When Joseph learned of the unusual events surrounding Mary’s pregnancy, his resulting shock was soon tempered by God’s reassurance to him.

So how should those of us experiencing unexpected, uncertain, or negative circumstances respond when we know that Christmas this year might be unusual?

This Sunday we will step back from the usual fast-paced Christmas season and remember some of the truths surrounding the Christmas story that will allow us to enter this season ready to celebrate the birth of Christ.

 

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Of all the holidays in a given calendar year, Christmas, more than any other holiday, creates an unusual dynamic.

There’s an intensity around Christmas that’s different from any other holiday. By that I mean somehow the Christmas season tends to make our highs higher and our lows lower.

There are young married couples in our church who have newborn babies and this will be their first Christmas as a family. Experiencing Christmas for the first time with a child in the home makes the Christmas high even higher. It will be the best Christmas they’ve ever had.

Emotions tend to multiply around Christmastime.

Some of you are expecting a joy-filled Christmas because you have a job this Christmas and you didn’t have one last Christmas.

Some of you are married this Christmas; you were single last Christmas.

Your loved one is home this Christmas, so you’re looking forward to having them around the tree exchanging gifts this Christmas… you can hardly wait.

Some of you are followers of Christ this Christmas and you know what it’s about this year. And you’re looking forward to all of the experiences associated with Christmas.

For some of us this is not going to be Christmas as usual because we have new levels of joy in our life this year.

Of course, as December 25 approaches for others of us, this intensifying dynamic of Christmas is going to work the other way.

If I asked you to raise your hand if you’re going to have an unusual Christmas this year because you’re experiencing a difficult circumstance of some kind — be it health related or job related, separation, divorce, widow, whatever — I think a lot of us would have to raise our hands.

And the more I thought about how many of us might be facing a tough holiday season, the more God seemed to bring Jesus’ earthly father, Joseph, to my mind.

So I want to talk about the unusual events of Christmas from Joseph’s perspective today.

If you have your bible, turn to Matthew 1:18.

Today I want to think with you about how unusual this must have been for Joseph.

Matthew 1:18

This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit.

And Joseph her husband, being a Righteous Man and not wanting to disgrace her, planned to send her away secretly.

But 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.

She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).

When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.

I want to start with what it says about Joseph back in verse 19.

And Joseph her husband, being a Righteous Man and not wanting to disgrace her, planned to send her away secretly.

This phrase – “Righteous Man” – was a technical expression.

There’s a very rich history behind this expression.

It’s a Hebrew expression that meant he was known for his uncompromising obedience to the Torah, to t