(The Preacher’s Magazine 1985-86)

JESUS-SON OF JOSEPH

Scripture: Matt. 13:53-58

Text: “Isn't this the carpenter's son?” (v. 55, NIV).

Introduction: Jesus had to borrow so many things. A newborn baby needs a crib. Jesus borrowed a manger. The host of 5,000 hungry people needs food. Jesus borrowed a lunch. A king entering a city needs a mount. Jesus borrowed a donkey. A crucified man needs a burial place. Jesus borrowed a tomb. And every boy needs a dad. Jesus borrowed a father.

God chose that most special person. He must have been a man of special qualifications. What kind of person was Joseph, whom many never had reason to doubt was actually the father of Jesus?

I. He Was Sensitive Enough to Hear God

Four times he received special in­structions from God. He was a righ­teous man and was sensitive to the embarrassment of Mary. These traits seem to have made him especially aware of the possibility of God re­vealing His will to men in specific situ­ations.

II. He Was Strong Enough to Obey God

Each time God revealed His pur­poses to him, Joseph promptly obeyed. In each instance there was considerable cost, even risk, involved. Long trips, absence from home, per­sonal sacrifice did not deter his full obedience to God's will.

III. He Was Steadfast Enough to Serve God

In all he does, Joseph shows him­self faithful to his God and the prin­ciples of his religion. Luke tells us that after His visit to the Temple, Jesus went down to Nazareth with His parents and was obedient to them. Think of the earthly father God would want Jesus to have as He grew to man­hood. What a comment on the char­acter of Joseph that responsibility is.

Conclusion: Under the discipline and tutelage of his "borrowed father" the child Jesus learned the rudiments of Jewish religion. There, too, the youthful Jesus learned the carpenter's trade. Jo­seph appeared suddenly and briefly in sacred history and just· as suddenly slipped quietly from our view. However, this fatherly tutor of Jesus may well instruct us in this Christmas season in faithfulness and obedience to God.

JESUS-SON OF MARY

Scripture: Luke 1:26-38; 2:34-35

Text: "And a sword will pierce your own soul too" (Luke 2:35, NIV).

Introduction: It is unlikely that a man can understand fully the pain with which a woman gives a child to this world. The birth pangs suffered in the Bethlehem stable, however, were but the beginning for Mary, the mother of Jesus. Although we are aware of the danger of super­stitiously worshiping another human be­ing, we may well heed the words of Al­exander Whyte, "We must not allow ourselves to entertain a grudge against the mother of our Lord because some enthusiasts for her have given her more than her due." Let us then consider the cost with which this great woman mothered our Lord.

I. The Pain of Gossiping Calumny

Nazareth was a small town, and small towns haven't changed much since the first century. A young unmarried woman, discovered to be pregnant would be a natural target for malicious and cruel gossip. Appar­ently Mary was a devout young woman so that her piety made her "shame" an even juicier piece of news to pass about. As we recognize the embarrassment she must have suf­fered, we are even more grateful for those who stood by her, such as Joseph and Elizabeth.

II. The Pain of Developing Mystery

When Jesus had lingered to speak with the teachers in the temple courts, Mary asked, "Son, why have you treated us like this?" It was not her first or last why. From the com­ing of the shepherds she had "trea­sured up -all these things and pon­dered them in her heart" (Luke 2:19, NIV). She knew that she loved Jesus better than life itself, but she did not understand Him, nor did it seem pos­sible she ever would. How often she must have lain awake wondering what God was doing in the life of her Son.

III. The Pain of Loving Anxiety

Jesus remained at home until He was 30 years of age. Mary grew ac­customed to having .Him near: Then He left on a perilous venture. Often she received disturbing news. He was out in the world with no certain source of food or shelter. Plots were being· made to destroy Him. On one occasion word was sent that her Son was a madman and that she should come and restrain Him (Mark 3:30-35). Jesus, himself, was speak­ing of impending death. Loving Jesus as she did, Mary was torn with anxi­ety, dreading the news that she might hear next.

IV. The Pain of Enduring Sympathy

What parent has not looked at her sick or hurt child and wished she might assume his pain? Mary was at the crucifixion of her much-loved Son. The hammer blows must have rung louder for her than for any other in that crowd. She heard the rough oaths of the soldiers, the cruel taunt­ing of the spectators. She felt the nails and the pain as a Roman soldier plunged a spear into her Son's side. Surely she remembered what Simeon had said, "A sword shall pierce your own soul too." That day it did.

Conclusion: To deify Mary is to do her and ourselves a profound injustice. She was human, the means by which our God took human flesh and dwelt among us. Through her He is related to us all. Jesus loved and respected her. In His dying words He made arrangements for her care (John 19:26-27). We will not surround her with superstitious vener­ation, but it is fitting that we hold her in honor, knowing that as we honor her, we honor mankind.

JESUS-SON OF MAN

Scripture: John 12:20-34

Text: "Who is this 'Son of Man'?" (v. 34, NlV).

Introduction: Jesus' favorite title for himself was Son of Man. It is found al­most 80 times in the Gospels. It identi­fies Him with humanity, but it does more. It is a title of honor, practically synonymous with Messiah or world conqueror. His listeners were puzzled and well they might be. He who called himself Son of Man was speaking of His death. How could that be? But He is both He who has come and who is to come. He has been lifted up on a throne forever. We cannot understand the Son of Man without seeing this twofold rela­tionship.

I. Pauper and Provider

Jesus identifies with the street peo­ple of every age as He declares, "The Son of Man has no place to lay his head" (Matt. 8:20, NIV). And yet His identity is with us all who bring noth­ing into this world and can take noth­ing with us when we go. He who had no house or bed to call His own is still the Provider of an eternal dwell­ing, for He has promised, "In my Fa­ther's house are many rooms ... I am going there to prepare a place for you" (John 14:2, NIV). He who had no rope nor pail to draw from a well, said, "If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water" (John 4:10, NlV).

II. Seeker and Savior

In one glorious' statement He as­serts these relationships. "The Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost" (Luke 19:10, NIV). He finds us, entering into our daily lives. "The Son of Man came eating and drinking" (Matt. 11: 19, NlV). He is not satis­fied with finding us. It is not enough that He discovers and uncovers our lostness. He also has come to save. The brass serpent uplifted in the wil­derness depicted both cause and cure of men's misery. Jesus said, "Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who be­lieves in him may have eternal life" (John 3:14-15, NIV).

III. Victim and Victor

Man's hopeless involvement in sin is revealed in what he has done to the Son of Man. "The Son of Man will be betrayed" (Matt. 20:18, NIV). "The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men" (Luke 24:7, NIV). "The Son of Man must suffer many things" (Luke 9:22, NIV). Man does not have the last word! "The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom every· thing that causes sin and all who do evil" (Matt. 13:41, NIV); "For the Son of Man is going to come in his Fa­ther's glory with his angels" (Matt. 16:27, NIV). The One who hung on the Cross shall sit on His glorious throne (Matt. 19:28).

Conclusion: This Son of Man shows us the worst and the best about ourselves. He has fully involved himself with us. The consequence of our sin has fallen upon Him. All that was coming to us, He has received. But He has recovered for us what God intended for man to be. We see our heritage not as something tragi­cally lost, but now through Him, repre­sentative of mankind, graciously avail­able.

Scripture: Matt. 3:13-17

Text: "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased (v. 17, NIV).

Introduction: Jesus said that He was the Son of God (John 10:36). His claim' is corroborated by numerous testi­monies in the Scriptures. We have testi­monies by an angel (Luke 1:35) and by demons (Matt. 8:29; Mark 3: 11), by those very near Him (Matt. 14:33) and by one who had been indifferent (Matt. 27:54). Men whom He called to carry His message preached this conviction (Matt. 16:16; John 1:34; Acts 9:20) but so also testified a woman (John 11:27). We are impressed by each of these, but by far the most significant witness is God himself, who on two occasions made the statement that today is our text (Matt. 3: 17; 17:5). These truths stand out.

I. No Other Son-"This is my Son"

Here is the One, absolutely unique in history. Isaiah was a great prophet, but so were Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Amos. David was a great king, but so were Asa, Hezekiah, and Josiah. Now on the earth was God's great Gift. No one like Him had come before. No other like Him would follow. God does not want us to overlook the significance of this Gift. He says to us, "This is my Son!"

II. No Other Sacrifice-"whom I love"

Even Almighty God had reached His extremity. Nothing but the most costly of sacrifices would suffice for man's salvation. It was not simply that a noble, celestial being was placed upon the altar. It was One whom God loved, whom He loved as much, and infinitely more, as we could love a son of ours. Paul in Ephesians 1 and in Col. 1:13-14 points out how intimately this love is related to our salvation.

III. No Other Standard-"with him I am well pleased"

What conduct, what attitude, what total life-style pleases God? We are not left to guess. Jesus Christ is the! One who pleases Him. No rejection of God is more final than rejecting the One who pleases Him (Heb. 10:29). No acknowledgment is more neces­sary than of the One whom God has declared pleasing in His sight (1 John 4:15-16).

Conclusion: Most of us have numerous opportunities to hear preaching. In the Bible we have further opportunity to read the words of prophets and apos­tles. We value all of these utterances, but nothing is nearly so worthy of our attention as what God spoke at the bap­tism and at the transfiguration of Jesus.

Scripture: Luke 2:8-12

Text: "This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and ly­ing in a manger" (v. 12, NlV).

Introduction: When God wants our at­tention so that He can give us a special message, He often chooses to accom­pany the message with a sign. After the, little band of shepherds had listened to the most momentous message ever heard by man, they were given such a sign. "This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." Those words proved to be significant for them and have continued to be meaningful to all who hear the Christmas tidings.

I. It Is a Confirming Sign

A. That God enters human history

B. That God acts in chosen places

C. That God works in specific ways

II. It Is a Convicting Sign

A. That the poor are excluded from society

B. That Jesus is crowded from our lives

C. That God is shut out of our think­ing

III. It Isa Convincing Sign

A. That in mercy God comes down to us

B. That in love God calls out to us

C. That in grace God gives himself to us

Conclusion: For several years in Nash­ville, a large Nativity scene was displayed in a city park. It was at least 150 feet wide with camels, sheep, donkeys, and cattle. Angels, magi, and shepherds all were there, but always the concen­tration of viewers was at the center. There they gazed upon the Baby in the manger. The manger sign continues to speak.

TWO DECREES FROM TWO KINGS

Scripture: Luke 2:1-20

Text: "Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a Census should be taken of the entire Roman world" (v. 1). "Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord" (v. 11).

Introduction: Two decrees from two kings sent Mary and Joseph to Bethle­hem. Everyone knew the first. It sent thousands traveling to their ancestral homes, for it was issued by the Roman emperor. The second was not widely known. It sent only a few obscure peo­ple to Bethlehem. This decree was is­sued by Almighty God, the King of Kings. Both decrees are part of the Christmas story, but there any similarity ends.

I. Contrast in Objective

A. Caesar purposed to get.

B. God purposed to give.

II. Contrast in Heralds

A. Caesar sent agents of Rome.

B. God sent angels of heaven.

III. Contrast in Procedure

A. Caesar sought information.

B. God sought publication.

IV. Contrast in Results

1. Caesar accomplished taxation.
2. God accomplished salvation.

Conclusion: The decree of Caesar Augustus is now only an incidental item of history. It does not affect us. We are not moved by it. The decree of the Heavenly King stands forever. It draws· men and women everywhere and always to him­self.

THE THREE INVASIONS (Advent)

Scripture: Luke 2:8-14 Text: "Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared" (v. 13, NIV).

Introduction: In these days we find in­creasing interest in the possibility that worlds other than our own may be in­habited. Is it possible that some day we might be able to communicate with these distant worlds? Or could our world be invaded from outer space? Ac­tually our world already has had two in­vasions and another is to follow. It was not by strange creatures the invasions came but it was by . . . well, let me tell you of the three invasions.

I. The First Invasion - ­by the Dark Prince

Long ago, longer than any human being can know, there was a rebellion in another world called heaven. The Dark Prince, who instigated and headed the rebellion, was exiled from heaven and invaded earth. He is not normally visible to us, but his influence and power is made known by evil, trouble, pain, and death. His influ­ence alienates men from each other and men from God. It is not difficult for us to see we live in an. invaded world.

Job 1:6; 2 Pet. 2:4; Jude 6; Matt. 13:19, 38

II. The Second Invasion - ­by the Shining Prince

Nearly two millennia ago angelic hosts broke through to our world to announce that earth had been in­vaded again. There was no thunder of rockets, only the soft beat of angels' wings; no exotic weapons, only a song; no threat of war, but a promise of peace. The Shining Prince was here, born to a peasant woman, even now He was lying in a manger. Strange indeed, but He had come!

Luke 2:4-14; John 3:16; Matt. 2:1-12; John 1:1-14

III. The Third Invasion­ - by the Reigning King

Two invasions have come and one remains to come. Before the Shining Prince returned to heaven, He gave a promise that He would be back. An­gels repeated and confirmed the promise. He has won the victory. He will not come again to fight the war, but to establish His rule forever. The Shining Prince will come as the Reigning King.

Acts 1:1; Rev. 20-21; 2 Pet. 3:3-18

Conclusion: This Advent season re­minds us of past and. future. It properly celebrates the second invasion, but the message is incomplete without the promise of the third. We who believe Christ are no less assured that the third will come than we are that the second has occurred. When the third has been accomplished the Dark Prince will be banished forever; and his evil influence will trouble no more.

INTERPRETING A NAME

Scripture: Matt. 1:18-23

Text: "'The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel' – which means, 'God with us'" (v. 23, NIV).

Introduction: Many of our common names have an original meaning. My own, Edward, means "guardian of a king." My wife's name is Dorothy, which means "gift of God." David has the meaning of "beloved". The name we are given has little or nothing to do with our character, but each of us does interpret his name to those about us.

"Immanuel" is an unfamiliar name. Matthew felt it necessary to interpret it, but the life of Jesus interprets the name better than words can ever do.

I. Immanuel - God with Us, Means God is on Our Side

A. A pressing ... question - How does God feel about us?

B. A precious answer - "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16, NIV).

II. Immanuel - God with Us, Means God Has Become Man

A. A troubled question - How can God really understand us?

B. A treasured answer -  "For we do not have a high priest who is un­able to sympathize with our weak­nesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are - yet was without sin" (Heb. 4:15, NIV).

III. Immanuel - God with Us, Means God Abides with Us

A. An anxious question - Where is God now?

B. An assuring answer - "Surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age"· (Matt. 28:20, NIV).

Conclusion: And so Jesus has interpreted His name to us. We as His follow­ers have the challenge and the privilege of interpreting His name to our world. They are likely to be totally ignorant of the meaning of Immanuel and consequently ignorant of what Christmas really means.