Fourth Utterance from the Cross: Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?

 DAY 2, EVENING

“My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”

(Matthew 27:46; Mark 15:34)

The fourth cry from Jesus on the cross is the most mysterious, perhaps the saddest and certainly the most haunting. It is the first time in the Gospels that Jesus addresses His Father as “My God.” It is the only moment in His earthly life when He speaks from a place of separation rather than communion. It is a cry that reaches back to Psalm 22 and stretches forward to every believer who has ever felt abandoned or alone.

⁴⁶ And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” that is, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”

These words do not come from confusion. They point to a promise of the Father’s plan, given more than a thousand years beforehand. He had predicted it many times. He told Nicodemus that the Son of Man must be lifted up. He defined His mission as to give His life as a ransom for many. He taught that the Good Shepherd must lay down His life for the sheep. Yet, in this moment, He experienced the full weight of what that meant.

Sin separates, isolates, and saddens us because it breaks fellowship between us and the God who loves us. On the cross, Jesus bore the sin of the world. He carried the guilt that was not His own. He entered into the darkness that belonged to us. In doing so, He experienced the separation that sin creates. He felt the distance that we deserved. He endured the forsakenness that should have fallen on us.

Jesus understands your sorrow. Think of the times you have felt abandoned. There are seasons when God seems silent. There are nights when prayer barely rises above our tears, let alone above the ceiling. Jesus entered that experience. He didn’t pretend that suffering is easy. His anguish was not hidden. He cried out to the Father in His pain.

In His cry, there was faith. He said, “My God.” He did not turn away. He did not reject the Father. He clung to the relationship even when He could not feel the comfort of it. This was no doubtful cry. It was a cry from a Son yearning for a Father in the darkest hour.

Faith is not the absence of questions. Faith holds on to God even when answers are fleeting. Faith trusts the Father in painful paths, and He seems so far away.

Jesus felt forsaken but He wasn’t. Neither are we. His separation brought us fellowship with His Father. He cried out in darkness so that we could walk in the light. Because He was forsaken, we can be confident that God will never leave us nor forsake us.

Pray this prayer to God: Heavenly Father, thank You that Jesus entered into the darkness of separation so that I would never have to. When I feel alone, remind me that Christ understands my sorrow. Strengthen my faith to trust You even when I cannot see the way forward. Help me to rest in the promise that You will never forsake Your children. In Your Name I pray, Amen.

 

Third Utterance from the Cross: Woman, behold your son ... Behold your mother.

 

DAY 2, MORNING

“Woman, behold your son… Behold your mother.”

(John 19:26–27)

The third utterance from the cross is a word of care. It is spoken quietly, almost gently, in the midst of the most violent scene in human history. While the world raged around Him, Jesus turned His attention to His mother and to the disciple whom He loved. In that moment, He revealed the depth of His compassion and the importance of relationships within the family of God.

²⁶ When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, “Woman, behold your son!” ²⁷ Then He said to the disciple, “Behold your mother!” And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home.

As Christ hung on the cross, He did not forget the people whom He loved. He remembered the needs of His earthly family. Mary carried Him, raised Him, and treasured the promises spoken about Him. As she watched her Son suffer, Jesus saw her grief and entrusted her to John.

This teaches us that love is not only expressed in great acts of sacrifice, but also in the quiet responsibilities of daily life. Jesus was fulfilling the greatest mission the world has ever known, yet He still honored His mother. He still cared for her needs. He still provided for her future.

This caring word from the cross reminds us that the family of God is not limited to biological ties. Jesus formed a new spiritual family at the foot of the cross. Mary would find comfort in John. John would find purpose in caring for her. Their relationship would be shaped not by blood, but by the love of Christ. In the same way, believers today are called to care for one another. We are called to bear one another’s burdens, to support one another in times of sorrow, and to walk together in faith.

In the humanity of Jesus, we see He felt the weight of His mother’s sorrow. He understood the pain of separation. He knew the cost of obedience. He entrusted His mother to the care to John because He knew His earthly work was done. His earthly love did not keep Him from fulfilling His mission. But His mission did not eclipse His love.

Christlike love is attentive, compassionate, and responsible. It sees the needs of others even in moments of personal suffering. Love, Christ’s love, builds relationships that honor the heavenly Father. The love of Jesus creates a fellowship of comfort where there was once only grief.

Pray this prayer to God: Lord Jesus, thank You for showing compassion even in Your suffering. Teach me to care for the people You have placed in my life. Help me to honor my relationships and to build a community of love within Your family. Give me a heart that sees the needs of others and responds with grace. Amen.

Second Utterance from the Cross: Today, you will be with Me in Paradise

 DAY 1, Evening

“Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”

(Luke 23:43)

The second utterance from the cross is a word of assurance. It is spoken not to a crowd, not to the religious leaders, and not even to the disciples. It is spoken to a dying criminal who had nothing to offer Jesus except a humble request for mercy.

⁴² Then he said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.”

This man had no good works to present. He had no life of obedience to point to. He had no opportunity to make restitution or prove his sincerity. He had only a confession of guilt and a plea for grace. In response, Jesus gave him one of the most beautiful promises in all of Scripture.

⁴³ And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”

This promise reveals the heart of salvation. It is not earned. It is not achieved. It is not the reward of a lifetime of religious effort. It is the gift of God to the one who turns to Christ in faith. The repentant thief had nothing but need, and Jesus met that need with divine assurance.

The word “Paradise” was used to describe a garden or a place of rest and delight. It is the same word used in Revelation when Jesus promises the overcomer access to the tree of life. Jesus was telling this man that death would not be the end. It would be the doorway into the presence of God. The thief would not enter alone. Jesus said, “You will be with Me.” Salvation is not merely the removal of sin. It is the restoration of fellowship with God.

This moment also reveals the compassion of Christ. While suffering the agony of crucifixion, Jesus still heard the cry of a sinner. He still extended mercy. He still offered hope. Even in His final hours, Jesus was doing what He came to do. He was seeking and saving the lost.

Jesus’s promise reminds us that salvation is immediate. He did not say, “Someday you may be with Me,” or “After a long process you might enter My kingdom.” He said, “Today.” The repentant thief would close his eyes on earth and open them in the presence of Christ. There would be no delay and no uncertainty. The grace of God is not slow. It is ready to meet the sinner who turns to Him in faith.

This second utterance teaches us that no one is beyond the reach of God’s mercy. Salvation is not based on our past but on Christ’s promise. The door of grace stands open until the final breath. The heart of Jesus is always turned toward the repentant.

Pray this prayer to God: Lord Jesus, thank You for the promise You gave to the repentant thief. Thank You that salvation is by grace and not by works. Help me to trust Your promise and to rest in the assurance that those who turn to You in faith will be with You forever. Strengthen my heart with the hope of Paradise and the joy of Your presence. In the name of Jesus, Amen.

First Utterance from the Cross: Forgive Them

DAY 1, Morning

“Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.”

(Luke 23:34)

The first words Jesus spoke from the cross were those of a plea for forgiveness. They were not a cry of pain or a plea for rescue. They were not words of anger or accusation. They were a prayer of forgiveness that revealed the heart of the One who came to save.

³⁴ Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” And they divided His garments and cast lots.

The word Jesus uses for “forgive” is the Greek word aphiēmi. It means to release, to let go, or to send away. It is the same word Jesus used when He taught His disciples to pray, “Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.” This forgiveness is not sentimental or shallow. It is a deliberate act of releasing someone from the debt they owe.

Jesus is not declaring universal forgiveness for every person standing at the foot of the cross. He is not excusing their sin or pretending that their actions are harmless. He is revealing His heart. He is showing the world that His love is strong enough to release even those who are actively harming Him.

The soldiers who nailed Him to the cross did not ask for forgiveness. The religious leaders who mocked Him did not repent. The crowd that blasphemed Him did not understand the magnitude of what they were doing. Yet Jesus prayed for them. He released the debt into the hands of His Father, the only One who judges perfectly.

Forgiveness begins in the heart of the forgiver. It does not begin with the worthiness of the offender. Jesus is not minimizing the evil done against Him. He is choosing to place the burden of justice into the hands of His Father. This is the forgiveness that frees the soul from bitterness. This is the forgiveness that refuses to let hatred take root. This is the forgiveness that does not require reconciliation with the unrepentant. It is forgiveness that entrusts justice to God.

When Jesus prayed, “Father, forgive them,” He was revealing the heart of the Father. God desires to release sinners from their debt. He yearns for repentance rather than destruction. He opens the door of mercy even while the nails are still being driven in.

As we begin these seven devotionals on the last words of Christ, we begin where Jesus began, with forgiveness. Forgiveness does not deny the truth. Release does not say wounds do not hurt. Forgiveness does not enable sin, nor does it remove healthy boundaries. Forgiveness releases the debt into the hands of God. This is the forgiveness that reflects the cross. This is the forgiveness that looks like Christ.

Pray this prayer to God: Lord Jesus, thank You for praying for Your enemies even as they wounded You. Teach me to release the debts others owe me. Help me to entrust justice to the Father and to walk in the freedom that forgiveness brings. Change my heart to be more like Yours. Amen.

The Last Words of Christ before His Death

 

1. The Love of Christ results in …

…Release of Enemies

aphiēmi = release; Matthew 6:12

“Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” (Luke 23:34)

- Demonstrates Jesus' selfless love and His commitment to forgiveness, even in suffering. This reflects Jesus' boundless forgiveness, even for those who crucified Him, embodying His teachings on love and mercy.  Jesus' final words express His trust in the Father and His willing surrender, marking the culmination of His earthly life. It is the same forgiveness Jesus used in the Lord’s prayer, “forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.” It means to leave alone. It was NOT a blanket forgiveness of all sins for all time, nor was it given to all who were there. It was exemplifying who Jesus truly was and exemplified His forgiving love. For those who were gambling for His clothes; for criminals on either side of Him; for the crowd who was blaspheming Him.

…Relations on Earth 1 John 3:1

“Woman, behold your son! … Behold your mother!” (John 19:26-27)

- Reflects Christ's care for others, showing His attention to relationships and community. Jesus entrusts His mother, Mary, to the care of His disciple John, symbolizing the creation of a new spiritual family among believers. 

2. The Humanity of Christ fulfills Scripture in…

… Sorrowful Separation see Psalm 22:1, Hebrews 13:5

“My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” (Matt. 27:46, Mark 15:34)

This reminds us that even in our darkest moments, when we feel utterly alone, we are not forsaken. Jesus in His humanity was separated from His Father so we would not have to be. When we have questions, God has answers. In moments of despair, we know that Jesus understands. It also calls us to reflect on the magnitude of Jesus' sacrifice and the hope it brings for redemption and eternal connection with God.

… Symbolic Sacrifice see Psalm 22:15, 69:21, Exodus 12:22

“I thirst!” (John 19:28)

- This highlights Jesus' humanity and fulfills Scripture, showing His physical suffering and His role in fulfilling God's plan. Emphasizes Jesus' humanity and fulfills Scripture. This fulfills the prophecy in Psalm 69:21, which says, "They gave me vinegar for my thirst." It highlights Jesus' humanity and the fulfillment of Scripture.

…Submissive Surrender see Psalm 22:19, 31:5

“Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” (Luke 23:46)

- According to Luke, these are Jesus’s final words, which show His ultimate trust and surrender to the Father, even in death. This echoes Psalm 31:5, where the psalmist entrusts their spirit to God. Jesus uses these words to express His trust in the Father, even in death.

3. The Deity of Christ provides Salvation in …

… Divine Providence, see Revelation 2:7

“Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.” (Luke 23:43)

- Highlights the assurance of salvation through faith and repentance. Spoken to the repentant thief, this assures salvation through faith, emphasizing grace over works.

… Divine Permanence tetelestai, Hebrews 11:2

“It is finished.” (John 19:30)

Tetelestai is a single word, which can accurately be translated as “It is finished,” but it was also used in financial sense when a debt is completely paid. This single word was stamped on a deed or a financial note, meaning paid in full. Judicially,  this word was also used in a legal when a judgment or a verdict had been fully served and completed. Tetelestai. Militarily, this single word was also used that the battle had been won. The Spiritual war is over and the enemy defeated.

HOW DO WE KNOW It is finished? Because Sunday morning, the stone was rolled away. SM, The soldier fell asleep as dead men. SM The women heard the angels say He is not here He is risen. SM Peter and John ran and saw an empty tomb. SM Jesus said to a weeping woman, Go tell the disciples I am ascending to MY FATHER…BC. JESUS promised in John 14 that if I go away, I will come again and receive you to myself that where I am you shall be also.

 

Turning Pillows to Pillars

I woke up in the middle of the night thinking of Jacob (who was later named Israel). It wasn’t because of my current preaching series on Joseph, Jacob’s son. No, I was thinking about the phrase, “Jacob used a rock for a pillow.”

It’s not unusual for me to think theological or biblical thoughts in the middle of the night, or middle of the day or even the middle of my watching the Olympics. But it wasn’t a theological prompting.

It was literally my pillow. Not THAT "My Pillow", but one of those decorative pillows that you put on the bed during the day and then take off during the night then put back on the following day. At least those of us who make up the bed almost every day.

(Notice Melissa, I said “us”). Don’t be shocked but Melissa almost always makes up the bed but occasionally so do I, hence the usage of said word “us”.

But back to Jacob and more importantly my pillow. Apparently, I fell asleep with the wrong pillow as I found My Pillow on the floor in the middle of the night, and the modern-day equivalent of Jacob’s pillow under my head, but not quite as hard as a rock and certainly more decorative.

Now, I am sure that there must be a book or a theologian out there somewhere that explains why Jacob used a rock for a pillow, but I have never read it and never even seen it but surely there is a 40-day Bible Plan on YouVersion on “Rock Pillows”. Still, as I couldn’t go back to sleep, I started thinking about why God would include that explanation of Jacob using a rock for a pillow.

I knew the story. I have written and forgotten about the lithified, igneous excuse for a cushion beneath the prophet’s head. But in the middle of the night, I was thinking of Jacob’s dream and his vision of a ladder and angels ascending and descending on that ladder or stairway to heaven.

The patriarch awoke and said, “Surely the presence of the Lord is in this place,” or something like that in Genesis 28.

There are a number of applications to this biblical story, but I think the greatest is that the house of God is not a certain geological location, nor are His angels confined to a certain place on earth, but rather wherever and whenever we seek Him. His angels were already present before the ‘in the beginning’ of Genesis 1:1. Angels are mentioned 72 times throughout the book of Revelation.

God is omnipresent, meaning He is present everywhere, but He also has His heavenly messengers to come down from heaven to minister, give spiritual encouragement and protection to His people. An angel heralded Jesus’s coming to Joseph before Christ’s birth and also gave warning to Joseph of approaching danger after his birth (see Matthew 1:20 and 2:13).

God occasionally speaks to us in dreams, and for the most part, He blesses us with sleep. Psalm 127:2 says, “It is vain for you to rise up early, To sit up late, To eat the bread of sorrows; For so He gives His beloved sleep.” Proverbs 3:24 says, “When you lie down, you will not be afraid; Yes, you will lie down and your sleep will be sweet.” And Psalm 4:8 says, “I will both lie down in peace, and sleep; For You alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.” Even Jesus slept on a cushion in the midst of a storm. 

Jacob rose from his sleep, took the stone that had been his pillow, set it upright, and made it the foundation of a pillar.

So, as I lay awake last night, thinking of Jacob and his rock pillow, I thanked God for a mattress, covers, and exchanged my decorative pillow for My Pillow. I didn’t go straight to sleep, but I felt the reassurance of God’s mercy, love, and care for me.

Maybe there is something in your life that feels as hard as a rock, something that brings headaches or heartaches and keeps you awake at night. If you will give it to Him, God can take what feels heavy and transform it. He can turn your pillows into pillars, your ashes into beauty, and give you a garment of praise instead of a spirit of heaviness (Isaiah 61:3).

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.

---

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.