Advent Promise – Hope
Advent means “coming” or “arrival” ~ it is a season of attention & focus on the promises of the coming Messiah. It is a season of expectation: hope, joy, love, peace & presence of a Savior-King!
Imagine Joseph…
I was in shock. Did Mary mean to say what she just said? She’s going to have a baby? It’s not mine, that much I know. Mary how can this be? Has God really chosen you to carry the Messiah? Our Hope? Our Savior? I’ve read this passage from Isaiah 9 a hundred time – is it really happening as they prophets proclaimed?
“There will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. The land of Zebulun and Naphtali will be humbled, but in the future He will honor the Way to the Sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles. The people who walk in darkness will see a great light. For those who live in a land of deep darkness, a light will shine. You will break the yoke of their burden and the staff on their shoulders; every warrior’s boot used in battle and every garment rolled in blood will be burned as fuel for the fire.
For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us…
For unto us… unto Mary and myself? I had a hard time believing this baby was from God, as any man would. I had plans to break our engagement – quietly though as I still loved her, and did not want her to be disgraced – for she is a good woman. But then! Then I was convinced! You see I am a simple man, a carpenter by trade and yet God saw my distress and He sent a messenger – an angel messenger in my dream. He said: “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” And I knew that all of this occurred to fulfill the Lord’s message through his prophet
I knew and I believed that our Hope was finally coming, our Messiah was on the way! And I had an important role… me, Joseph, a simple carpenter would be the man to help raise the Son of God. For my wife Mary, being a virgin, conceived a child! She gave birth to a son and He is called Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us.’”
When I woke up, I did as the angel of the Lord commanded me and I took Mary as my wife. But I had no union with her until she gave birth to a Son… God’s Son, and we named Him Jesus.”
Based on Isaiah 9:1-6 & Matthew 1:18-25
