Unexpected

Unexpected
The Christmas Story-Part 1
December 6, 2009
CornerStone Baptist Church
Pastor Waldo Barela

The Christmas Story is familiar to everyone. We can remember the final scene at the manger. But before we get to the final scene, we must remember the other events that took place. This wasn’t an ordinary child, this was God’s Child. He would enter the world God’s way.

For me, sometime life is routine. I get up, shower, get dressed, maybe eat breakfast and then head off to the train station. I wait for my train which is usually on time, sit in the same spot, reading the same book and then take a nap before I go to work.

But on this one particular occasion, I headed outside of my house to get into my car. As I began to leave, I noticed some yellow circles about 3 inches round. It looked a little splatter on our van. Then I notice another and then another. I noticed more on the second story window of my house and some of the yellow splatter marks on the garage door. We had been paint balled. My routine was over, because the unexpected happen.

When the unexpected happens, we get angry, hurt, and disappointed. We get into this rut of unbelief and a period of anger. Has something unexpected happen to your life? Perhaps the unexpected happen to you, when you lost a job or the house you lived in. Perhaps the unexpected happen to you, when you saw your child’s report card and saw the 4th and 6th letters of the alphabet on there. Perhaps the unexpected happen to you, when someone was struck with a severe illness or health problems. Perhaps the unexpected happens to you, as you find yourself struggling to meet your finances. Perhaps the unexpected has happened to you when you got up to go to work and you have a flat tire. We are not immune from unexpected events in our lives. They happen and we can all relate to some of the things I said. How are you going to respond to these events? Joy! Hurt! Disappointment! Struggle with your faith.

One of the Christmas Stories tells us of a man who would get the shock of his life. The woman he loved and was married to would give him news he didn’t expect. What news was it? How did he deal with the unexpected? Let’s find out in Matthew 1:18-24 and read a scene from the Christmas Story.

18This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, Let’s stop there. Joseph has an agreement a contract to get married to Mary. A young woman, possibly 14 or 15 years of age. It is Joseph who has fallen madly in love with this woman. He plans on spending every moment of his life with her. Joseph and Mary together forever. Indeed, Joseph was a proud husband to be with a skilled job as a carpenter. Perhaps Joseph imagined the many children they would have together and raise together. Oh….what a joyous marriage this would be. Let’s read on.

but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit.
In modern terms, we say OMG. Oh My Gosh! How could this be? My woman is having a baby. It is not mine. How can this be? Doesn’t she love me? Doesn’t she know what this will do to her? I never expected for this happen! It is not my fault. I am a righteous man, how can this happen. What am I going to do? Wait a minute, I have an idea. I can ask for a divorce. That’s it! I can get out of this agreement. But I want to do the right thing. I don’t want Mary and her family to be shamed. So here is what I will do.

19Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.

Joseph was going to get out of this agreement somehow. He was going to do it in a way that would allow his reputation to continue and for Mary and him to separate quietly out of the public’s eye. He was working through the unexpected the way we handle these problems. We take the easy way out. We solve it the way any reasonable human being would solve it. It would be quick. I am going to divorce myself from the unexpected. I am not going to deal with it and watch it go away. The problem will take care of itself. I am going to remove this person out of my life even thought we have been friends from 15 years. I am just going to continue live my life in the same old way. I don’t’ need to make any changes. The wisdom that Joseph used was his way. But look at what happens next.

20But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins."

Joseph…here is the deal. This woman Mary who you are scheduled to be married with well you are going to marry her. Take her home to be your wife. Here is the reason Joseph, the Holy Spirit (God) has given Mary a son. Not only that his name is to be Jesus. God has sent Him to save His people from their sins.

22All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23"The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel"—which means, "God with us."

God intended for His son to have a mother and father. To have that motherly influence, but also the fatherly influence. Joseph has an important role in the Christmas Story. He had faced a surprise that he would not expect. But God showed him what he was to do. Look at how Joseph responds.

24When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. Matthew 1:18-24 (NIV)

The story of Joseph teaches us to Listen, Love and Learn when the unexpected happens. Joseph looked for the easy way out (divorce). We look for the easy way out as well. But Joseph listened to God’s messenger, the angel. He took in what he said. And he loved Mary and married her. He married the woman he loved. But he also learned something. He learned how important it was to follow the steps that God wanted in his life. He followed the path that was put in front of him. He never forgot that experience. Someone listened to Joseph tell his side of The Christmas Story. How can you listen, love and learn today?

What if as parents, we paid closer attention to the needs of our children. What could we listen, love and learn about them? What if as students, we began to listen, love and learn from our teachers. How much more can we become educated in class and in life? What if we as a church begin to listen, love and learn from our community? How much better can we serve them?