Mathew 1:18-25

In churches all across America there will be Christmas dramas. You can almost excuse the ones with little kids in bathrobes with towels on their heads and angels with paper wings. The ones that are hard to take are the adults trying to act out the same thing in bathrobes, paper wings and fake beards. I could live the rest of my life and never attend a church drama like that and be happy.

The fact is there was drama, real drama surrounding the Christmas story. For the next few weeks we are going to look closer at some of the leading characters in the real life drama we now call Christmas.

It was drama because no one tried out for the parts but they were chosen to play roles that marked them forever as historic figures. In fact they are not only historic figures they became figurines. They have been immortalized more than anyone I can think of in molded images.

What makes them so special? Why are their stories so compelling? By the end of this series we should know more about these people and their lives.

"Something terrific will come no matter how dark the present. God always comes up with a third-act twist-and we won't know until we die whether the play was a comedy or a tragedy. So you'd better be prepared for both. That's the exhilaration of being alive. There is always another scene coming out of nowhere. God is the best dramatist." - Joan Rivers, Still Talking

In the great Christmas drama, like any good drama, there needs to be a leading man. Someone had to play the role of Jesus earthly father.

It would appear that Joseph was no ordinary man. From the text, it is easy to see that Joseph was a man of compassion, integrity, decency and love. He was a man who honored God’s will in his life, and was totally committed to doing God’s will. Joseph was a humble man who was more concerned about what God wanted out of his life than about what he himself wanted. He was a humble man chosen for a heavenly mission.

He was a man who possessed certain characteristics that would do us well to emulate. I am sure that the Lord will not call you and me to go through exactly what Joseph went through. However, I am also sure that God wants to use your life and mine just as He used Joseph.

Let’s look at his story a little closer.

1. A Tragedy that Marred His Life (v.18-19)

Shocking discoveries and shattered dreams

“18The birth of Jesus took place like this. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. Before they came to the marriage bed, Joseph discovered she was pregnant. (It was by the Holy Spirit, but he didn't know that.) 19Joseph, chagrined but noble, determined to take care of things quietly so Mary would not be disgraced.” Matthew 1:18-19

Can you imagine with me for a moment that you are Joseph and you find yourself in this situation. Your future wife is pregnant. That may not be as uncommon as it should be in these days, but take it a step further. She’s pregnant and you are not responsible, but somehow you have to get everyone to believe that this is a God ordained miracle. It had to be shocking and it had shatter every dream he had of the wedding and spending his life with Mary.

Joseph was a man hand-picked and personally prepared by God for a special mission, his life was not without its trials and tragedies. In fact, Joseph faced, weathered and overcame trials that would have derailed many other people.

What a true portrait of the harsh reality of life! We do our best to make our plans and get things all lined up like they thing they ought to be, then something happens and we see our hopes, our plans and our dreams come crashing down! When these things happen, it breaks our hearts because it isn’t what we wanted or what we expected and it looks to us as though it could be the worst thing possible

What does the Bible have to say that would indicate how we should view tragedies that threaten to mar our lives?

8We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed and broken. We are perplexed, but we don't give up and quit. 9We are hunted down, but God never abandons us. We get knocked down, but we get up again and keep going. 10Through suffering, these bodies of ours constantly share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies.

15All of these things are for your benefit. And as God's grace brings more and more people to Christ, there will be great thanksgiving, and God will receive more and more glory.

16That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are[c] being renewed every day. 17For our present troubles are quite small and won't last very long. Yet they produce for us an immeasurably great glory that will last forever! 18So we don't look at the troubles we can see right now; rather, we look forward to what we have not yet seen. For the troubles we see will soon be over, but the joys to come will last forever. 2 Cor. 4

The bottom line is this. There are going to be things that happen that will seem to mess up your life or even ruin your life, but life will go on. Things will get better. Hold on to your faith. Hold on to Christ and the word of God that well give you strength.

“The more the Seahawks tried to hand the game to the Giants, the more Jay Feely kept kicking it back.” Last Sunday evening some of you watched the drama unfold on your television sets as Giants kicker, Jay Freely missed three field goals in a row to allow the Seattle Seahawks to win the game. I’ve thought a lot about that this week. I know it’s just a game, but for him it’s his life and work play out in front of millions of people watching all over the world. How do you go into the locker room after something like that? How do you get on the plane with the rest of your team and fly for five hours or more?

You know what, I think I figured it out. There will be more field goals to kick and there will be games to win just like he has done in the past. It was a terrible day. I’m sure the press in New York was more than happy to roast him every way possible but this is a new day and a new game and a chance to discover a new task.

Joseph also discovered something new in the middle of his tragedy.

2. The Task that Marked His Life v. 20-23

Divine revelations and definite requirements

“20While he was trying to figure a way out, he had a dream. God's angel spoke in the dream: "Joseph, son of David, don't hesitate to get married. Mary's pregnancy is Spirit-conceived. God's Holy Spirit has made her pregnant. 21She will bring a son to birth, and when she does, you, Joseph, will name him Jesus--"God saves'--because he will save his people from their sins." 22This would bring the prophet's embryonic sermon to full term: 23Watch for this--a virgin will get pregnant and bear a son; They will name him Emmanuel (Hebrew for "God is with us").” Matthew 1:20-23

In the middle of this great tragedy in the life of Joseph, God placed a call upon him. God assigned Joseph a task that many would have balked at; but it was a task that Joseph embraced and completed by faith. A great tragedy may have marred his life, but this task marked his life.

Often the way we look at life is like watching a parade go by while standing between two tall buildings. All you are able to see of the parade is that portion that is passing directly in front of you at any given moment. You have a memory of what has already passed, but you have no idea about what is yet to come. You have to wait until it gets to you. But, if you were to climb on top of one of those tall buildings, you would be able to see the parade in its entirety. You could see the beginning, the middle and the end all at the same time. There would be no surprises!

That’s the way we see life, isn’t it? All we can really see is the part that happens to be passing before our eyes at the present time. We have a blurred memory of that which has gone before, but we have no idea about what is coming our way. Our God, however, sits above it all. To Him, there are no surprises! He knows the end from the beginning, because He had planned it all the way through.

The best thing we can ever learn to do is to simply trust Him to bring the best into our lives day by day. Even when our dreams are shattered and our hopes are dashed to pieces on the jagged rocks of reality, we need to trust the truth that our Father is still in control and He will take care of His children! Despite what you and I may think at times, God does know what is best for us!

When your dreams lie broken around you; your plans have been destroyed before your eyes; and your hopes have all been dashed at your feet; remember, it may look bleak from our perspective, but God is working out His perfect will in your life and mine. We can walk confidently with our hand held safely in His grasp, even when we cannot see the way or understand the why. Our duty to Him is to walk with Him humbly by faith until He brings us to the place where He has already placed our provisions.

You see, while we are toiling here today, He has already gone into tomorrow and arranged our path, supplied our need and lifted our burden. Therefore, just keep walking; just take one step at time. You will arrive at the place where the questions are answered and the needs are met, in His time!

God has a plan for your life. The task He has for you to fulfill may not be easy. But, along the way, there will be some times when Heaven will brush up close to the earth, and God will give us a little glimpse of that which He is doing in our lives. It is those moments that make the tasks He assigns bearable.

3. The Testimony that Measured His Life v. 24-25

Unconditional compliance and unwavering commitment

“24Then Joseph woke up. He did exactly what God's angel commanded in the dream: He married Mary. 25But he did not consummate the marriage until she had the baby. He named the baby Jesus.” Matthew 1:24-25

You know Joseph could have said no. I believe that every human has been given the ability to choose the direction of their lives. God will never force you to do anything. Joseph could have said no to this role. He could have turned it down and disappeared from the pages of history forever, but he said yes. He did exactly what God asked him to do. There’s the obedience factor again. We just talked about that last week.

The real test of maturity is not what a person faces in life, nor is it revealed in what they are called on to do. The real evidence of the depth of a person’s character is seen in what they do with what they are handed. It is one thing to be placed in a trial; but it is another thing altogether to respond to that trial in a proper manner. It is one thing to be called to carry out a task for God; but it is another thing altogether to do it without question.

We have already discovered that the Lord has a plan and purpose for all of us. We have also learned that this plan may be very difficult for us to carry out. There may be some rough places along the way. There may be some significant bumps in our paths. But, genuine faith in God never seeks the easier road. Faith is willing to go where God leads it, regardless of the cost and regardless of the consequences.

Real faith says, “On the surface, this looks like the worst thing that I have ever faced. Still, I know God has gone ahead of me and that He had planned the path I will take. Therefore, I will not look to the right or to the left, but I will faithfully place my feet in the footprints He has already left in front of me. I will follow Him wherever He sends me and I will not turn back, in spite of what I may face. It may look like a nightmare at this moment; but I know that His plan is the best plan and that He will take this tragedy and turn it into a triumph. Therefore, I say, ‘Here am I send me, Oh Lord!’”

Did you know that God used Joseph in the life of Jesus in a powerful fashion? No doubt Joseph was very involved in the life and training of Jesus as a young man. God took a poor, humble carpenter and used him to carry out an important heavenly mission.

Did you know that he is still looking for special people He can use to carry out His will in the world today? I am certain that He will never ask you to do what He asked Mary and Joseph to do. But, I am certain that He has plenty of difficult assignments that need to be fulfilled. He is looking for people who will follow him in spite of the tragedies life. He is looking for people who will take of the tasks He assigns them and go for God. He is looking for people who possess the right kind of testimony, who will go with Him until their assignment is completed.

Are you that kind of person? Maybe you are one of those people who has watched as your dreams have become nightmares; you feel overwhelmed by the task you have been assigned. Why don’t you come before Him and lean on Him for the grace you need to complete your mission. I don’t know your heart or your need, but I know the God Who will help you with both.

Let Him take your tragedy and show you the task you are being asked to do and you will find it turning into a testimony of God’s grace and purpose in your life.

Robert Louis Stevenson, the great Scottish author who wrote Treasure Island, was accustomed to bedridden illnesses. Although frequently ill, he remained eternally optimistic. One day his wife approached him after a terrible coughing spell and remarked, “I expect you still believe it’s a wonderful day.” Stevenson confidently replied, “I do. I will never permit a row of medicine bottles to block my horizon.” We can focus on the medicine bottles (or debts, disappointments, conflicts, etc.,) or we can keep our sights set on the horizon of God’s hope. The Winning Attitude, John Maxwell, 1992, p. 122

Genesis 13:14
And the LORD said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him: “Lift your eyes now and look from the place where you are—northward, southward, eastward, and westward;

Genesis 22:13
Then Abraham lifted his eyes and looked, and there behind him was a ram caught in a thicket by its horns. So Abraham went and took the ram, and offered it up for a burnt offering instead of his son.

Isaiah 40:26
Lift up your eyes on high, And see who has created these things, Who brings out their host by number; He calls them all by name, By the greatness of His might And the strength of His power; Not one is missing.

John 4:35
Do you not say, ‘There are still four months and then comes the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest!

John 17:1
[ Jesus Prays for Himself ] Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You,

Lift up your heads
Lift up your hearts
Lift up your eyes and see what God is doing in and through you.