Understanding The Bible |
"Christmas, Joseph, and the stress of it all"
(A Pre-Christmas Message)
By Dr. Glen Clifton 1.
Psychologists tell us
that the Christmas season is the most stressful of all the holiday seasons.
There are more 911 calls, more suicide attempts and more people calling in about
loneliness that at any other time. Why? Stress!
The holiday season certainly can be stressful. I know I get stressed during this
time of the year. Why? Because I’m the guy that has to get the Christmas tree
straight. Let’s be honest guys, let’s have a time of bonding here. It is tough
to get the Christmas tree straight. My favorite carol is: “oh Christmas tree, oh
Christmas tree, why can’t you stand perpendicularly?”
There are some other things men get stressed about. Men stress over giving. Face
it, we don’t take hints well. One guy said his wife wanted to travel, so he gave
her a map. That didn’t cut it! One mans wife said she wanted flowers, so he
bought her several packages of seeds. That didn’t go over either.
Men, let me help you out. Here are some specific hints on what not to buy.
1.
Do not buy anything for the kitchen….she wants out of there…
2. Do not buy anything related to weight loss or
self-improvement, that is if you want to live….I’m serious….
3. Do not buy jewelry - - what your wife likes
you can’t afford, and what you can afford, she won’t like….
4. Do not buy anything that you have to know her
size. It’s best to give a gift certificate - don’t get the wrong size - even if
it is expensive - especially if it is too small.
However, men, our stress is nothing compared to what that guy went through the
first Christmas. I’m speaking of Joseph. Hey, we don’t know much about him,
except that he’s usually on the front of the Christmas card leading the donkey.
Talk about stress! They made a trip and he didn’t e-mail ahead for a motel room.
Men, have you ever done that? Arrive in a town late in the afternoon and
evening, with no reservations made in advance, and everything is full. You
drive-around and drive-around, and “no vacancy.” The children are tired and
hungry, the wife is saying, “I told you to... ” Yeah, I know that none of you
have been through this….yeah, right!
Well, Dr. Luke tells us that when Joseph and Mary arrived in Bethlehem, there
were no hotel or motel rooms available. Every woman just knows that he was lost,
and wouldn’t stop and ask for directions. What are you ladies laughing about?
Oh, you’ve been there and done that.
Most of us can identify with Joseph. Personally, I really can picture his
frustration, insisting to the innkeeper that he needs a place to stay, and the
innkeeper saying, “That’s not my fault.” And Joseph declaring, “it’s not my
fault either, you wouldn’t believe it if I told you why.” Talk about stress.
In the fall of 1775, the manager of Baltimore’s largest hotel refused lodging to
a man dressed as a farmer. The manager thought that his lowly appearance would
discredit his inn. The man left and found another room in another place. When
the manager discovered that the man he had refused a room was none other than
Thomas Jefferson, then vice-president of the United States, he sent him a note.
Jefferson replied by instructing his messenger: “tell him I have already engaged
a room. I value his good intentions highly, but if he has no place for a dirty
American farmer, he has none for the vice-president of the United States.
In the same way, when the lord Jesus came into this world, there was no room at
the inn. And, after more than 2,000 years nothing has changed. There are “no
vacancy” signs displayed in many a heart and many a home, and many a business...
because there is no room for Jesus.
In fact, not only is there no room, but the opposition to Jesus is growing. The
Christmas”Grinches," and the anti-Christian bigots are in an all out attack.
Here are some examples:
1)
The New York board of education has prohibited any display of a nativity scene
in the New York City schools. They allow the Jewish menorah and the Islam star
and crescent, but no nativity scene displayed. No room for Jesus!
2) In Frederick County, Maryland, a school
employee was barred from handing out Christmas cards with a Christmas message.
No room for Jesus!
3) In tupelo, Mississippi, elementary school
students were led to chant and celebrate kwanza, but permitted to sing Christmas
carols only after school officials removed any reference to Jesus. No room for
Jesus!
4) In Covington, Georgia, the ACLU filed suit
against the public school district because its calendar designated December 25
as Christmas, thus advancing a religion. No room for Jesus!
5) In little rock, Arkansas, city council changed
its annual parade from the Christmas parade to the holiday parade, so as not to
offend non-religious people or those of other faiths. I certainly hope nobody
tells them that holiday means holy day. But, that’s beside the point. No room
for Jesus!
6) In Denver, Colorado, where we lived, the
annual Christmas parade of lights changed its name to the winter parade of
lights. And, last year they banned a float that had the words: “merry
Christmas.” No room for Jesus!
I could list many more, but you get the point.
The truth of the matter is: you may try, but you really can’t take Christ out of
Christmas. To try to take Christ out of Christmas is like trying to take heat
out of fire, or wet out of water, or oxygen out of air, or notes out of music.
The truth also is: that many do leave Christ out of their Christmas. They have
all the trappings, but not the truth. They have lots of things, but no Christ.
In December, they go through all the routine, the trees, the decorations, the
lights, the gifts, the giving and receiving of gifts, all the activities. But,
no Jesus! And, without Jesus….stress!
Why did Joseph have stress? Already, his little betrothed wife-to-be had
divulged that she was pregnant. (v. 18) the Mosaic Law was very specific about
this. The law said that a woman who was guilty of being unfaithful should be
stoned to death. But, this man Joseph was a remarkable man. We all devote a
great deal of attention to Mary, and rightly so. Mary also deserves allot of
credit. She was an outstanding young woman that god chose to be the mother of
our lord. When god picked marries, he picked the right girl.
Joseph now faced the predicament of his life. Listen: the words “a just man and
not willing to make her a public example” show a deeply troubled spirit. Joseph
was literally torn between obeying the law (which would be to expose Mary to the
authorities), and his love for her. I can’t even imagine the stress he was going
through. He was perplexed, troubled and disappointed. His imagination must have
been running wild. He felt deceived, experiencing jealousy and rage. His mind
told him that marries had committed “whoredom” against him. Yet, in all this, he
cared and loved her deeply and did not want to hurt her. What a man!
Remember this: Jesus’ birth creates a predicament for every man, in that every
man is now forced to make a decision about Christ and his claims.
And, we must remember that god also chose Joseph. God made no mistake about
choosing him either. A hot-headed man would have had her stoned to death. Or
made her a public example by exposing her. He was not that kind of man. He was a
gentle person. He was in love with her, and he did not want to hurt her in any
way, although he felt that she had been unfaithful to him. (v. 19)
Then Joseph listened to the lord. (v. 20). The angel of the lord appeared to
Joseph to make it clear what was happening. This prevented a tragic situation.
Hey, have you listened to the lord and his claims on your life?
You know... I hate the over-commercialization of Christmas. Baby Jesus has given
way to Santa Claus, trees, tinsel, gifts, food, and I could go on... but, we
also live in a day of the over-spiritualization of Christmas. Today, we have the
idea that god picked out this cute little couple and placed them into a nativity
scene. Then, beautiful people from all over the world brought them gifts, as a
choir and orchestra, in tuxedos made beautiful music. That isn’t how it was!
They were real people living in the real world. Joseph wondered (and stressed)
about what to do. He was worried about their journey, what they would eat, where
they would stay. Joseph lived in the real world. There was stress on both Mary
and Joseph.
Spiritual decisions in everyday life have their difficulties. Joseph’s decision
to marry Mary was difficult. Do you think, for one minute, that he had known
about a virgin - conception? Yet, Joseph, hearing from god, believed the
unbelievable! Listen: faith is always a part of good decisions. Even good
decisions can be difficult. Good decisions don’t come with a slide rule or a
computer. They often, are not rational.
Dr. Charles lowery said that while studying for his PhD. In psychology, he took
a class in philosophy. He remarked that, “it is like looking for a black cat in
a dark room. We discussed ‘syllogisms’ - two premises that come together and if
true, you reach a logical conclusion.” He said the previous owner of his
textbook had made his own syllogism in the margin. It said, “God is love. Love
is blind. Ray Charles is blind. Therefore, ray Charles is god.” Duh? Philosophy
and psychology don’t hold the answers of life! Faith does!
For Joseph... Jesus’ birth necessitated a special revelation. Verse 20 says,
“While he thought on these things...” Joseph did what he should have done. He
got alone with god to think and pray through the predicament. Because of his
obedience, god met his need. Being a “just and godly” man, he got alone with
god. Vs. 19-20 the right frame of mind is essential in order to hear and receive
the message of God.
Just as faith held the answer for Joseph, faith holds the answer for us. The
bible says that Joseph was a gracious or upright man. Matt. 1:19 he could have
run away, had she stoned to death, or divorced her. But, he loved her. And he
accepted by faith what the angel of the lord had told him: to love and accept
Mary as his wife. But, you and I all know that living in this flesh there is
stress.
Just like Joseph, the vast majority of persons called by god are from humble
stations in life. Paul wrote, “for you see your calling, brethren, how that not
many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called...” I
Corinthians 1:26-27 you and I must learn to say “yes” to god’s call, as most
reject his call. Even Jesus said, “Many are called, but few are chosen.” Matthew
20:16
Oh, one other tidbit on Joseph: in Matthew 1, beginning verse 2, it says
“Abraham begat Isaac.” And for the next 13 verses, there is a whole lot of
“begetting.” Then, verse 16 states, “and Jacob begat Joseph.” You would expect
it to continue by saying, Joseph begat Jesus, but it does not say that. Instead
it says, “Jacob begat Joseph, the husband of Mary.” Matthew is making it clear
that Joseph is not the father of Jesus!” Although he is the husband of Mary, he
is not the father of Jesus. The record clearly states that Jesus Christ was
virgin born.
Today, we all know, in hindsight, that Jesus came into the world because we are
condemned to die because of our sin. But god loves and accepts us. He is
gracious to us. God’s word says, “and she shall bring forth a son, and
you shall call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins.”
Matthew 1:21
The name Jesus, the
Hebrew form is Joshua, (Yashua, literally means “Jehovah is salvation,” or
“savior.”
By faith, Joseph was able to see the good in this situation because he was able
to see god in it. Of course, it helped to have the angel show up and talk to
him, I know that. But, today we have the whole story in the bible and still
stress over menial decisions that come before us. We have seen so many Christmas
programs that we forget that it was an angel and not some man in a white sheet.
Today, we have the Holy Spirit who speaks to us.
For Joseph Jesus’ birth wrought a great act of obedience. Very simply, Joseph
obeyed God. Despite the predicament, despite the traumatic situation, Joseph
obeyed! He did what god said. Can you visualize this scene? The pregnant
fiancée, the gossiping friends, the neighbors questions, the tax deadline, the
appearance of an angel, the evil king. And you think you have stress? What a
situation! What a lesson in ‘obedience!
God’s angels were excited about the first Christmas. Let’s get excited about
this Christmas. The spirit of Christmas is to take Jesus where he needs to be
taken. That’s what Joseph did! Whether it was to Bethlehem, or a foreign
country, or across the street, or to the market place, Joseph took Jesus. Joseph
teaches us the spirit of Christmas.
As my children were growing up, I wrapped a few presents for my family. My
children took one look those presents, and although they didn’t know what was in
them, they knew dad wrapped them. Not like their mother, Dee, as her packages
were always wrapped perfect.
After his stress Joseph realized that Jesus was wrapped by god. Joseph believed
that Christmas was real, and the rest of the year was pretend.
This Christmas, I hope the tree is straight, but more importantly, I hope the
story is straight….and that your life and mine is straight.
It’s not the tree or what’s under it, only that you realize that Jesus died on a
tree for you and me. This year, when a man in a sheet (with wings) announces
that the lord has come, believe it, and do what Joseph did - take Jesus wherever
he needs to be taken.
Would you make Jesus the lord and savior of your life today? “Today, if you
will hear his voice, do not harden your heart….” Hebrews 3:7
Copyright 2006,
Dr. Glen Clifton
Used by permission
"Running
The Race of Life"
by Dr. Glen E. Clifton
1. Dr. Clifton and his wife Dee, have been retired to Florida for 4 years. He has been kept busy preaching up and down the Treasure coast since he moved here. He can be contacted for speaking engagements at (772) 336-3992.
Clifton, Dr. Glen E., Brief Biography
121906