Christmas Through the Eyes of Jesus’ Earthly Parents
The birth of Jesus lies at the center of the Christmas story. But have you ever wondered how Jesus’ earthly parents would describe the events? Or what we can learn from His parents to apply to our lives today?
A recent two-week Christmas series at our church, The Christmas Story Through the Eyes of a Mother and Father, discussed Joseph and Mary.
My husband, Mike, shared through the eyes of Joseph the first week. I covered Mary for part two.
So, for this week’s blog post, I highlight the main points of each message and provide links to our church website for the video openers (fun to make) and full Scripture passages.
Joseph, the Earthly Father of Jesus
In looking at the overall story, Joseph has no speaking parts…no words quoted in the Bible. Still, we learn valuable lessons from him. Always trust God’s…
Always trust God’s promises. The gospel of Matthew paints the scene of a man engaged to a young woman. Yet Mary’s with
child before they marry. Matthew 1:19 describes Joseph as a “just man” who did not want to put Mary to shame in public, so planned to divorce her privately. But in a dream, an angel proclaimed to Joseph the child was conceived through the Holy Spirit. Joseph took Mary for his wife.
Always trust God’s protection. After the birth of Christ, an angel warns Joseph in a dream to flee to Egypt because Herod wanted to destroy Jesus (Matthew 2:13-15). Once again, Joseph’s obedient.
Always trust God’s plan. Dream #3. An angel tells Joseph Herod’s dead, to take the child and Mary and go to the land of Israel. There they dwelled in Nazareth.
Prophecy is fulfilled in each part of the story.
We can trust God’s promises, protection, and plan in our story.
For the Scripture, video opener, and to listen to a summary podcast of Mike’s message. Believers Church, week 1, Joseph.
Mary, the Earthly Mother of Jesus
Unlike Joseph, Mary speaks.
We glean powerful truths and insights from her words.
Mary responded to God’s plan in the way He desires from each of us.
And it’s all about believing.
Believe in Who God is. In Luke 1, the angel Gabriel tells Mary she has found favor with God, she will conceive and bear a son. Luke 1: 32-33 confirms the baby is God’s Son. God Himself. A virgin with child? “For nothing will be impossible with God” (verse 37). He’s the God of everything’s possible. He’s the God who takes ordinary people and does extraordinary things. Mary’s beautiful words of praise magnifies who God is. She calls Him her Savior, mighty, Holy, merciful, with a strong arm, and faithfully spoke to His people. (See Luke 1:46-55.)
Believe in what God says. Luke 1:38 gives Mary’s response. “I am the servant of the Lord, let it be to me according to your word.” Do we believe what God says in His Word? Fully? No matter what culture says. Even later in Jesus ministry, we find Mary believing at the wedding in Cana. When the host ran out of wine, Mary says to the servants in John 2:5, “Do whatever he tells you.” Wow! What if we believed in Who God is and in what God says to the point that we do whatever He tells us?
Believe in how God works. Prophecy foretold a virgin would conceive and bear a son. And the messiah would come from the lineage of King David. In Matthew 1, the genealogy of Jesus, Joseph’s from David’s family line. Nothing is coincidence in this story or in our story.
God always confirms His Word by His works. #blog #writer Share on XBelieve!
For the full Scripture and the video opener (no podcast). Believers Church, week 2, Mary.
© 2016 by Karen Friday, All rights reserved
*Image text by Adobe Spark.
