WEBVTT 00:00:00.180 --> 00:00:04.160 Folks, let's pause and let's pray as we come to God's Word this morning. 00:00:04.960 --> 00:00:07.140 Let's ask for his help, shall we? Let's pray together. 00:00:09.839 --> 00:00:18.199 For the Word of God is living and effective and sharper than any double-edged sword, 00:00:18.339 --> 00:00:22.519 penetrating as far as the separation of soul and spirit, joints and marrow. 00:00:22.900 --> 00:00:25.980 It is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 00:00:25.980 --> 00:00:32.060 No creature is hidden from him, but all things are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give an account. 00:00:32.500 --> 00:00:35.079 Father, thank you so much, Lord, for your Word. 00:00:36.140 --> 00:00:38.539 It is your Word. We just take stock of that today. 00:00:38.620 --> 00:00:42.159 It is not a human invention. It is your living and active Word. 00:00:42.200 --> 00:00:53.980 And we ask that it would come and do, that you would, through it, do your strengthening and searching and encouraging work in our lives and in our hearts. 00:00:53.979 --> 00:00:58.119 Father, we ask for your Spirit that he would come and help us as we turn to your Word now. 00:00:58.219 --> 00:01:01.259 Help us, Father, with these verses that sometimes are so familiar. 00:01:01.959 --> 00:01:08.819 Lord, to gaze once again at just the wonder of what we are reading and thinking about as we lead up to Christmas. 00:01:08.939 --> 00:01:10.199 So, Lord, be with us, we ask. 00:01:10.879 --> 00:01:13.920 Thank you that you hear us because we pray in Jesus' precious name. 00:01:13.920 --> 00:01:14.640 Amen. 00:01:15.540 --> 00:01:21.379 Well, folks, let me encourage you to grab your Bibles and turn to verse 18 of Matthew chapter 2. 00:01:22.659 --> 00:01:33.719 And as we're turning there, let me tell you one of my favourite stories concerning funny things that have been said at a school nativity play. 00:01:34.299 --> 00:01:36.540 So, picture the scene. 00:01:37.879 --> 00:01:39.879 The nativity is in full swing. 00:01:39.879 --> 00:01:45.019 We're at the point in the story where Mary and Joseph, they've made it to Bethlehem. 00:01:45.959 --> 00:01:48.799 Baby Jesus has been born and he's lying in the manger. 00:01:49.399 --> 00:01:51.000 Silent night has been sung. 00:01:51.099 --> 00:01:55.599 The shepherds have come and gone and the wise men are up and it's their time to shine. 00:01:55.719 --> 00:01:59.620 So, wise men, wise man number one pipes up and he says, 00:01:59.699 --> 00:02:02.019 Baby Jesus, I bring you some gold. 00:02:02.560 --> 00:02:03.819 Parents are clapping in the background. 00:02:04.019 --> 00:02:04.179 Yeah. 00:02:05.259 --> 00:02:06.959 Wise man number two pipes up. 00:02:06.959 --> 00:02:10.299 Baby Jesus, I bring you some myrrh. 00:02:10.659 --> 00:02:12.280 Again, yeah, parents delighted. 00:02:12.459 --> 00:02:13.239 Yeah, this moment. 00:02:14.259 --> 00:02:15.799 Wise man number three pipes up. 00:02:15.859 --> 00:02:16.840 It's his big moment. 00:02:17.840 --> 00:02:19.039 But he pauses nervously. 00:02:20.159 --> 00:02:24.599 And at this point, what happens is every parent's nativity nightmare, right? 00:02:24.620 --> 00:02:26.159 The little boy's gone and he's forgotten his line. 00:02:27.319 --> 00:02:32.799 But he can vaguely remember something of what the line was. 00:02:32.800 --> 00:02:38.120 So, he thinks I'll give it a go and he steps forward and he says, Baby Jesus, I think Frank sent this. 00:02:40.880 --> 00:02:42.020 Okay, Edward loved it. 00:02:42.980 --> 00:02:50.640 So, let me take you, as we turn to Matthew chapter one, let me take you from a boy in a Christmas nativity who fluffed his lines 00:02:50.639 --> 00:02:56.439 to the man in the original Christmas story who absolutely nailed his line. 00:02:56.839 --> 00:02:59.379 Come with me to Matthew chapter one, verse 18. 00:02:59.639 --> 00:03:05.979 And to the guy who I always think is the unsung hero of the Christmas story. 00:03:06.919 --> 00:03:07.399 Right? 00:03:07.599 --> 00:03:09.359 The man who doesn't get the spotlight. 00:03:09.819 --> 00:03:11.599 The man who doesn't get the plaudits. 00:03:11.599 --> 00:03:19.120 But as the man, as we see him here, has so much to teach us about the Christian life of faith. 00:03:20.159 --> 00:03:22.099 Walking by faith. 00:03:23.120 --> 00:03:29.259 You see, as Matthew tells us the Christmas story, he focuses in on this man, this legal descendant of David. 00:03:29.359 --> 00:03:30.759 That's what Matthew's interested in. 00:03:30.819 --> 00:03:33.620 This legal descendant of David called Joseph. 00:03:33.620 --> 00:03:43.379 The young village carpenter who has pledged his heart to marry his bride-to-be sweetheart. 00:03:43.939 --> 00:03:53.360 Now, if you look at verse 19, Matthew tells us that these guys are a couple who are pledged to be married to one another. 00:03:53.420 --> 00:03:54.099 That's what we're given. 00:03:54.200 --> 00:03:55.060 They're pledged to be married. 00:03:55.159 --> 00:04:00.560 Now, it's probably just worth pausing at this point and appreciating just what that means. 00:04:00.560 --> 00:04:06.180 Because it is more than what we would understand today by engagement. 00:04:06.979 --> 00:04:12.379 Because in this day, in the eyes of the watching world, if you are pledged to be married, you're as good as married. 00:04:13.180 --> 00:04:13.439 Right? 00:04:13.500 --> 00:04:21.240 And all you're doing really is counting down the days until you make your marriage official at your wedding ceremony. 00:04:21.240 --> 00:04:25.500 So if you're going to call this off in this day, then this is a massive deal. 00:04:26.300 --> 00:04:27.040 Massive deal. 00:04:27.040 --> 00:04:31.600 And actually, it's treated as if it were a divorce. 00:04:32.720 --> 00:04:34.580 So here are this couple pledged to be married. 00:04:34.700 --> 00:04:38.040 Here's this young couple with the whole of their lives ahead of them. 00:04:38.700 --> 00:04:48.240 And I'd imagine like any young couple, they have at the outset of their marriage big dreams and aspirations for what their married life together will become. 00:04:48.340 --> 00:04:49.120 What they're going to do. 00:04:49.200 --> 00:04:49.980 Who they're going to see. 00:04:50.080 --> 00:04:50.820 What they're going to build. 00:04:50.819 --> 00:04:57.540 Remember when we got married, before we got married, somebody gave us a big map of the world and said, just colour in the places where you're going to go. 00:04:57.639 --> 00:04:58.560 Oh yeah, we loved it. 00:04:58.639 --> 00:04:59.399 That's what we're going to do. 00:05:00.000 --> 00:05:01.360 These guys are exactly the same. 00:05:01.519 --> 00:05:04.920 Big dreams for what their lives will be like as a married couple. 00:05:06.259 --> 00:05:11.980 But I think it's fair to say that life as they know it is about to change forever. 00:05:11.980 --> 00:05:16.879 So we pick up Joseph's story at verse 18 and here's the scene in front of him. 00:05:18.240 --> 00:05:25.840 Really simply to his shock, Mary's pregnant and Joseph knows that he cannot be the father. 00:05:26.020 --> 00:05:27.360 That's what we're told in the text. 00:05:28.080 --> 00:05:37.360 Now sometimes we get so used to this story because we see it and we hear it every year that we can become almost numb to the raw emotion of that discovery. 00:05:37.360 --> 00:05:45.639 This is absolutely crushing news for Joseph on so many levels. 00:05:45.740 --> 00:05:49.199 Try and get into the text, into this guy's head and into his life. 00:05:50.480 --> 00:05:52.540 Okay, just imagine the shattered dreams. 00:05:53.180 --> 00:05:55.420 Just imagine the mental anguish. 00:05:55.560 --> 00:06:00.920 Just imagine the emotional turmoil as he chews that one over in his mind. 00:06:00.960 --> 00:06:04.420 Because I thought she loved me and I thought I loved her. 00:06:04.420 --> 00:06:07.080 I don't understand what has happened. 00:06:08.040 --> 00:06:09.180 This guy's feeling the pain. 00:06:10.759 --> 00:06:17.480 And the obvious path ahead of him is to call the marriage off. 00:06:17.620 --> 00:06:19.620 And I don't think it's just an option for him. 00:06:19.660 --> 00:06:24.900 I think it's probably fair to say that that is what is expected of him in this situation, in this culture. 00:06:25.740 --> 00:06:33.520 To officially divorce Mary and in so doing save his own reputation by exposing her to public shame. 00:06:33.519 --> 00:06:49.099 But Matthew tells us, do you see, and I'm assuming just because of the kind of man that Joseph is, and because he really loves this girl, that he chooses that he's going to treat Mary differently. 00:06:49.100 --> 00:06:49.740 Do you see it? 00:06:50.740 --> 00:06:55.720 And so in his mind, he's considered this, which means that he's chewed this one over. 00:06:56.000 --> 00:06:59.600 He's decided that he's going to call off the marriage behind the scenes. 00:06:59.600 --> 00:07:02.600 So that is the scene in front of him. 00:07:02.640 --> 00:07:06.040 And then all of a sudden, out of nowhere, verse 20, there's a choice before him. 00:07:07.320 --> 00:07:10.100 All of a sudden, this angel appears. 00:07:10.780 --> 00:07:10.900 Right? 00:07:11.000 --> 00:07:12.580 Out of nowhere. 00:07:12.579 --> 00:07:17.740 I've got a friend who always says that angels in the Bible are often like Edinburgh buses, right? 00:07:17.759 --> 00:07:21.579 You don't see one for 400 odd years up until, bam, two appear at once in the Christmas story. 00:07:23.039 --> 00:07:23.859 Here's this angel. 00:07:23.979 --> 00:07:24.979 And he's got a message. 00:07:25.099 --> 00:07:26.680 He's got God's message for Joseph. 00:07:26.819 --> 00:07:28.019 And it's quite simple, really. 00:07:28.099 --> 00:07:30.099 Do you see that there are two instructions? 00:07:32.860 --> 00:07:34.060 Followed by two names. 00:07:35.079 --> 00:07:35.439 Right? 00:07:35.500 --> 00:07:36.839 The two instructions come with me. 00:07:36.839 --> 00:07:41.519 Firstly, Joseph, you need to be the husband that Mary needs you to be to her. 00:07:41.859 --> 00:07:42.959 Take Mary to be your wife. 00:07:43.079 --> 00:07:43.680 Don't be afraid. 00:07:45.139 --> 00:07:48.879 And secondly, Joseph, you need to be the father that the boy needs you to be to him. 00:07:48.959 --> 00:07:50.859 There's the instructions that are given. 00:07:51.399 --> 00:07:52.859 Probably combined in the one. 00:07:53.740 --> 00:07:53.939 Right? 00:07:55.740 --> 00:07:59.019 And the other instruction that he's given is to name the child. 00:07:59.139 --> 00:08:00.339 And it's key to see that one. 00:08:00.479 --> 00:08:01.560 Name the child. 00:08:01.819 --> 00:08:02.859 So there's his two instructions. 00:08:03.060 --> 00:08:03.639 Take Mary. 00:08:04.539 --> 00:08:06.199 Be the husband and the father that you need to be. 00:08:06.199 --> 00:08:07.879 And name the child. 00:08:08.099 --> 00:08:09.039 And see the two names. 00:08:09.180 --> 00:08:11.099 Because the key is in the two names. 00:08:12.019 --> 00:08:12.139 Right? 00:08:12.219 --> 00:08:13.259 What are the two names? 00:08:14.319 --> 00:08:15.099 Verse 21. 00:08:15.279 --> 00:08:16.560 Firstly, his name is Jesus. 00:08:16.759 --> 00:08:19.199 Now, the kids talk kind of spoiled my thunder here for me. 00:08:19.259 --> 00:08:19.439 Right? 00:08:21.180 --> 00:08:22.279 But the clue's in the name. 00:08:22.359 --> 00:08:22.659 Jesus. 00:08:22.779 --> 00:08:24.399 I remember when Alex and I were in Malawi. 00:08:25.279 --> 00:08:30.399 I remember finding it really striking that some of the people that we learned to speak with, 00:08:30.419 --> 00:08:32.439 that we got to know, that we got to love, 00:08:32.439 --> 00:08:37.120 they had names like harmony and wisdom and honesty. 00:08:37.879 --> 00:08:37.980 Right? 00:08:38.639 --> 00:08:42.659 Parents naming their children after things that they hoped they would become. 00:08:42.799 --> 00:08:46.799 I even heard of somebody tell me that they once met a King George V, which I thought was quite funny. 00:08:49.039 --> 00:08:51.659 Naming their children after things that they wanted them to become. 00:08:51.720 --> 00:08:54.019 Now, we do that sometimes in our culture as well, don't we? 00:08:54.080 --> 00:08:55.460 We call our little girl Grace. 00:08:57.000 --> 00:09:00.419 Naming their children after things that they hope their lives are going to be marked by. 00:09:00.419 --> 00:09:05.819 In Matthew chapter 2, this boy is named not in hopeful expectation of what he might one day become. 00:09:07.179 --> 00:09:10.279 He is named in full knowledge of what he will one day do. 00:09:10.459 --> 00:09:12.959 His name means God saves. 00:09:14.199 --> 00:09:15.299 That's what his name means. 00:09:15.479 --> 00:09:17.539 God saves. 00:09:17.839 --> 00:09:19.919 God rescues. 00:09:19.919 --> 00:09:20.919 God saves. 00:09:20.919 --> 00:09:26.120 And that is what he's come to do, to save his people from their sins. 00:09:26.219 --> 00:09:30.339 Those sins that had brought the wrath of God on all of humanity. 00:09:30.500 --> 00:09:32.879 Here is Jesus come to deal with the problem. 00:09:33.319 --> 00:09:36.039 He is God's rescuer. 00:09:36.120 --> 00:09:37.199 He comes to save. 00:09:37.319 --> 00:09:41.159 And the second name, verse 23, is Emmanuel. 00:09:42.559 --> 00:09:44.480 God with us. 00:09:44.480 --> 00:09:51.139 You see, Joseph's told, verse 20, that life in Mary's womb is God's doing, not man's. 00:09:51.159 --> 00:09:52.960 She is pregnant through the Holy Spirit. 00:09:53.100 --> 00:09:56.019 Matthew gives us that twice, if you pay attention to the text. 00:09:56.940 --> 00:09:58.580 Here is the virgin birth. 00:10:00.399 --> 00:10:01.460 Why is that important? 00:10:02.279 --> 00:10:03.220 Is it important? 00:10:03.440 --> 00:10:04.279 Friends, it is vital. 00:10:04.379 --> 00:10:05.000 It is crucial. 00:10:05.159 --> 00:10:07.180 It's one of the building blocks of our faith. 00:10:07.720 --> 00:10:08.840 Okay, why is it important? 00:10:08.840 --> 00:10:13.100 Well, you remember we saw last week as we looked at that long list of names in the genealogy. 00:10:14.480 --> 00:10:20.100 But Matthew's telling us that the answer to mankind's sin problem was never going to come from the human gene pool. 00:10:21.500 --> 00:10:21.680 Right? 00:10:21.840 --> 00:10:26.680 That is a poor river from which to go fishing for a saviour. 00:10:27.659 --> 00:10:33.740 This saviour needs to come from out with us so as not to be stained by our sin. 00:10:34.420 --> 00:10:36.120 He needs to come from out with us. 00:10:36.120 --> 00:10:48.779 But if he's to be our saviour, he needs to be one of us so that he can stand in our place and live the life of worship to God, of righteousness, the one that we couldn't live. 00:10:48.860 --> 00:10:49.799 That is our saviour. 00:10:49.919 --> 00:10:52.679 He is fully God and fully man. 00:10:52.779 --> 00:10:54.480 This is what this text is telling us. 00:10:54.580 --> 00:10:55.620 Jesus Christ. 00:10:55.620 --> 00:10:59.580 So what we sing as we close this service. 00:10:59.700 --> 00:11:00.279 Heart the Herald. 00:11:00.700 --> 00:11:02.919 Veiled in flesh the Godhead see. 00:11:03.159 --> 00:11:05.179 Hail the incarnate deity. 00:11:05.659 --> 00:11:10.200 As a saviour will find some of the richest Christian theology in Christmas songs. 00:11:10.840 --> 00:11:16.139 Which is why I always find it amazing that some of the boys from my football team come to that service, the carol service every year. 00:11:16.179 --> 00:11:17.419 And they're singing this stuff. 00:11:17.419 --> 00:11:21.799 Just another little incentive to invite people to come next weekend. 00:11:22.000 --> 00:11:23.860 Veiled in flesh the Godhead see. 00:11:24.379 --> 00:11:25.839 Hail the incarnate deity. 00:11:26.139 --> 00:11:27.740 Simply means look and see. 00:11:28.079 --> 00:11:29.059 Look and see. 00:11:30.000 --> 00:11:32.639 God in human flesh. 00:11:34.939 --> 00:11:37.740 I remember a friend of mine when he was young. 00:11:37.799 --> 00:11:39.259 I was hanging out with him this week. 00:11:39.500 --> 00:11:43.620 And he was telling me that when he was young he went in for a major operation. 00:11:43.620 --> 00:11:53.259 And he looks back on that time as the moment in his life when he knew that his parents really loved him. 00:11:54.159 --> 00:11:54.399 Right? 00:11:54.440 --> 00:11:55.159 He'd heard it before. 00:11:55.240 --> 00:11:56.600 He'd heard it all his life. 00:11:57.759 --> 00:11:59.860 But he didn't see it until this operation. 00:12:01.120 --> 00:12:05.299 And he was telling me that at the operation they were there for him when he went to sleep. 00:12:06.659 --> 00:12:10.159 And they were the first faces he saw when he woke up. 00:12:10.159 --> 00:12:16.159 And he learned from the doctors that his parents didn't leave his side the whole operation. 00:12:17.299 --> 00:12:20.939 And he said that I heard them tell me that they loved me. 00:12:22.539 --> 00:12:26.019 But it was the time when I saw them that they were there. 00:12:27.120 --> 00:12:31.719 It was their presence that just hit their love to whole new levels in my life. 00:12:31.720 --> 00:12:36.660 Isn't it true that sometimes just to be there for somebody isn't it? 00:12:36.680 --> 00:12:40.759 Our presence just communicates how much we love them. 00:12:41.300 --> 00:12:46.120 And this is what Emmanuel means in the ultimate sense. 00:12:47.399 --> 00:12:52.440 Here is God showing a world that preferred the darkness. 00:12:52.620 --> 00:12:53.519 John chapter 1. 00:12:53.639 --> 00:12:55.660 That creature rejecting creator. 00:12:55.860 --> 00:12:57.500 We do not want you on this planet. 00:12:57.500 --> 00:12:59.600 And into a people. 00:12:59.759 --> 00:13:00.720 John chapter 1 again. 00:13:00.820 --> 00:13:02.200 Who did not receive him. 00:13:02.539 --> 00:13:03.000 His own. 00:13:03.080 --> 00:13:04.899 Who did not want anything to do with him. 00:13:05.440 --> 00:13:10.679 And yet here is a God who is stepping into our human existence. 00:13:10.960 --> 00:13:12.419 And saying here I am. 00:13:13.179 --> 00:13:14.220 I love you. 00:13:15.139 --> 00:13:18.519 And I'm going to do exactly what I said I would do. 00:13:18.940 --> 00:13:21.740 Friends maybe this Christmas you need to stop and to think again. 00:13:21.779 --> 00:13:23.539 As you gaze at that baby in the manger. 00:13:23.539 --> 00:13:28.099 What it is screaming at us is just how much God loves us. 00:13:29.199 --> 00:13:30.559 He loves us. 00:13:31.439 --> 00:13:33.699 That he would go to those lengths. 00:13:35.039 --> 00:13:37.860 For a people that wanted nothing to do with him. 00:13:39.039 --> 00:13:40.339 What love is that? 00:13:42.159 --> 00:13:44.639 God says here is Emmanuel. 00:13:46.099 --> 00:13:47.279 Here I am. 00:13:47.799 --> 00:13:48.939 In the manger. 00:13:48.940 --> 00:13:51.120 And both of these truths. 00:13:51.340 --> 00:13:54.720 That God said that he would come mightily to save his people. 00:13:54.980 --> 00:13:57.480 And that he would come gloriously to dwell with his people. 00:13:57.760 --> 00:14:00.080 Both of these converge in the one person. 00:14:00.600 --> 00:14:02.160 The baby born in Bethlehem. 00:14:02.560 --> 00:14:03.400 Jesus Christ. 00:14:04.520 --> 00:14:05.460 Of course isn't it Jesus? 00:14:05.580 --> 00:14:06.920 He was God with us in the manger. 00:14:07.040 --> 00:14:08.360 And we don't have time to do this. 00:14:08.420 --> 00:14:09.340 But this is another sermon. 00:14:09.420 --> 00:14:09.940 What does he say? 00:14:10.020 --> 00:14:10.760 Matthew 28. 00:14:11.080 --> 00:14:12.200 Behold I am with you. 00:14:12.500 --> 00:14:13.560 To the end of the age. 00:14:14.280 --> 00:14:17.220 He truly is God with us. 00:14:17.220 --> 00:14:25.840 And so Joseph God is graciously and wonderfully doing something well beyond your capacity to fathom. 00:14:26.040 --> 00:14:27.480 Right here in this moment. 00:14:27.920 --> 00:14:29.139 Truly Bethlehem. 00:14:29.379 --> 00:14:34.399 The hopes and the fears of all the years are met in thee tonight. 00:14:34.500 --> 00:14:36.220 And what's Joseph's role in all of this? 00:14:37.220 --> 00:14:37.960 What's his role? 00:14:38.980 --> 00:14:41.080 Well he's got to be fully in this. 00:14:41.460 --> 00:14:45.399 And he's got to name this child Jesus. 00:14:45.399 --> 00:14:48.819 And here's where we need to think back to our school nativity at the start. 00:14:48.899 --> 00:14:50.439 And to the boy who fluffed his lines. 00:14:50.699 --> 00:14:50.860 Right? 00:14:51.199 --> 00:14:51.779 Come with me. 00:14:51.959 --> 00:14:53.059 Here is Joe's line. 00:14:53.980 --> 00:14:55.179 This is his line. 00:14:55.799 --> 00:14:57.659 His one line in this Christmas drama. 00:14:57.759 --> 00:14:58.519 Do you see it? 00:14:58.779 --> 00:15:00.059 His name is Jesus. 00:15:00.319 --> 00:15:01.179 That's his line. 00:15:02.740 --> 00:15:03.819 There's your line Joe. 00:15:04.079 --> 00:15:05.220 But if he's to deliver it. 00:15:05.279 --> 00:15:07.799 He's to be in it more than with just his lips. 00:15:09.139 --> 00:15:11.460 He's to be in it with his heart. 00:15:11.460 --> 00:15:13.379 In other words he needs to have bought into this. 00:15:14.120 --> 00:15:17.240 To bought into what God is doing in this moment. 00:15:17.360 --> 00:15:21.980 And so remember still in this place of raw pain and real questions. 00:15:22.100 --> 00:15:24.960 Here's the big choice facing Joseph. 00:15:26.259 --> 00:15:32.840 Will he stand and will he embrace the message that God has given him through the angel? 00:15:33.500 --> 00:15:39.240 Will he lean the whole weight of his life on what God says is true? 00:15:39.240 --> 00:15:43.680 Will he absorb every ounce of shame that will come his way? 00:15:43.759 --> 00:15:47.120 Because he chooses to associate himself with Mary. 00:15:47.340 --> 00:15:54.340 And most of all will he place his hope and his trust in the truth of who this child in the manger is? 00:15:56.039 --> 00:15:59.799 Or will he choose to walk away? 00:16:01.399 --> 00:16:02.680 And have nothing to do with it. 00:16:04.320 --> 00:16:06.019 So what will Joseph choose? 00:16:06.019 --> 00:16:06.939 Really simply. 00:16:07.980 --> 00:16:09.579 And this is where we start to kick in. 00:16:10.519 --> 00:16:12.519 Will he walk by faith? 00:16:13.360 --> 00:16:15.980 Or will he walk by sight? 00:16:16.079 --> 00:16:21.259 Of course that is the question that has marked God's people all the way through the generations. 00:16:21.480 --> 00:16:22.500 And comes to us today. 00:16:22.639 --> 00:16:24.879 Are we going to be people who will walk by faith? 00:16:25.240 --> 00:16:27.439 Building our lives on what God has said to be true. 00:16:27.759 --> 00:16:30.519 Or will we live life by what we can understand and fathom? 00:16:32.299 --> 00:16:33.699 What is Joseph going to do? 00:16:33.860 --> 00:16:34.919 There's a choice before him. 00:16:34.919 --> 00:16:35.360 We'll see it. 00:16:35.360 --> 00:16:36.259 Verse 24. 00:16:36.479 --> 00:16:40.079 Joseph embrace the path ahead of him. 00:16:40.120 --> 00:16:40.939 I love this, right? 00:16:41.139 --> 00:16:42.159 What does Joseph do? 00:16:42.259 --> 00:16:43.500 Verse 24 and 25. 00:16:43.699 --> 00:16:44.620 See the two verbs. 00:16:46.479 --> 00:16:47.139 He did. 00:16:48.459 --> 00:16:49.360 What did he do? 00:16:49.479 --> 00:16:53.139 He did what the angel of the Lord commanded him. 00:16:53.199 --> 00:16:55.000 He took Mary to be his wife. 00:16:57.279 --> 00:16:58.179 Massive, isn't it? 00:16:58.360 --> 00:16:59.459 Considering what's going on. 00:16:59.779 --> 00:17:00.219 Massive. 00:17:00.220 --> 00:17:01.779 And secondly, he gave. 00:17:02.440 --> 00:17:02.960 Gave what? 00:17:03.100 --> 00:17:05.880 Gave the child the name Jesus. 00:17:07.500 --> 00:17:08.759 Do you see how he did it? 00:17:09.200 --> 00:17:10.759 His one line of nativity play. 00:17:11.059 --> 00:17:11.900 The original Christmas. 00:17:12.279 --> 00:17:13.900 He absolutely nailed it. 00:17:14.839 --> 00:17:15.640 He nailed it. 00:17:15.980 --> 00:17:17.779 His name is Jesus. 00:17:18.600 --> 00:17:20.980 And the thing is, there were no parents out with their cameras. 00:17:21.380 --> 00:17:23.220 There were no grannies out with their hankies. 00:17:23.220 --> 00:17:27.319 There were no teachers out encouraging everyone to stand up and clap, saying, encore, encore. 00:17:27.559 --> 00:17:28.460 Let's do it again. 00:17:28.880 --> 00:17:30.420 No one's there saying, good job, Joe. 00:17:30.480 --> 00:17:31.579 No one sees this. 00:17:32.880 --> 00:17:38.380 And yet, boy, would there have been rejoicing in heaven at what God was doing in this moment. 00:17:38.380 --> 00:17:47.180 And over this man who is choosing to stake his whole life on the identity of this child in this, the most glorious of moments. 00:17:51.120 --> 00:17:54.480 And the thing is, we can easily get a bit sentimental at this point in the story. 00:17:56.420 --> 00:18:00.200 Like this was some kind of first century make of love, actually, that kind of ended. 00:18:00.720 --> 00:18:01.540 Laughing and smiling. 00:18:02.920 --> 00:18:04.140 Everyone's friends again. 00:18:04.860 --> 00:18:05.900 Camera pans down. 00:18:06.260 --> 00:18:06.900 Curtain closes. 00:18:06.900 --> 00:18:09.620 And the game goes on happily ever after. 00:18:10.620 --> 00:18:17.560 But let's be under no illusions as to what it now means for this couple to live by faith and not by sight. 00:18:18.480 --> 00:18:18.780 Right? 00:18:18.940 --> 00:18:20.120 Just think about that for a minute. 00:18:21.640 --> 00:18:27.920 The reality of what life is going to be like from this moment on is anything but rainbows and unicorns for this young couple. 00:18:29.300 --> 00:18:31.019 Okay, Nazareth, not a big place. 00:18:31.940 --> 00:18:32.120 Right? 00:18:32.200 --> 00:18:33.700 People being people being people. 00:18:33.700 --> 00:18:34.800 You get a load of that. 00:18:34.799 --> 00:18:36.139 A bit of juicy news. 00:18:36.259 --> 00:18:37.599 A bit of juicy gossip like that. 00:18:38.099 --> 00:18:38.220 Right? 00:18:38.220 --> 00:18:40.619 You can imagine that it's spread like wildfire. 00:18:42.180 --> 00:18:48.899 And Joseph and Mary, I'm sure, would have had to endure years of looks and questions and rejection and mocking. 00:18:48.900 --> 00:18:56.240 But for them and their little unimpressive looking family, they are serving the Lord. 00:18:58.780 --> 00:19:00.960 And right there is the life of faith, isn't it? 00:19:00.960 --> 00:19:03.759 You might be here today and you're thinking, my life looks unspectacular. 00:19:04.820 --> 00:19:06.160 It looks unspectacular. 00:19:06.259 --> 00:19:09.280 I'm just going through the same stuff every day. 00:19:09.279 --> 00:19:15.039 And yet, do you see how these guys model for us the life of faith? 00:19:16.619 --> 00:19:19.759 Building our house on the word of the Lord. 00:19:20.119 --> 00:19:24.379 Trusting in and standing on and walking in light of the promises of God. 00:19:24.879 --> 00:19:31.079 And leaning our whole lives and staking it all on who Jesus truly is. 00:19:31.079 --> 00:19:39.599 And being willing to embrace the shame and the looks of my world that looks on into our lives and says, why are you wasting your time? 00:19:40.939 --> 00:19:42.220 Why are you wasting your time? 00:19:45.299 --> 00:19:46.799 And here's what always strikes me about Joseph. 00:19:47.000 --> 00:19:49.099 I was getting into this this week. 00:19:49.099 --> 00:19:58.799 You know, the last time we see this guy mentioned in the Bible is when Luke tells us about 12 year old Jesus in the temple, Luke chapter 2. 00:19:59.379 --> 00:20:01.559 It's the last time we hear about Joseph in the Bible story. 00:20:01.619 --> 00:20:03.119 We don't hear about him after that point. 00:20:03.339 --> 00:20:08.819 Which means in all likelihood, he died well before Jesus began his public ministry. 00:20:08.959 --> 00:20:10.359 Call it age 30. 00:20:11.879 --> 00:20:12.159 Right? 00:20:12.359 --> 00:20:14.959 So what did Joseph not see in his life? 00:20:15.019 --> 00:20:15.879 What did he not see? 00:20:16.279 --> 00:20:18.579 He did not see Jesus before miracles. 00:20:18.579 --> 00:20:20.419 He did not hear Jesus teach. 00:20:20.679 --> 00:20:22.759 He never got to see Jesus heal the sick. 00:20:23.019 --> 00:20:29.179 And he never got to see Jesus fulfill everything that his name suggested as he saved his people from their sin. 00:20:29.439 --> 00:20:31.740 As he gave his life for them on the cross. 00:20:32.759 --> 00:20:33.599 He never saw it. 00:20:33.740 --> 00:20:34.779 Never saw any of that. 00:20:36.480 --> 00:20:39.279 And it's interesting on a wee wonderful parallel. 00:20:39.460 --> 00:20:40.460 You can have this one for free. 00:20:41.279 --> 00:20:45.259 There's a wonderful little parallel between father and son here. 00:20:46.339 --> 00:20:46.579 Right? 00:20:46.579 --> 00:20:47.359 If you look hard enough. 00:20:47.359 --> 00:20:52.439 Here is Joseph courageously willing to embrace the shame that's going to come his way. 00:20:52.740 --> 00:20:55.959 Because he's choosing to associate himself with his bride, Mary. 00:20:57.459 --> 00:20:57.939 Right? 00:20:58.039 --> 00:21:00.459 And fast forward some years. 00:21:00.619 --> 00:21:02.559 And Jesus would do exactly the same. 00:21:02.659 --> 00:21:04.359 But he wouldn't just embrace the shame. 00:21:05.419 --> 00:21:07.000 He would absorb the shame. 00:21:07.000 --> 00:21:11.240 Because he chose to associate himself with his bride, the church. 00:21:13.539 --> 00:21:17.960 Jesus, Joseph, sorry, never saw Jesus die on the cross. 00:21:18.059 --> 00:21:18.200 Right? 00:21:18.240 --> 00:21:19.900 He never saw him rise from the grave. 00:21:20.000 --> 00:21:22.440 He never saw him ascend to his father's right hand in heaven. 00:21:22.880 --> 00:21:24.039 This guy see none of that. 00:21:24.700 --> 00:21:25.599 He see none of that. 00:21:25.599 --> 00:21:33.359 And yet do you see how this is no barrier to him placing his faith in the identity of this child. 00:21:33.359 --> 00:21:41.179 And so the call as we finish this passage sitting here today, the call and invitation are the same. 00:21:41.179 --> 00:21:42.240 Exactly the same. 00:21:42.539 --> 00:21:45.379 Except the facts are fuller for us. 00:21:45.380 --> 00:21:51.440 Because sitting where we do in history with all of this written down for us in our language, in our Bibles, 00:21:51.680 --> 00:21:57.900 how much more reason do we have, brothers and sisters, to take a leaf out of Joseph's book 00:21:57.900 --> 00:22:01.860 and to stake our whole lives on God's promise 00:22:01.860 --> 00:22:05.960 and come and once again adore this Jesus. 00:22:05.960 --> 00:22:14.180 And in so doing, declare to our watching world that in light of who he is, I'm with him. 00:22:15.840 --> 00:22:20.400 Let me just encourage you again to just go inviting. 00:22:21.500 --> 00:22:21.660 Right? 00:22:21.720 --> 00:22:24.759 Next Sunday we've put these services together to make them really accessible. 00:22:24.920 --> 00:22:28.299 We've got the nativity in the morning and the carol concert in the evening. 00:22:28.759 --> 00:22:29.660 Friends, let's get inviting. 00:22:30.279 --> 00:22:31.160 Because that's what we're doing. 00:22:31.220 --> 00:22:35.220 Maybe just a really practical way of putting this into practice this week. 00:22:35.960 --> 00:22:39.299 As we hand this out, as we stand up, this is what we're declaring, isn't it? 00:22:39.299 --> 00:22:41.519 That we are with Jesus. 00:22:42.400 --> 00:22:44.100 We are with the baby in the manger. 00:22:44.319 --> 00:22:46.319 Everything that that means, yeah, we're there. 00:22:46.440 --> 00:22:46.960 We're with him. 00:22:47.960 --> 00:22:50.360 So let me encourage you to grab these and let's get inviting 00:22:50.360 --> 00:22:53.700 and let's see this place absolutely full next Sunday. 00:22:54.059 --> 00:22:54.960 Take and invite. 00:22:56.019 --> 00:22:57.059 Just as we close, 00:22:59.840 --> 00:23:02.720 let me just tell you about some of the words that were shouted in my ear this morning, 00:23:02.840 --> 00:23:04.079 not long after getting up. 00:23:04.079 --> 00:23:05.919 Okay, it's not bad. 00:23:06.000 --> 00:23:06.359 Don't worry. 00:23:08.859 --> 00:23:12.439 Daddy, daddy, daddy, daddy, can we open door number eight, please? 00:23:14.220 --> 00:23:14.559 Right? 00:23:14.619 --> 00:23:15.460 Heard it all this week. 00:23:16.220 --> 00:23:18.379 Mummy, mummy, mummy, mummy, can we open door number four? 00:23:18.519 --> 00:23:20.559 Daddy, daddy, daddy, can we open door number six? 00:23:21.480 --> 00:23:21.720 Right? 00:23:21.799 --> 00:23:26.079 Our girls have got picture calendars this year rather than chocolate ones, 00:23:26.119 --> 00:23:27.879 which they have taken remarkably well. 00:23:27.880 --> 00:23:33.900 But we've been trying to explain to them what Advent means. 00:23:34.460 --> 00:23:34.580 Right? 00:23:35.440 --> 00:23:36.840 Girls, listen, what does Advent mean? 00:23:36.920 --> 00:23:37.200 What is it? 00:23:37.400 --> 00:23:38.440 It just means coming. 00:23:38.640 --> 00:23:44.060 So when you're opening those doors where we're counting down the days to remembering the day when Jesus came. 00:23:45.500 --> 00:23:46.080 But do you know what? 00:23:46.079 --> 00:23:51.199 As much as we're doing that, Jesus, he's come and he's ascended. 00:23:51.460 --> 00:23:52.899 And one day he will return. 00:23:53.000 --> 00:23:54.099 So we're opening these doors. 00:23:54.220 --> 00:23:56.519 And as much as we're remembering that he came once, 00:23:56.899 --> 00:24:00.179 we're remembering now where we stand in the story that he's going to come again. 00:24:01.000 --> 00:24:01.980 He's going to come again. 00:24:01.980 --> 00:24:07.759 And when he comes again, he won't come as humble baby Jesus. 00:24:08.259 --> 00:24:15.259 When he comes again, he will come as victorious King Jesus to judge the world in righteousness. 00:24:15.839 --> 00:24:22.680 And all wrongs will be put to right and every tear will be wiped away and sin and death will be banished forever. 00:24:24.660 --> 00:24:27.640 I just encourage you again, Advent, this is what we're doing, isn't it? 00:24:28.700 --> 00:24:29.539 He's coming again. 00:24:29.539 --> 00:24:34.599 You know, we started the service thinking about the boy in the Christmas nativity who fluffed his line. 00:24:35.579 --> 00:24:39.799 And we thought about Joseph, the man in the original Christmas drama who absolutely nailed his line. 00:24:41.420 --> 00:24:43.980 Friends, at the end of the Bible story, we read another line. 00:24:44.920 --> 00:24:50.940 And it's the final line in the Bible from the risen and reigning and one day returning King Jesus, 00:24:50.940 --> 00:24:54.319 who says his line to awaiting people. 00:24:55.119 --> 00:24:59.500 And it's simply this, yes, I am coming soon. 00:24:59.539 --> 00:25:02.420 Yes, I am coming soon. 00:25:03.579 --> 00:25:06.639 Born thy people to deliver. 00:25:07.759 --> 00:25:09.779 Born a child and yet a king. 00:25:10.019 --> 00:25:11.879 Born to reign in us forever. 00:25:12.799 --> 00:25:14.940 Now thy gracious kingdom bring. 00:25:15.740 --> 00:25:19.519 By thine own eternal spirit, rule in all our hearts alone. 00:25:20.240 --> 00:25:25.460 By thine all sufficient merit, raise us to thy glorious throne. 00:25:25.460 --> 00:25:26.259 Here is Jesus. 00:25:27.400 --> 00:25:28.340 Here is Emmanuel. 00:25:29.559 --> 00:25:30.500 Let's pray together. 00:25:30.500 --> 00:25:37.619 Father, I pray in the silence now, Lord. 00:25:38.000 --> 00:25:44.359 We read those words from Hebrews at the beginning about how your word is alive and it's active. 00:25:45.779 --> 00:25:49.779 And Lord, as your word goes forth, your spirit takes it and applies it to our lives. 00:25:49.880 --> 00:25:54.279 And Lord, I pray that in the silence now that your spirit would be at work in all of our hearts. 00:25:54.279 --> 00:26:03.799 For us, helping us to grasp just a little bit more or maybe even just for the first time today, just how incredible it is. 00:26:04.839 --> 00:26:06.480 That his name is Jesus. 00:26:07.599 --> 00:26:09.440 And his name is Emmanuel. 00:26:09.440 --> 00:26:23.820 And so gracious Father, help us to be those people like Joseph who base our lives on the truth of your every word. 00:26:26.019 --> 00:26:27.820 And Lord, help us to be bold. 00:26:27.960 --> 00:26:29.120 Help us to be courageous. 00:26:29.960 --> 00:26:35.519 And Lord, help us to live for an audience of one as we once again remember Christmas. 00:26:35.519 --> 00:26:41.680 So Lord, thank you that you hear us because we pray in Jesus' precious name. 00:26:42.180 --> 00:26:42.500 Amen.