Are You the Shepherds?

Am I Joseph?

Am I Joseph?

The Advent story is a very familiar story to some people.  It is sometimes summed up with a front yard nativity scene and a few Christmas carols.  I hope this Advent season to go deeper, with the Holy Spirit's help, and embrace the very real life lessons God wants to teach us.  Have you ever watched a movie more than once?  Maybe you have watched your favorite movie a few times.  Every time you watch a true classic, you will see details you didn't see the first time.  I believe the Advent is a perfect example of this, and we cannot be satisfied to read it just once.  This season let's begin by identifying with the point of view of Joseph in Matthew 1:18-24.  

Imagine his position when he discovers his future wife is pregnant, and the baby is not his.  Many scholars believe Joseph was much older than Mary.  Can you imagine the disappointment he must have felt when the dream he was waiting for seemed to be over? God knew Joseph would pass the test of disappointment.   His love for God caused him to not seek revenge and resort to bitterness when his dreams of a normal marriage seemed to burn.  

An angel visited Zechariah to announce John the Baptist's birth.  An angel visited Mary to announce the birth of the Savior.  Joseph only saw an angel in his dream.  How much more room for doubt is there when it comes to listening to our dreams compared to seeing a real angel? How easy would it have been for Joseph to ignore his visitation?  Joseph must have possessed a supernatural kind of faith. 

 Imagine the Christmas story without Joseph?  Would Mary and her unborn child have survived?  Remember this was a time when women were considered unequal, and adultery would result in stoning.  It was at this time, a man named Joseph stood his ground and obeyed God.  We find later in the Bible Joseph listens to a dream again. This time he rescues Mary and baby Jesus from King Herod's murderous plot.  Joseph does not demand a lot of attention in the Advent story.  In fact, it would be very easy to overlook his role.  Yet in the most vulnerable time on Earth for Jesus, his infancy, God raised up Joseph to protect him.

So I ask you today, are you Joseph?  Has God entrusted something to you that may not have been your first choice, but he knew that you would be faithful?  Is he calling you to walk in obedience to stand as the protector of the vulnerable?    Has he given you a dream that you need to listen to? Today when your own desires may seem thwarted or confused, is there a ministry God has for you?  Is it for such a time as this that you should ask the question, “Am I Joseph?"  

The Birth of Jesus the Messiah- Matthew 18-24

18 This is how Jesus the Messiah was born. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. But before the marriage took place, while she was still a virgin, she became pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit. 19 Joseph, her fiancé, was a good man and did not want to disgrace her publicly, so he decided to break the engagement[a] quietly.

20 As he considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. “Joseph, son of David,” the angel said, “do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. 21 And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus,[b] for he will save his people from their sins.”

22 All of this occurred to fulfill the Lord’s message through his prophet:

23 “Look! The virgin will conceive a child!
    She will give birth to a son,
and they will call him Immanuel,[c]
    which means ‘God is with us.’”

24 When Joseph woke up, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded and took Mary as his wife. 25 But he did not have sexual relations with her until her son was born. And Joseph named him Jesus.