Joseph's Obedience (Sermon by Canon James Juhari)

Christmas 1 (31 December 2023)

Theme: The Obedience of Joseph

Readings:

OT: Isaiah 61:10-62:3

NT: 1 Corinthians 1:26-29

Gospel: Matthew 2:13-18

The Sermon

2If you remember the sermons that I have preached since the morning of Advent 4, to Christmas Night and Christmas Day, none have been directly about Jesus. Last Sunday morning I spoke about Paul; on Christmas Night I spoke about the shepherd; and on Christmas Day I sopke about Isaiah giving his message to the people left in the ruins of Jerusalem. This morning I want to talk about the obedience of Joseph from the two events that happened after Christmas according to Matthew 2:13-18.

3First, we have a story of the escape to Egypt (Matthew 2:13-15). After the wise men head back home, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and told him, “Get up, take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.” In verses 14-15 we read: “So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: ‘Out of Egypt I called my son.’”

4If you have read the Old Testament, you will recognize the significance of Egypt. On the one hand it represents bondage and worldliness. On the other, it signifies safety and security. When draught and famines hit the region, God told Jacob to follow Joseph and live in Egypt. In Genesis 46:3-4, God said: “Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for I will make you into a great nation there. I will go down to Egypt with you, and I will surely bring you back again.”

But this time Egypt became a sanctuary for baby Jesus, Mary and Joseph. This trip from Bethlehem to the border of Egypt was about 80 miles long and then they likely travelled another 250 miles to Alexandria, a city known to be home for one-million Jews at this time. (I was in the city during Christmas 2 years ago). The family would have been safe there. The total trip could have taken two weeks or longer.

5The second event was the massacre in Bethlehem (16-18). Herod was angry because the wise men had outwitted him. So he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi. Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled: ‘A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.’”

6Herod was born into a politically well-connected family. He was named the governor of Galilee when he was only 25 years old. In 40 B.C. the Roman Senate named him “King of the Jews.” That explains why he was annoyed when he heard that a baby had been born “king of Jews.”

Herod’s father was a king and after he was poisoned by an enemy, Herod became paranoid - always living fear that someone was out to kill him. Soon after becoming King, Herod held tightly to the reins of power and brutally removed anyone who got in his way. He built 10 fortresses and established an elaborate network of spies. Over the years he killed many people including his brother-in-law, his mother-in-law, two of his sons, and even his wife.

So, when he realized that he has been tricked by the wise men, Herod was furious. He ordered the cold-blooded murder of all male babies less than two years of age. Bethlehem and its surroundings only had a population of around 1,000 people, and that could mean at least between 20 and 30 male babies were killed. The event was also significant because Ramah was located about five miles north of Jerusalem, and it used to be a place to keep Jewish captives before they were deported to Babylon. And Rachel was buried in Bethlehem, and her tears are figuratively spilling into the soil again as mothers were weeping for their dead children.

We don’t read the part about the return to Nazareth this morning. 7But if you read vs. 19-23, we are told that later, after Herod died, an angel appeared in another dream to Joseph and said: “‘Get up, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who were trying to take the child’s life are dead.’ After Joseph heard this, “…he got up, took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel.”

After making it back to the Bethlehem area, Joseph found out that Herod’s son Archaeleus was now on the throne. Archaeleus was even more sinister than Herod. Once again, he has a dream and then “withdrew to the district of Galilee, and he went and lived in a town called Nazareth. So was fulfilled what was said through the prophets: ‘He will be called a Nazarene.’”

8What can we learn from Joseph in this story?

First, it teaches us how to deal with circumstances in life. I don’t know whether you realise that Joseph, one of the most significant persons in the New Testament never had his words recorded in the Bible. We are only told that he obeyed what he was told to do. Every time when Joseph was told what to do something, he instantly obeyed. If we look back at Matthew 1: 24 when the angel of the Lord told him to take Mary as his wife: “When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife.” Again, when the angel told him to go to Egypt he didn’t wait until morning but got up while it was still dark and departed. Then, when he was told to go back to Israel, he did so immediately. And, when he was warned in a dream to not stay in Judea, he took Mary and her son back on the road and headed north to Nazareth.

Joseph did not ask for more information nor requested for more time before he decided to obey. He did not ask questions, make a deal, put terms and conditions, or tell the Lord that he would obey later on. He did not complain about how hard it would be to move from place to place, or complain about the expenses and travel accommodations. He just got up and went. Hebrews 11:8 tells us that Abraham “obeyed and went to a strange land.” 1 Samuel 15:22: “To obey is better than sacrifice…” According to Jesus in John 13:17, blessings flow out of obedience: “Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.”

So, the first thing we can learn from this story is that we must exhibit instant obedience like Joseph. Each one of us has to answer these questions: Do we have problem with obeying divine orders? In there something that God wants you to do now, but you have been delaying? Is there a decision you have been putting off? Is there a commitment you need to make, but has not done yet? For some some of us, these may be major issues that we have to deal with as we begin the New Year.

9Second, expect constant oppositions. Every time when God plans something there will be opposition to it. Every time hope is born, hard times are sure to follow. If you are planning to do something good in 2024, I can assure you that there will be temptations and oppositions that want to stop you from achieving them. It may be from someone or group of people. Or it may be just you. Hebrews 11:13 says that we are “aliens and strangers on earth.” It means as Christians, some of the things you plan to do may be against what the people of the world are doing. Joseph learned that to be caretaker of the Christ-child meant that his simple and quiet life was over because good news always has enemies. And just as Joseph endured oppositions and inconveniences for the sake of the baby, we, who bear His name, should expect no less. And remember that God didn’t remove the difficulties for Joseph. Instead, God led him go through those difficulties.

That was also my point in my Christmas Eve message. If you love your comfort zone, and your prayers are always about telling God to remove every obstacle to your ambitions or any problem that you encounter; you need to learn from Joseph, whose life symbolises obedience. Remember that we won’t learn anything if everything can be easily achieved, and if our life is problem-free. I am also not saying that we simply resign to fate or follow God blindly. What it means is that we need to make an effort to understand where God is leading us; what He wants us to do; and how He wants us to do it. That is why we pray and share our burdens and thoughts with fellow Christians.

10Finally, we must embrace God’s operation. I want you to understand that whether we know it or not, God is weaving everything together to accomplish His will. Though many things that are happening in this world may not be the work of God, they will eventually work out in a way that will bring God the ultimate glory. There is nothing that surprises God, nothing that slows Him down because He rules and reigns over all things. King Herod had the power of an earthly ruler, but he was nothing compared to King Jesus. And the best that anyone of us can do may fail under severe testing.

11I have a special message for those of you who are young: students, job-seekers, newly employed and the newly married. In the old days life was much tougher and resources were very much less compared to today. We are gradually being wired to seek and do something that is easy and comfortable. We are living in an era of high-speed internet, faster transport, fast food, google search, artificial intelligence, etc. But what has not changed is truth in life has not changed: the human factors, uncertainties and doubts; and the fact that not everything will go the way we like or expect them to be. 12But as unexpected events occur, as plans change, and as we encounter obstables; remember that our God is great and good, and He is still in charge of everything, including the very thing or person that is blocking our way. When you hold on to God, you learn to trust Him in the midst of uncertainties; to have patience in the midst of crisis; the Holy Spirit will help you to discover that meaningful and purposeful life is not about loving ourselves only, but loving God and loving others as well.

Finally, do not just wish for a happy New Year; do more to commit your life to God who is the source of that happiness.

~Can. James Juhari~