Sermonette: Dec. 30, 2019

Joseph, Mary and Jesus are making the long walk back from Egypt, intending to make their home in Bethlehem, but their plans change. In the fifth dream recorded in the first two chapters of Matthew an angel warns Joseph that Archelaus, the son of Herod, now reigns in his father’s place, and he’s just as dangerous. Take the child to Galilee, the angel tells Joseph. So faithful Joseph avoids Bethlehem and continues north to Nazareth. And that’s where Jesus grows up, fulfilling the prophecy Matthew quotes, “He will be called a Nazorean” (Matthew 2:22-23).

It seems to me that, even without the prophecy, it made good sense for Joseph to take Jesus and Mary to Nazareth. Nazareth was about as far away from Jerusalem and Archelaus as you could get and still live in a community where a tradesman could get work. It was just off the north-south caravan route, halfway between the Sea of Galilee on the east and the Mediterranean on the west. It was near travelers, farmers, and fishermen. You could make a living there. And since Joseph and Mary had lived there before, they’d have friends and relatives nearby. A young mother with a small child could use their help.

But this was no ordinary child. He was the Messiah, the promised royal heir who would sit on David’s throne. And if Jesus’ family were to live anywhere else, Jesus’ life would be threatened. Nazareth was in the north, away from the intrigues of Jerusalem. It was a safe place where Jesus could grow up and thrive, the royal but endangered descendant of David.

You know, everything about the dreams of Christmas, whether of Joseph or the magi, is good news for you and me. They all dreamed of angels who guided and warned them. And because they obeyed the dreams, the Christ child was kept safe and we have a Savior who fulfills all the prophecies. We have more than enough witnesses to assure us that Jesus really is Immanuel, God with us, who came to save his people from their sins.

The Christmas story begins with visions of angels. The Passion story ends with angels. They appear to warn, to reassure, to give direction. They appear to announce the birth of the Savior. They appear to announce his resurrection. There’s one place they don’t appear. When the mob arrives in the Garden of Gethsemane to arrest Jesus, they’re not there. That’s quite a change, isn’t it? When Jesus was a baby, an angel was always there to warn Joseph and flee with the child to safety. Angels were there to strengthen Jesus after his temptation in the wilderness. An angel was there in the Garden of Gethsemane after Jesus prayed, but not anymore. As the mob comes to arrest Jesus, just hours before his death, the angels disappear. Why? Because their job is done. There’s no need to protect Jesus anymore. Dying for sinners is what he came to do. The angels know this, so they stay away. And Jesus goes to the cross alone to die for you and me.

It had to be that way. Even from the beginning that was part of the Christmas story. Remember the words of the angel in the dream when he first visited Joseph? “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:20-21). Thank God for the angel that protected him as a baby. Thank God that at Calvary the angels stayed away. Glory be to God!