Joseph’s Story: Revelation versus Reason

Joseph of Nazareth was an eligible bachelor and quite a good catch: a successful small business owner, a respected craftsman. He came from a respected lineage: a grandson of famous men, great, great … grandson of Jewish kings. He was mature, established, and probably hoped for a simple, happy life.

You know his story. Mary, a young maiden and his fiancée, was found to be pregnant after their engagement. Now reason was telling Joseph one thing, but an angel, in a direct revelation from God tells him something else. The baby is Emanuel (God with us) and an incarnation by the power of the Holy Spirit of God, to be named Jesus (Jehovah saves!), because He will save his people from their sins. A fulfillment of God’s unusual plan.

Later, Joseph is planning a trip from Nazareth to Bethlehem on a government mandate. Reason says go by yourself, without the burden of taking a pregnant wife along. But, by whatever happenstance he takes her any way fulfilling scripture that the Messiah should be born in Bethlehem, the city of David. This, yet another fulfills God’s unusual plan.

After an unusual birth in an improbable setting, a visit from wealthy kings provide golden gifts and valuable spices. This would set his family up in style back in Nazareth, maybe get him some new tools. But, due to another revelation from the angel, instead of resting in the Jerusalem suburbs before returning home, he makes a quick getaway at night to Egypt. Egypt, where nobody knows him, he doesn’t know the language, and he has no support group. But, this does fulfill God’s unusual plan, and a prophesy that says, “Out of Egypt I will call my son.”

Finally, the angel tells Joseph he can return to Israel, and he starts off for the Jerusalem suburbs. But then, he gets scared of Herod’s heir as the new king, and decides to head up to Nazareth again. Yet again fulfilling another prophecy, “He shall be called a Nazarene.”

None of this adventure fit any of Joseph’s plans, and most all of the circumstances flew in the face of reason. But Joseph, a righteous man, was faithful to the revelation, and submitted his plans to the will of God. (Read more about it in the gospel of Matthew, chapter 1)

Put yourself in this regular guy’s shoes. Would you have been willing to overrule reason with revelation? Willing to put aside your plans for God’s plan? Would you have put up with all the whispers of skeptics, or unusual attention shown your step son? Certainly, we have been asked less than this, to be fruitful for the kingdom.

Christmas Blessings!

How many gods are there?

Ever taken a comparative religions class? Man has believed in a superior being or gods since the beginning of history. It's really the atheists who are the odd ones out. I thought I'd just pass along an interesting blog from my pastor at Church of the Lakes. He summarizes the major religions today and makes some good points for we Christ followers. Do you know enough to connect with someone from another religious paradigm and make a defense of the gospel?

"Since ancient times no one has heard,

no ear has perceived,

no eye has seen any God besides You,

who acts on behalf of those who wait for Him."

Isaiah 64:4

How many gods are there?

In all honesty, this is one of the dividing lines between the world's religions.

For example, in Hinduism, there are 365 million gods.

Can you imagine trying to keep them all straight and happy?

In Buddhism (a furtherance of Hinduism), to my best understanding,

it's not so much about the Hindu gods,

as it is about following the 7 fold path.

And, of course, we haven't even mentioned all the man-made gods

that people have worshiped and all the supposed gods of nature.

In Islam, there is one god, Allah.

In Judaism, there is one God, Yahweh.

In Christianity, there is one God, Yahweh, and His Son, Jesus.

Can you see any points of contention here????

Unless people can agree on just how many gods there are,

and then agree on who those gods or God is,

we're never going to be connected.

Isaiah reminds us that never, in all of history, has any other god

ever revealed himself to humanity in miracles like the Exodus

and the parting of the Red Sea and the parting of the Jordan River

and the giving of the Ten Commandments.

If all these other gods exist, why aren't they doing anything?

Is it possible that they don't exist at all?

Isn't this what Elijah, the prophet of Yahweh, proved

on Mount Carmel (1 Kings 18:16ff)

My friends, remember the teaching of the Apostles Creed and

hang on to the truth that there is one God who had one begotten Son

and about a billion adopted sons and daughters.

I know Him and I serve Him through His Son.

This is Pastor Bruce

John the Baptist recognizes the Prince of Peace

Two weeks ago my 26 year old daughter had her believer’s baptism at College Park church professing her identification with Christ’s death burial and resurrection, and confessing her personal commitment to following Him. It was a special night as I heard her recognize the Prince of Peace.

As we begin the Christmas season, I think about the famous baptizer, John, son of the priest Zechariah and his barren wife Elizabeth. God chose to begin the story of Jesus birth, by telling us about this special man, John, who was to prepare the way of the Lord in the power of the prophet Elijah. When he was born, it says the neighbors were filled with awe, and they were asking, “What then is this child going to be?” for the Lord’s hand was with him.

John the Baptist first recognizes the presence of the God-man Jesus Christ when he is an unborn baby in the womb of his mother. At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby (John) leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! But why am I so favored that the mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. Matthew 1:39-44.

30 years later and preparing the Jews for Jesus ministry, John is baptizing sinners as a sign of repentance when Jesus appears on the scene. The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is the one I meant when I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me. I myself did not know him, but the reason I cam baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel.” Then John gave this testimony: “I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. I would not have known Him, except that the One who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is he who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ I have seen and I testify that this is the Son of God” John 1:29-34

Although Jesus birth was a normal and humble beginning, there were so many miraculous happenings predicted before, and surrounding His birth, including the beginning of this special man, John. Get a blessing this season by reading the accounts in the gospels of Matthew and Luke. And, take joy in the reason for the season.