word, the Bible, 00:12:26.479 --> 00:12:28.419 which is full of his promises, 00:12:28.699 --> 00:12:32.799 which encourage and strengthen us as he calls us 00:12:32.799 --> 00:12:35.639 and helps us and equips us 00:12:35.639 --> 00:12:39.679 to trust and obey him each and every day. 00:12:40.719 --> 00:12:42.859 In the words of the well-known him, 00:12:43.319 --> 00:12:44.579 trust and obey, 00:12:44.799 --> 00:12:48.239 for there's no other way to be happy in Jesus 00:12:48.240 --> 00:12:50.779 than to trust and obey. 00:12:51.980 --> 00:12:54.240 He calls us to live for him, 00:12:54.580 --> 00:12:56.620 not so much with our words, 00:12:56.620 --> 00:12:59.539 but with how we live our lives. 00:13:00.360 --> 00:13:03.700 And of course, he calls us out of his great love for us 00:13:03.700 --> 00:13:07.000 because he has plans for us that are good for us 00:13:07.000 --> 00:13:09.159 and which will not harm us, 00:13:09.419 --> 00:13:13.899 as it says in Jeremiah 29, verse 11. 00:13:13.899 --> 00:13:19.279 So four more days until Christmas Day, 00:13:19.659 --> 00:13:20.840 and it's the time of year 00:13:20.840 --> 00:13:24.220 when people make a record number of to-do lists. 00:13:25.279 --> 00:13:27.419 Russ read a very interesting one 00:13:27.419 --> 00:13:29.659 from, I believe, the Good Housekeeping magazine. 00:13:30.179 --> 00:13:34.000 Well, I came across the Christian Christmas to-do list 00:13:34.000 --> 00:13:34.759 on Facebook, 00:13:35.179 --> 00:13:37.419 which I would just like to read. 00:13:37.679 --> 00:13:41.379 Now, I'm not wanting to say this to add to your stress. 00:13:41.379 --> 00:13:44.720 I'm not suggesting that we do the whole list, 00:13:45.039 --> 00:13:47.320 but there may be one or two things 00:13:47.320 --> 00:13:50.799 the Holy Spirit prompts us to carry out. 00:13:51.620 --> 00:13:56.340 Number one, receive God's gift of Jesus Emmanuel. 00:13:57.379 --> 00:14:00.519 Number two, spend time focusing on Jesus 00:14:00.519 --> 00:14:02.240 and being in his presence. 00:14:03.240 --> 00:14:05.980 Number three, be the gift to others, 00:14:06.419 --> 00:14:08.360 the lonely, the depressed, 00:14:08.820 --> 00:14:10.639 the unwell, the grieving. 00:14:10.639 --> 00:14:14.740 Number four, wrap someone in a hug. 00:14:15.519 --> 00:14:17.819 Number five, send peace. 00:14:18.679 --> 00:14:20.840 Number six, donate food. 00:14:21.399 --> 00:14:23.539 Number seven, speak love. 00:14:24.559 --> 00:14:26.699 Number eight, forgive freely. 00:14:27.620 --> 00:14:29.500 Number nine, offer hope. 00:14:30.659 --> 00:14:33.000 Number 10, breathe in wonder. 00:14:34.399 --> 00:14:37.879 Number 11, light a candle for someone you miss. 00:14:37.879 --> 00:14:43.340 Number 12, visit someone who feels forgotten. 00:14:44.480 --> 00:14:48.259 Number 13, be a bridge, not a wall. 00:14:49.039 --> 00:14:51.860 And number 14, be the light. 00:14:53.419 --> 00:14:57.500 This Christmas, may we all know the deep, deep love 00:14:57.500 --> 00:15:01.419 that God has for us and choose to love him back. 00:15:01.419 --> 00:15:05.839 It's one choice that we won't regret making this Christmas. 00:15:05.839 --> 00:15:08.579 And may we be like Joseph 00:15:08.579 --> 00:15:14.439 and be people for whom our actions speak louder than our words. 00:15:14.939 --> 00:15:19.319 And may we faithfully obey what God asks us to do, 00:15:19.679 --> 00:15:22.099 however fearful we may feel. 00:15:22.100 --> 00:15:24.300 Let's pray. 00:15:24.300 --> 00:15:24.320 Let's pray. 00:15:30.200 --> 00:15:34.320 Heavenly Father, we thank you again for your word. 00:15:34.580 --> 00:15:39.379 And we thank you for this account of the angel appearing to Joseph. 00:15:39.379 --> 00:15:46.019 And we thank you for him and his obedient faith and trust in you. 00:15:46.019 --> 00:15:51.879 And as we go out into the week ahead, 00:15:52.059 --> 00:15:54.299 Lord, would you fill us with your spirit 00:15:54.299 --> 00:16:01.039 and enable us to live lives that are faithfully obedient to you, 00:16:01.579 --> 00:16:04.259 however scared we feel at times. 00:16:04.259 --> 00:16:13.299 And help us, Lord, to be the gift to others this Christmas. 00:16:15.080 --> 00:16:17.100 In Jesus' name we pray. 00:16:17.580 --> 00:16:18.000 Amen.