Wednesday, December 16, 2015

The Christmas Scandal

The Christmas Scandal is the title of a series that we are doing at our church. The first message was on Joseph and his feelings for Mary is wife-to-be.

 Let's look at Matthew 1:18-25:

"Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. 

Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily. 

But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: and knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS."

WHAT WAS THE SCANDAL?
It took Mary awhile to tell Joseph that she was going to have a baby and when she did Joseph was very upset. He knew that this baby was not his child. The thoughts that ran through his mind may have been, "How could she do this?" "I thought she loved me and God."

Joseph loved Mary and according to the Jewish law Mary had to be stoned. She was unfaithful to her husband. Joseph didn't want to make Mary a public example so he was going to taker her away and divorce her.

Can you blame him? He felt betrayed and he knew his reputation would be ruin. But a wonderful thing happened. While Joseph was thinking on these things he had fallen asleep and while sleeping the angel of the Lord came to him in a dream. He explained to Joseph what was going on and the baby was of the Holy Ghost and that he should take Mary as his wife and have no fear about it. 

When Joseph woke up he did as the angel said and went and got Mary and they were married and he knew her not until after Jesus was born. 

Thought
Our God is so good. He had it all planned out. His ways are not our ways and to me it seem strange that He would use this method for which his Son would be born, but He knew what was the best way. 

This coming Sunday we will have the second part of the story so I will report it after I hear it. 

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