Following God's Dreams for our Purity

Following God’s Dreams for Us:

Following God in Purity

Genesis 39

INTRODUCTION

God gives dreams… but He also gives a path. And that path always includes purity. Joseph didn’t stumble into God’s dream. He walked there; step by step, choice by choice, conviction by conviction.

Genesis 39 shows us not only what Joseph did, but how he did it.

And it gives us a pattern for following God in purity today.

Let’s walk through four steps Joseph took; four steps every believer can take; to follow God faithfully in a world filled with temptation.

A. FIX YOUR IDENTITY IN CHRIST

Joseph knew who and whose he was.

“The Lord…” (Gen. 39:2, 3, 5)

Before Joseph ever faced temptation, Scripture tells us three times:  “The Lord was with Joseph.”  But the emphasis here is not just presence… it is possession. Joseph belonged to God. And purity always begins with knowing who you belong to.

We were bought with a price; the precious blood of Jesus.

Redemption does not give us a license to sin; it gives us a reason to flee from it.

When we consider how much God hates sin; that He sent His Son to die for it;  we cannot grin at sin… we cannot play with sin… we cannot linger around the things that cost Christ His life.

Paul says we are to glorify God in our bodies.

Food is a gift, but gluttony dishonors God.

Pleasure is a gift, but perversion destroys purity.

We admit we are sinners, but confession is not the end; it is the beginning of repentance.

The Greek word for “confess” is homologeō; to “say the same thing.” To call sin what God calls it.

Not “over‑eating,” but gluttony.

Not “cutting loose,” but drunkenness.

Not “a mistake,” but sin.

When we homologeō; say the same thing about sin that God says; He is faithful and just to forgive and cleanse.

Fix your identity in Christ. Be homogenized with Christ.

GracePointe #1:  Purity begins with identity, not effort. When we know who we belong to, temptation loses the right to claim us.

B. LOOK BEYOND THE MOMENT

Joseph looked at the long-term, not the short-term.

“But he refused…” (Gen. 39:8)

Joseph didn’t just refuse Potiphar’s wife; he remembered something.

He remembered God’s dreams for him.

He remembered the future God had promised.

Temptation always shrinks when the future gets big.

Sin grows when eternity gets small.

Potiphar’s wife offered a moment.

God offered a lifetime.

Joseph chose the long view.

Temptation always hides the price tag.

It shows the pleasure but hides the pain.

Joseph refused because he counted the cost.

GracePointe #2:

Temporary temptation shrinks when our view of eternity grows. We must see beyond the moment to have strength in the moment.

C. ESTABLISH BOUNDARIES

Joseph created safeguards as guardrails.

“he did not heed her… or even be with her” (Gen. 39:10)

Joseph didn’t just avoid the act; he avoided the atmosphere.

He refused to be with her.

He understood that proximity is often the first step toward compromise.

You don’t fall into sin from a distance.

You drift into it by degrees.

Boundaries are not legalism; they are love for God, love for others, and love for your own soul.

Joseph also made a pre‑decision.

He didn’t wait until the heat of the moment to decide what he believed.

Boundaries are pre‑decisions that protect future obedience.

If you wait until the moment of temptation, you’ve waited too long.

GracePointe #3:

Boundaries are signs of wisdom, not weakness. We don’t rise to our intentions; we fall to the level of our boundaries.

D. ESCAPE IMMEDIATELY

Joseph did not negotiate; he fled.

“he left his garment… fled and ran outside.” (Gen. 39:12)

Verse 11 gives us a detail we often overlook:

“None of the men of the house was inside.”

That is not a throwaway line.

Scripture includes it for a reason.

Joseph should have fled the moment he saw he was alone with her.

He knew her intentions.

He knew the pattern.

He knew the danger.

He should have escaped before the temptation escalated.

And Scripture gives us a principle that applies directly here:

1 Corinthians 10:12–14

“Let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall…

God will provide a way of escape…

Therefore, flee…”

With every temptation, God provides an exit.

But you must take it.

Delayed obedience is disobedience.

And when we delay, we begin to treat grace the wrong way.

Let me give you an illustration.

A professor once assigned a term paper. On the due date, several students weren’t ready and begged for grace. The professor granted it, and they were amazed by his kindness.

A week later, they still weren’t ready, and again he extended grace. They appreciated it.

Another week passed, and they assumed he would extend grace again. But this time he didn’t. They were shocked.

“That’s not fair!” they cried.

“Oh, you want justice?” he said. “Then here is justice: an F for the first week, an F for the second week, an F for the third week, and an F for this week.”

That is justice.

And that is what happens when we treat grace casually.

When we do not fix our identity in Christ…

When we do not look beyond the moment…

When we do not establish boundaries…

When we do not escape immediately…

We move from amazing grace,

to appreciated grace,

to assumed grace,

to appalling grace.

GracePointe #4:

Delayed obedience is disobedience. The fastest way out of temptation is your feet. When God provides the escape, take the exit.

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CONCLUSION

Joseph didn’t arrive at God’s dream by accident.

He walked there with integrity.

He walked there with conviction.

He walked there with purity.

And so can we.

Fix your identity.

Look beyond the moment.

Establish boundaries.

Escape immediately.

God’s dreams are worth it.

Your testimony is worth it.

Your future is worth it.

Christ is worth it.

French translation of sermon

 

INTRODUCTION

Dieu donne des rêves… mais Il donne aussi un chemin. Et ce chemin inclut toujours la pureté. Joseph n’est pas tombé par hasard dans le rêve de Dieu. Il y est arrivé pas à pas, choix après choix, conviction après conviction.

Genèse 39 nous montre non seulement ce que Joseph a fait, mais comment il l’a fait.
Et cela nous donne un modèle pour suivre Dieu dans la pureté aujourd’hui.

Marchons ensemble à travers les quatre étapes que Joseph a prises — quatre étapes que chaque croyant peut prendre — pour suivre Dieu fidèlement dans un monde rempli de tentations.

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A. FIXEZ VOTRE IDENTITÉ EN CHRIST

Joseph savait qui il était et à qui il appartenait.
« L’Éternel… » (Gen. 39:2, 3, 5)

Avant même que Joseph ne fasse face à la tentation, l’Écriture nous dit trois fois :
« L’Éternel était avec Joseph. »
Mais l’accent ici n’est pas seulement sur la présence… mais sur la possession.
Joseph appartenait à Dieu.
Et la pureté commence toujours par savoir à qui vous appartenez.

Nous avons été rachetés à un grand prix : le sang précieux de Jésus.
La rédemption ne nous donne pas la permission de pécher ; elle nous donne une raison de fuir le péché.

Quand nous considérons combien Dieu hait le péché — au point d’envoyer Son Fils mourir pour lui — nous ne pouvons pas sourire au péché… nous ne pouvons pas jouer avec le péché… nous ne pouvons pas rester près des choses qui ont coûté la vie au Christ.

Paul dit que nous devons glorifier Dieu dans notre corps.
La nourriture est un don, mais la gloutonnerie déshonore Dieu.
Le plaisir est un don, mais la perversion détruit la pureté.

Nous admettons que nous sommes pécheurs, mais la confession n’est pas la fin ; c’est le début de la repentance.

Le mot grec pour « confesser » est homologeō : « dire la même chose ».
Appeler le péché comme Dieu l’appelle.

Pas « trop manger », mais la gloutonnerie.
Pas « se lâcher », mais l’ivrognerie.
Pas « une erreur », mais le péché.

Quand nous homologeō — quand nous disons la même chose que Dieu dit au sujet du péché — Il est fidèle et juste pour pardonner et purifier.

Fixez votre identité en Christ. Soyez homogénéisés avec Christ.

GracePointe #1 :
La pureté commence par l’identité, non par l’effort. Quand nous savons à qui nous appartenons, la tentation perd le droit de nous réclamer.

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B. REGARDEZ AU-DELÀ DU MOMENT

Joseph regardait le long terme, non le court terme.
« Mais il refusa… » (Gen. 39:8)

Joseph n’a pas seulement refusé la femme de Potiphar ; il s’est souvenu de quelque chose.
Il s’est souvenu des rêves que Dieu lui avait donnés.
Il s’est souvenu de l’avenir que Dieu avait promis.

La tentation rétrécit toujours quand l’avenir devient grand.
Le péché grandit quand l’éternité devient petite.

La femme de Potiphar offrait un moment.
Dieu offrait une vie entière.
Joseph a choisi la vision à long terme.

La tentation cache toujours l’étiquette du prix.
Elle montre le plaisir mais cache la douleur.
Joseph a refusé parce qu’il a compté le coût.

GracePointe #2 :
La tentation temporaire diminue lorsque notre vision de l’éternité grandit. Nous devons voir au-delà du moment pour avoir de la force dans le moment.

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C. ÉTABLISSEZ DES LIMITES

Joseph a créé des garde-fous comme protections.
« Il ne l’écoutait pas… et ne se trouvait même pas avec elle » (Gen. 39:10)

Joseph n’a pas seulement évité l’acte ; il a évité l’atmosphère.
Il a refusé d’être avec elle.

Il comprenait que la proximité est souvent la première étape vers le compromis.
On ne tombe pas dans le péché à distance.
On y glisse petit à petit.

Les limites ne sont pas du légalisme ; elles sont de l’amour pour Dieu, de l’amour pour les autres et de l’amour pour votre propre âme.

Joseph a aussi pris une pré‑décision.
Il n’a pas attendu la chaleur du moment pour décider ce qu’il croyait.
Les limites sont des pré‑décisions qui protègent l’obéissance future.

Si vous attendez le moment de la tentation, vous avez attendu trop longtemps.

GracePointe #3 :
Les limites sont des signes de sagesse, non de faiblesse. Nous ne nous élevons pas à la hauteur de nos intentions ; nous tombons au niveau de nos limites.

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D. FUYEZ IMMÉDIATEMENT

Joseph n’a pas négocié ; il a fui.
« Il laissa son vêtement… s’enfuit et sortit dehors. » (Gen. 39:12)

Le verset 11 nous donne un détail que nous négligeons souvent :
« Aucun des gens de la maison n’était là. »

Ce n’est pas un détail insignifiant.
L’Écriture l’inclut pour une raison.

Joseph aurait dû fuir dès qu’il a vu qu’il était seul avec elle.
Il connaissait ses intentions.
Il connaissait le schéma.
Il connaissait le danger.

Il aurait dû s’échapper avant que la tentation n’escalade.

Et l’Écriture nous donne un principe qui s’applique directement ici :

1 Corinthiens 10:12–14
« Que celui qui croit être debout prenne garde de tomber…
Dieu préparera aussi le moyen d’en sortir…
C’est pourquoi, fuyez… »

À chaque tentation, Dieu fournit une sortie.
Mais vous devez la prendre.
L’obéissance retardée est de la désobéissance.

Et lorsque nous tardons, nous commençons à mal traiter la grâce.

Permettez-moi de vous donner une illustration.

Un professeur avait donné un devoir final. Le jour venu, plusieurs étudiants n’étaient pas prêts et supplièrent pour obtenir de la grâce. Le professeur la leur accorda, et ils furent étonnés de sa bonté.

Une semaine plus tard, ils n’étaient toujours pas prêts, et encore une fois il leur accorda de la grâce. Ils l’apprécièrent.

Une autre semaine passa, et ils supposèrent qu’il accorderait encore la grâce. Mais cette fois, il ne le fit pas. Ils furent choqués.

« Ce n’est pas juste ! » crièrent-ils.

« Ah, vous voulez la justice ? » dit-il. « Alors voici la justice : un F pour la première semaine, un F pour la deuxième, un F pour la troisième, et un F pour cette semaine. »

C’est cela, la justice.
Et c’est ce qui arrive lorsque nous traitons la grâce à la légère.

Quand nous ne fixons pas notre identité en Christ…
Quand nous ne regardons pas au-delà du moment…
Quand nous n’établissons pas de limites…
Quand nous ne fuyons pas immédiatement…

Nous passons de la grâce étonnante,
à la grâce appréciée,
à la grâce supposée,
à la grâce révoltante.

GracePointe #4 :
L’obéissance retardée est de la désobéissance. Le moyen le plus rapide de sortir de la tentation, ce sont vos pieds. Quand Dieu fournit la sortie, prenez-la.

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CONCLUSION

Joseph n’est pas arrivé au rêve de Dieu par accident.
Il y est arrivé avec intégrité.
Avec conviction.
Avec pureté.

Et nous le pouvons aussi.

Fixez votre identité.
Regardez au-delà du moment.
Établissez des limites.
Fuyez immédiatement.

Les rêves de Dieu en valent la peine.
Votre témoignage en vaut la peine.
Votre avenir en vaut la peine.
Christ en vaut la peine.

Sunday's Sermon (unedited)

 

Love Came Down: Joseph and the Four Dimensions of Christmas Love OF, FOR, TO, AND THROUGH

Matthew 1, 2:13-23

Happy National Flashlight Day. It’s so named because this is the Winter Solstice, the shortest day and longest night of the year.

But surprisingly, sunsets have already become later and later. The earliest sunset for Springtown was Dec. 3 and 4, when it set at 5:25and 11 seconds. Today it will set at 5:29 and 42 seconds.

That’s because of the tilt of the earth, which actually means the latest sunrise won’t be until Jan. 8, when it will rise at 7:34 and 50 seconds. Today for instance, the sun rose at 7:28 and 24 seconds, which several of the men noticed when they were driving straight into the sun on Hwy. 199 to our men’s breakfast last Friday.

But even then, that won’t be the LATEST sunrise of the year. Know why? Because of that wicked thing we call time change. On March 8, 2026, we will spring forward, lose an hour of time and the sunrise will be at 7:49. And even still, that won’t be the latest sunrise ever. I research these things so you don’t have to! Isn’t that interesting? How many of you do not care, raise your hands. Okay for the rest of you, the latest sunrise ever will be next year, 2027, Daylight Savings time ends on Nov. 7, so on Saturday, Nov. 6, 2027 sunrise will be at 7:51 and 53 seconds.

Illustration explained: The darkness doesn’t leave all at once. It lingers on both sides of sunrise and sunset. Sometimes, we like Joseph have to obey before the light dawns, before the sun rises. Tonight will be the longest night of the year, and that’s exactly how God often works. Joseph’s spiritual light came during the night, in the darkness and he chose to obey in a season when the light didn’t come all at once. He obeyed when the timing didn’t make sense. He obeyed when the path wasn’t clear.

And God used that obedience to carry the Light of the World through the night. Through the darkness. There are times in our lives when we feel like the sunrise will never come, and when we do, we should never forget, the Savior is already on the way.

Joseph showed the LIGHT of God’s love without a sermon. Without a song. The Bible records the words of Elizabeth and Zechariah, the parents of John the Baptizer. We have the words of Mary as she proclaims the Magnificat in Luke 1:46. She is recorded when Jesus was left at the temple and spoke when Jesus turned the water into wine. But Joseph doesn’t preach. He doesn’t sing. He doesn’t prophesy. He doesn’t speak at all. He simply loves, in four directions, four dimensions. Without a word, Joseph demonstrates God’s love in four ways, all without words: The Love of God, Love for God; God’s Love to others; God’s Love through us!

Joseph becomes the first man to hold Emmanuel, God with us, and Joseph is the first to show Jesus human love. Today, we walk through Christmas through Joseph’s eyes.

I. The Love OF God, seen in Joseph's imperfect lineage

Matthew 1:1–6; 1:16

Matthew begins the Christmas story with a genealogy full of unexpected women, all through the lineage of Joseph and of course culminating with his wife, Mary.

There are a number of ways to tell about the LOVE OF GOD, but look at five women who were unlikely recipients of God’s love. They are Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, Bathsheba, with messy stories, complicated, and stained with scandal. And then comes Mary, a poor teenage girl from Nazareth. The ancestors of Joseph, a quiet carpenter from Bethlehem, begin the gospel of Matthew. Look who are included:

a. The Scandal of Tamar

First, there is the scandalous God’s love seen in Tamar. Who is Tamar? Her story come from Genesis 38 but just to keep it short, she was the wife of Er, Judah’s first born son, who died without a child born to Tamar. Then she marries Onan, Judah’s second son, who also didn’t give Tamar a child and he also dies. Judah lost two sons, and he refused to give his third son, Shelah, to Tamar.

To not have a child was a reproach in those days, so Tamar dresses like a prostitute and goes in disguise to Judah and lo and behold she becomes with child by her father-in-law. When Judah finds out that his daughter-in-law is expecting a child and she was not married to anyone, Judah calls on her to be burned, but she reveals that HE, Judah, is the father not just of one son, but twins!

And you thought your house had drama.

Look at this scandal. And yet through Tamar and her sin, comes the lineage of Joseph and the legal lineage of Christ. Yet look at Matt. 1:3, “Judah begot Perez and Zerah by Tamar,” 

God not only uses the result of an absolute scandal, but the Holy Spirit inspires Matthew to draw attention to Tamar.

b. The Sinfulness of Rahab. Look at verse 5.

“Salmon begot Boaz by Rahab,” Now just a note, Matthew is selective not only on telling who the mothers and women were, but also often skips entire generations to highlight certain people. And there is Rahab.

I bet this congregation can finish Rahab’s description. What her job was. Rahab the What? The Harlot or Rahab the Prostitute. Again, Matthew goes out of his way to point out Rahab was not only not Jewish, but she was a harlot, a prostitute.

Thirdly not only is there the Scandal of Tamar, the Sin of Rahab, but there is the Stranger to Judaism, Ruth the Moabite.

Deuteronomy 23:3 says: “No Ammonite or Moabite may enter the assembly of the LORD, even to the tenth generation.” What was so bad about Moabites? What was so strange, so shameful, so sick and stigmatized about them. They were descendants of incest from Lot and his oldest daughter.

Matthew leaves out three and four generations of ancestors in his lineage of Joseph, but there is a fourth one, also found in verse 6 and intentionally included by the gospel writer.

d. The Sorrow of Bathsheba

Look at verse six, “and Jesse begot David the king. David the king begot Solomon by her who had been the wife of Uriah.” Who was it that had been the wife of Uriah? Bathsheba.

There are others listed that Matthew could have omitted, including Rehoboam in verse 7, who was the father of Abijah, by a mother who was an ammonite. Matthew skips four generations, but makes sure Abijah, son of an Ammonite, was mentioned.

Last of all, there’s Mary. The sacredness of Mary. Sanctified Mary, a virgin. Have you ever thought of this? Joseph and Mary were already betrothed! Joseph is even referred to as Mary’s husband. Look in verse 19.

Could not the angel have simply come to Joseph and said, “Joseph, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. But do not consummate your marriage. Do not be intimate with her.” It already says that he and Mary did not “KNOW” each other until after Jesus was born.

The LOVE of GOD comes to the humble, the ordinary, the overlooked. The Scandalized Tamar. The Sinful Rahab. The Stranger Ruth. The Suffering and Sorrowful Situation of Bathsheba.

 

Do you have a Christmas Card List?

Most of us have a Christmas card list with people we want to remember. God has one too, but His list looks nothing like ours.

We choose the polished, the respectable, the ones who make us look good. God chooses the broken, the unlikely, the ones who need Him most.

GracePointe #1: The LOVE OF GOD is not attracted to perfection; it is drawn to need. He does not call the qualified; He qualifies the called!

 

II. The Love For God, seen in Joseph’s Obedience Matthew 1:18–25

Josephs Trade

We know that Joseph was a carpenter. We're told that in Matthew, chapter 13. He had a trade.

And he worked in Nazareth. And he was probably dreaming about the wedding ceremony and the honeymoon-- all guys do dream of that-- the life they're going to have afterwards, how many kids.

They were in the process of talking about all of that. So that's the first emotion that Joseph felt, excitement.

The second emotion that Joseph felt in the story is this: shock.

Joseph’s world collapses when he learns Mary is pregnant. He knows the child is not his. He knows what the law says. He knows what the village will say.

But Joseph chooses mercy and Love before he knows the miracle and the answers.

Then the angel appears: “Do not be afraid… what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.” Joseph wakes up and obeys immediately.

A. Immediate Obedience

“Joseph did as the angel of the Lord commanded him.” He obeys without delay. Love for God moves quickly when God speaks.

B. Intentional Obedience

He takes Mary as his wife. He embraces God’s plan over his own. Love for God is deliberate, thoughtful, and surrendered

C. Immovable Obedience

He remains faithful through every whisper, rumor, and misunderstanding. He stays steady through every change of direction. Love for God stands firm when the road gets long. Joseph’s love for God is not loud — it is lived.

Illustration: The Carpenter’s Yes

A carpenter knows the cost of building something. Every beam must be measured. Every cut must be precise. Every structure must be supported. Joseph builds his obedience the same way—one measured, faithful “yes” at a time.

 

GracePointe #2 Joseph’s strong, silent obedience was not loud or vocal only; it was lived.

 

III. The Love TO Jesus and Mary, seen in Joseph’s Care

Matthew 1:18–25

Joseph becomes the first human expression of God’s love to the Holy Family.

A. Joseph Loves Mary with Compassion

Joseph chooses mercy and Love before he knows the miracle and the answers. He refuses to expose her to shame. Joseph’s love reflects God’s heart for the vulnerable.

B. Joseph Loves Mary with Commitment

He stands with her through scandal and whispers. He protects her dignity. Joseph’s love honors Mary’s calling

C. Joseph Loved Jesus with Care

Joseph gives Jesus a name, not just Jesus but a family name and heritage. He raises Him with a trade. He provides for Him. Joseph’s love gives Jesus a home, a heritage, and a protector

Number one, families work best when Jesus is at the center.

That's sort of the obvious big-picture story here. Families work best when Christ is at the center.

At first, Joseph did not know this. He didn't know that Jesus was to be the center not only of his family, but of world history. And he found that out in a dream.

And he decided I'm going to put Jesus at the center of my family, where he should be.

I wish that all families would put Christ at the center. Their family life would be better.

Families work best when Christ is at the center.

D. Joseph Loved Jesus in a Surprising Calling

He becomes the earthly father of the heavenly Son. He steps into a role requiring sacrifice. Joseph’s love mirrors God’s love, and Joseph teaches that to Jesus in a quiet, steady, faithful way.

The Adoptive Father. Adoptive fathers will tell you: “You don’t love a child because they share your blood. You love them because God puts them in your arms.” Joseph is the first adoptive father in the New Testament. Through him, Jesus receives a home, a heritage, and an example.

Luke 11:11, “If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish?”

John 5:19-23, ¹⁹ Then Jesus answered and said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner. ²⁰ For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself does; and He will show Him greater works than these, that you may marvel. ²¹ For as the Father raises the dead and gives life to them, even so the Son gives life to whom He will. ²² For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son, ²³ that all should honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.

Matthew 13:54-57, ⁵⁴ When He had come to His own country, He taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished and said, “Where did this Man get this wisdom and these mighty works? ⁵⁵ Is this not the carpenter’s son? Is not His mother called Mary? And His brothers James, Joses, Simon, and Judas? ⁵⁶ And His sisters, are they not all with us? Where then did this Man get all these things?” ⁵⁷ So they were offended at Him.

 

IV. The Love THROUGH Joseph, seen in Joseph’s leadership

Matthew 2:13–23

Joseph becomes the instrument of God’s protective love.

A. Protecting — Guarding the Child from Herod

Matthew 2:13–14

The angel warns Joseph in a dream. Joseph rises that night and flees. God’s love through Joseph shields the vulnerable

B. Piloting — Leading the Family into Egypt

Matthew 2:14–15

Joseph guides Mary and Jesus on a dangerous journey. He navigates God’s plan with courage. God’s love through Joseph guides the Holy Family into safety.

C. Pivoting — Returning to Israel When God Speaks Again

Matthew 2:19–21

Another dream. Another change of direction. God’s love through Joseph responds instantly to God’s voice.

D. Planting — Settling the Family in Nazareth

Matthew 2:22–23

Joseph discerns the danger of Archelaus, who would remain over Bethlehem for another 10 years. He chooses Nazareth — humble, quiet, safe. God’s love through Joseph plants Jesus where He will flourish.

Illustration: The Compass in the Carpenter’s Pocket

Imagine Joseph carrying a simple compass — not to find his own way, but to follow God’s. Every time God speaks, the needle turns. And Joseph turns with it. Protecting. Piloting. Pivoting. Planting. He becomes the man God uses to carry the Light of the World through the darkness.

THE SILENT FATHER WHO TAUGHT US LOVE

Joseph teaches us:

The Love of God — God comes to the humble and the broken

Love for God — Joseph obeys immediately, intentionally, immovably

God’s Love to Others — Joseph loves Mary and Jesus with compassion and courage

God’s Love Through Us — Joseph protects, guides, and shelters the Savior

Joseph never speaks a recorded word. But his life speaks the message of Christmas: Love came down — and love lived through Joseph. Just as God chose Mary, He also chose Joseph. And it can live through us.

The Gospel Writers

SCENE ONE

Mark: Well hello. My name is Mark or as some people call me, John Mark. And I’m here with my three friends. Here’s Matthew, Luke and over there is John. Maybe you’ve heard of us. Some people would call us the gospel writers. And that is true. God inspired us to write accurate accounts of our Savior's life on earth. And we're here tonight to share that story with you.

Luke: The story of the ages. How God became a man. Emmanuel. God with us!

MATTHEW: He is Jesus. The long-awaited Messiah. THE KING OF KINGS!!

JOHN: And He is the Word. The WORD MADE FLESH.

Mark: That's right, John. Why don't you tell us about that?

JOHN: In the beginning was THE WORD. And the Word, was WITH God, and the Word, WAS God. He was in the beginning with God.
 All things were made through Him, and without Him, nothing was made that has been made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.

Luke: Dwelt among us. I made it clear in my gospel that the angel told Mary, "He will be great and be called the Son of God. "

JOHN: Son of God. Right. And, as I was saying, the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. And we have seen His glory; glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

MATTHEW: Son of the Father. Yes, as I wrote in my gospel when Jesus was baptized, "Behold, a voice from heaven said, 'This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased. "

Mark: Therefore, Jesus was both human and divine. Fully man and fully God.

JOHN: Of course, and that is my point. In the beginning was the Word. That's Jesus. And the Word ... Jesus ... was with God, and the Word ... Jesus ... was God. Remember, Jesus is the WORD. In the Beginning was the Word. He was, and is, God's one and only Son. And whoever believes in Him...

Luke: Will have everlasting life. And, as you stated, the Word became flesh and lived among us. Like our brother Paul said, When the fulness of time had come, God sent forth His SON.

JOHN: Yes, to redeem us. For God so loved the world that He gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him, should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Mark: Jesus, Son of God.

SCENE TWO

Mark: So, Jesus, Son of God. The Word. Like you said, John, He left heaven and became flesh and dwelt among us. So, let’s talk about the details of how that happened. Luke? Matthew? You both wrote about the events connected with the birth of the humanity of Jesus. Can you talk about that right now?

Luke: Well, it’s a long story. I’ll give Mary’s story. And Matthew?

MATTHEW: Yes, I’ll share the experience of Joseph

Luke: Well, as I said earlier, an angel. The angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, “Greetings O Favored one, the Lord is with you. ”

Mark: Mary must have been terrified at the angel

Luke: Yes. She was greatly troubled. And the angel said to her, Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the son of the most high.

Mark: Well, it’s an angel! Who wouldn’t be afraid?

Luke: So, right. The same thing happened to old Zechariah, when he was serving in the temple, standing by the altar of incense. But that’s another story for another time. However, in Mary’s case, she was greatly troubled at the saying.

JOHN:  At the saying by the angel, right? That she had found favor with God? There it is again, Son of the Most High. Son of God.

Luke: Yes, and that was the Lord with her, and then she tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be.

JOHN:  So, the angel was there to give Mary a Message that would change the world, right?

Luke: Right, so the angel continued, He said, And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.

Mark: Obviously, the promised Messiah. So how did Mary respond to this?

Luke: Well, first of all with a question. She asked, How will this be since I’m a virgin? And the angel said, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore, the child to be born will be called holy The Son of God.

JOHN:  For nothing will be impossible with God.

Luke: That’s what the angel said. And then Mary, her answer was amazing. She said, “Behold I am the servant of the Lord; Let it be done to me according to your word. And the angel departed from her.

Mark: Well, Matthew, how about Joseph? How did he receive the news?

MATTHEW: Well, like Luke said, before Mary and Joseph came together, she was found to be with child.

Mark: Through the Holy Spirit?

MATTHEW: That’s right, through the Holy Spirit. And her husband Joseph being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly.

JOHN:  But the angel came to Joseph too, right?

MATTHEW: Yes, Joseph as he considered these things, behold an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus for he will save his people from their sins.

Mark: I love it when the angel said again, “Do not fear!" Don’t you? But that’s what the gospel is all about, right? Jesus came to save his people from their sins!

JOHN:  So both Mary and Joseph were visited by the angel, Right?

MATTHEW: Yes, that’s right, But all of 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 Emmanuel.

Mark: Emmanuel. God with us. Yes Emmanuel. And What about the birth? It was in Bethlehem, right?

MATTHEW:  Of course. That was God’s plan from the beginning. The prophet Micah had predicted it.

Mark: So, both Mary and Joseph lived in Nazareth, right? So, how did they wind up in Bethlehem of Judea?

Luke: God’s sovereignty, through a census from Caesar Augustus. It’s a long story but all people went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also sent up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

JOHN:  God’s plan from the beginning. The Word became flesh. Heaven’s Greatest Gift! Imagine how Joseph and Mary must have felt. The human father and mother of the Messiah. The one who would provide salvation for sinners.

SCENE THREE

Mark: Heaven’s Greatest Gift to me to all of us, I love that

Luke: But don’t forget the shepherds And the angels. Don’t forget them. They appeared to the shepherds.

Mark: Weren’t they kind of squirrely? The shepherds, I mean. NOT the angels.

JOHN:  The angels were awesome, and they gave the announcement
to the shepherds, right?

Luke: Yes, and it was amazing, and yes, the shepherds well they were just out in their fields, keeping watch… (interrupted by a shepherd running in, shouting “Wait”)

WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE? They are not going to bring up shepherds to the stage this year, remember?

Shepherd: I KNOW. I know. But I heard you might need some help. Talking about the shepherds I mean.

MATTHEW: (looks at Luke): You’re right. Squirrely shepherds. WE need some help?

Shepherd: Squirrely? I could help you explain…

Mark: I can’t believe this. After all, WE’RE the gospel writers. No respect at all. Did you plan this?

Luke: Ok, OK. From a shepherd’s viewpoint, go ahead and tell us what happened.

Shepherd: Well, it was truly amazing. You see, an angel appeared to us. In fact, a whole lot of angels.

Luke: We’ve already talked about that. I resent that I can’t tell the story. After all, I wrote the entire account down.

Shepherd: Well, it has to do with what happened next. I mean, it was unbelievable. We all agreed to hurry on to Bethlehem, you see, Bethlehem was the city of David.

JOHN:  YOU? Are telling, us? HE! is telling, us!

Shepherd: Well, we hurried to Bethlehem to see what the angels had told us about. And we found them. Mary, Joseph, but most importantly, the baby. Who was lying in a manger, and we were so excited. So, we spread the word.

Mark: Spread the Word?

Shepherd: Yes, we spread the word about Jesus. This child was the promised Messiah, you know.

MATTHEW: Oh, really? We didn’t know that …

Shepherd: Well, yeah, Jesus. I mean. He was the One we all had been dreaming about and longing for.

JOHN:  Well yes, we’re with you. Jesus was the Christ, Son of the living God.

Shepherd: But the thing I keep remembering. The angel! Remember the angel?

ALL:  Yes, WE REMEMBER THE ANGEL!

Shepherd: Well, what he said to us, he said, Fear not. He told us not to fear I mean, we were terrified, you know. But he said, DON’T FEAR, for I bring you good tidings of great joy.

Luke and SHEPHERD: which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

Luke:  So, fear not!

MATTHEW: Of course! Fear not.

All including the Shepherd: FEAR NOT

SCENE FOUR

Mark: Wow. What a story. And what a song, too.

MATTHEW: That’s not the whole story, there’s more.

JOHN:  OK, Matthew, tell us, what else happened.

MATTHEW: What else? Well AFTER Jesus was born?

Luke:  Yes, I remember, you wrote about the wise men from the east, right?

MATTHEW: That’s right. After Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of Herod the king, behold wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying “Where is he who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him." When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled and all of Jerusalem with him. And assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.

JOHN:  And this is the prophecy from the prophet Micah, right?

MATTHEW: Yes, the chief priests told old Herod, "In Bethlehem of Judea for so it is written by the prophet: 'And you O Bethlehem in the land of Judah are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people, Israel.' "

Mark: I love that Scriptures predicted the birthplace of the Messiah. The Scriptures are always true and reliable, aren’t they?

JOHN:  Yes, the written Word of God. Then, the wise men? What happened?

MATTHEW: Well, remember the star? The star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary, his mother, and they fell down and worshipped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold, frankincense and myrrh.

Mark: So, like the shepherds, the wise men came to welcome Jesus our Redeemer.

MATTHEW: And to worship. That’s the most important part. They welcomed and worshiped Jesus our Redeemer.