ニューイングランドの母校から、今年もアドベントのso日々メッセージ その23

ニューイングランドの母校から、今年もアドベントの日々メッセージ その23
DECEMBER 24, 2018
Great Anticipations
Matthew 1:18-25

UNICEF estimates that approximately 350,000 babies are born every single day across the globe. While babies are precious to their parents, grandparents, siblings and other extended family members and close friends, to the rest of humanity they are simply one in 350,000. When we see a newborn baby sleeping cozily in a stroller, we might remark to the parents, “Oh, that baby is so precious” or “beautiful.” But frankly, he or she won’t cross our minds the rest of the day or even the rest of our lives. When the baby is our own, however, we care more deeply and on a much higher level. We have great anticipations of who she or he might become in the future.

In our passage for today, I wonder how Joseph felt as he heard the news about his son to be born. Since he had had no union with Mary, he probably internalized a sense of shame and humiliation. In fact, verse 19 indicates that he wants to divorce her quietly in accordance with Jewish law.

Knowing his myriad emotions, confusion and perhaps anger, God sends an angel to Joseph in a dream. The angel says to him, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” Huh? How is that for an explanation? Anticipation? Yes, it has gone up a few notches. Confusion? Words cannot express. I wonder what Joseph must have thought and felt in that moment. My son is conceived from the Holy Spirit? The Savior of the world? How is this possible?

Ultimately Joseph awakes and obeys the angel of the Lord. He fulfills God’s plan not to consummate the marriage until after Jesus is born (v. 24). And then he names him “Jesus” (v. 25). Perhaps we’ve been Christians for quite some time. Do we still have great anticipations about the birth of Jesus, or has this good news grown stale? Take a moment this Christmas Eve to ponder the story anew. Like Joseph, Jesus’ earthly father, may we internalize fresh and great anticipations about this baby who is unlike any other. He is a miraculous baby, God in the flesh, and our Savior and Lord! May his entrance into the world remind us of our need for him today, and dependence on him for the rest of our lives.

Matthew D. Kim, Ph.D.
Co-Director of the Haddon W. Robinson Center for Preaching, Director of Mentored Ministry and Associate Professor of Preaching and Ministry