Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction: We’ve looked at some of the lyrics throughout the month, but let’s look at them one more time:

What​ ​child​ ​is​ ​this,​ ​who​ ​laid​ ​to​ ​rest,  On​ ​Mary's​ ​lap​ ​is​ ​sleeping?

Whom​ ​angels​ ​greet​ ​with​ ​anthems​ ​sweet,  While​ ​shepherds​ ​watch​ ​are​ ​keeping?

This,​ ​this​ ​is​ ​Christ​ ​the​ ​King,  Whom​ ​shepherds​ ​guard​ ​and​ ​angels​ ​sing:  Haste,​ ​haste​ ​to​ ​bring​ ​Him​ ​laud,  The​ ​babe,​ ​the​ ​son​ ​of​ ​Mary.

Why​ ​lies​ ​He​ ​in​ ​such​ ​mean​ ​estate,  Where​ ​ox​ ​and​ ​ass​ ​are​ ​feeding?

Good​ ​Christians,​ ​fear,​ ​for​ ​sinners​ ​here  The​ ​silent​ ​Word​ ​is​ ​pleading.

Nails,​ ​spears​ ​shall​ ​pierce​ ​him​ ​through,  the​ ​cross​ ​he​ ​bore​ ​for​ ​me,​ ​for​ ​you.

Hail,​ ​hail​ ​the​ ​Word​ ​made​ ​flesh,  the​ ​Babe,​ ​the​ ​Son​ ​of​ ​Mary.

So​ ​bring​ ​him​ ​incense,​ ​gold,​ ​and​ ​myrrh,  Come,​ ​peasant,​ ​king,​ ​to​ ​own​ ​him.

The​ ​King​ ​of​ ​kings​ ​salvation​ ​brings,  Let​ ​loving​ ​hearts​ ​enthrone​ ​him.

Raise,​ ​raise​ ​a​ ​song​ ​on​ ​high,  The​ ​virgin​ ​sings​ ​her​ ​lullaby  Joy,​ ​joy​ ​for​ ​Christ​ ​is​ ​born,  The​ ​babe,​ ​the​ ​Son​ ​of​ ​Mary.

This,​ ​this​ ​is​ ​Christ​ ​the​ ​King,  Whom​ ​shepherds​ ​guard​ ​and​ ​angels​ ​sing:  Haste,​ ​haste​ ​to​ ​bring​ ​Him​ ​laud,  The​ ​babe,​ ​the​ ​son​ ​of​ ​Mary.

As you read the verses of this carol you see several individuals or groups mentioned: the child, Mary, angels, shepherds, the wise men are alluded to . . .

but have you noticed who is missing?

There is no mention whatsoever of Joseph.

No mention of the man who adopted Jesus as his own son and the man who would be involved in raising Him.

Not only is Joseph not mentioned in this song, but he’s also not mentioned by Mark in his Gospel.

We know a little of Joseph’s thoughts about the whole event, but we do not have record of his words, just his obedience, presence and care are mentioned.

​But, Joseph​ ​was​ ​present​ ​at​ ​the​ ​manger.​

​​ ​He​ ​was​ ​present​ ​before​ ​the​ ​manger.​

​​ ​He​ ​was​ ​present​ ​after  the​ ​manger.​

​He​ ​was​ ​present​ ​at​ ​least​ ​up​ ​through​ ​Jesus'​ ​twelfth​ ​birthday​ ​as​ ​recorded​ ​in​ ​Luke​ ​2:41-52.

Historians​ ​believe​ ​Joseph​ ​died​ ​somewhere​ ​between​ ​Jesus'​ ​teenage​ ​years​ ​and​ ​the  beginning​ ​of​ ​his​ ​public​ ​ministry​ ​at​ ​age​ ​30.​ ​​ ​And​ ​during​ ​the​ ​early​ ​childhood​ ​years​ ​of​ ​Jesus'​ ​life​ ​on  earth,​ ​not​ ​only​ ​was​ ​this​ ​child​ ​known​ ​as​ ​the​ ​"Son​ ​of​ ​Mary"​ ​as​ ​the​ ​song​ ​states​ ​but​ ​also​ ​Jesus​ ​was​ ​known  as​ ​the​ ​Son​ ​of​ ​Joseph.

What​ ​child​ ​is​ ​this?​ ​​ ​He​ ​is​ ​a​ ​child​ ​adopted​ ​by​ ​a​ ​father​ ​who​ ​loved​ ​Him.​

​​ ​How​ ​do​ ​we​ ​know​ ​Jesus​ ​was  adopted​ ​by​ ​Joseph?​ ​​ ​There​ ​are​ ​clues​ ​all​ ​throughout​ ​the​ ​places​ ​in​ ​the​ ​Bible​ ​that​ ​do​ ​mention​ ​Joseph.

Notice​ ​what​ ​the​ ​text​ ​says​ ​in​ ​Matthew​ ​1:18-25​ ​concerning​ ​Jesus'​ ​birth.

What’s in a Name?

There​ ​are​ ​two​ ​places​ ​in​ ​that​ ​text​ ​that​ ​give​ ​the​ ​reader​ ​clues​ ​that​ ​Joseph,​ ​although​ ​not​ ​the​ ​birth​ ​father  of​ ​Jesus,​ ​became​ ​his​ ​adoptive​ ​father.​

​​ ​The​ ​angel​ ​of​ ​the​ ​Lord​ ​told​ ​Joseph​ ​in​ ​the​ ​dream: 

According to some historians the​ ​naming​ ​of​ ​a​ ​child​ ​in this culture was​ ​the​ ​responsibility​ ​of​ ​the​ ​father.​

​​ God, told Joseph that he was to call his son Jesus.

​The​ ​intention​ ​of​ ​God​ ​was​ ​for​ ​Joseph​ ​to  adopt​ ​Jesus​ ​as​ ​his​ ​son​ ​and​ ​become​ ​his​ ​earthly​ ​father.​

​​ ​When​ ​Jesus​ ​was​ ​born​ ​in​ ​Bethlehem​ ​on​ ​that  Christmas​ ​night,​ we find ​Joseph​ ​naming​ ​the​ ​child,​ ​his​ ​adopted​ ​child,​ ​Jesus.​

Fathers would also do something else when their children were born.

They would take the newborn baby and lay that child across their knees to acknowledge the legitimacy of their newborn descendant.

When a man would adopt a child or a baby he would do the same thing.

This ritual would testify to those observing, that this baby is being received as my own.

Although Scripture doesn’t reveal to us whether or not Joseph followed this tradition it is most likely he did.

​

There are several indications throughout Scripture that signify Joseph adopted Jesus as his own son, even though he wasn’t His biological son.

We answered the question last week concerning who Jesus’ Father was.

It was God Himself.

However, when the question was asked, “Who’s His daddy” people naturally assumed Joseph was.

Who’s His Daddy?

Joseph's​ ​wife,​ ​Mary,​ ​certainly​ ​viewed​ ​her​ ​husband​ ​as​ ​Jesus's earthly​ ​father.​

​​ ​​ ​When​ ​Jesus​ ​was​ ​a  twelve-year-old​ ​boy,​ ​Joseph​ ​and​ ​Mary​ ​had​ ​been​ ​to​ ​Jerusalem​ ​as​ ​a​ ​family​ ​where​ ​they​ ​celebrated​ ​the  Feast​ ​of​ ​Passover.​

​​ ​Upon​ ​traveling​ ​back​ ​home,​ ​they​ ​realized​ ​Jesus​ ​was​ ​not​ ​with​ ​their​ ​traveling​ ​group.

Upon​ ​rushing​ ​back​ ​to​ ​Jerusalem,​ ​they​ ​found​ ​Jesus​ ​talking​ ​with​ ​the​ ​teachers​ ​in​ ​the​ ​Temple.​

​​ ​Notice  how​ ​Jesus'​ ​mother,​ ​Mary,​ ​responds​ ​to​ ​Jesus​ ​upon​ ​finding​ ​him,​ ​as​ ​well​ ​as​ ​how​ ​Luke,​ ​the​ ​writer​ ​of​ ​this  gospel​ ​account,​ ​identifies​ ​the​ ​couple.

Luke​ ​identified​ ​both​ ​Mary​ ​and​ ​Joseph​ ​as​ ​Jesus'​ ​parents.​

​​ ​Mary,​ ​Jesus'​ ​birth​ ​mother,​ ​calls​ ​her​ ​husband,  Joseph,​ ​Jesus'​ ​"father."​

​​ ​It​ ​was​ ​clear​ ​that​ ​Joseph​ ​adopted​ ​Jesus​ ​as​ ​his​ ​son.​

​​ ​It​ ​was​ ​how​ ​Jesus​ ​was​ ​known  in​ ​his​ ​childhood​ ​and​ ​even​ ​into​ ​his​ ​adult​ ​life.​

​​ ​Another​ ​clue​ ​is​ ​given​ ​in​ ​John's​ ​Gospel​ ​when​ ​Jesus​ ​calls  his​ ​disciples​ ​to​ ​follow​ ​him​ ​and​ ​later​ ​into​ ​his​ ​public​ ​ministry.

Everybody​ ​who​ ​knew​ ​Jesus​ ​recognized​ ​him​ ​as​ ​Joseph's​ ​son.​

​​ ​Joseph​ ​had​ ​adopted​ ​Jesus​ ​as​ ​his​ ​son​ ​from  day​ ​one.​

​​ ​What​ ​child​ ​is​ ​this?​ ​​ ​One​ ​of​ ​the​ ​characteristics​ ​that​ ​answers​ ​the​ ​question​ ​is​ ​found​ ​in​ ​the  reflection​ ​of​ ​his​ ​earthly​ ​father,​ ​Joseph.​

​​ ​He​ ​is​ ​the​ ​One​ ​who​ ​adopts​ ​and​ ​names​ ​us​ ​as​ ​part​ ​of​ ​His​ ​own  family.​

​​ ​

While we have established that God is Jesus’ Heavenly Father and we have also established that Joseph was Jesus’ adoptive Father the final question that we must ask this morning is this . . .

Who’s YOUR Daddy?

God is YOUR Creator, but He is not necessarily YOUR Father.

For God to be YOUR FATHER You must be adopted into the family of God by faith.

Listen to what Paul says in the book of Galatians concerning this vital adoption into the Family of God.

What​ ​child​ ​is​ ​this?​ ​​ ​He​ ​is​ ​the​ ​one​ ​who​ ​makes​ ​adoption​ ​into​ ​His​ ​family​ ​possible.​

​​ ​And​ ​adoption​ ​leads  to​ ​our​ ​salvation​ ​which​ ​includes​ ​our​ ​freedom​ ​from​ ​sin.​

​​ ​That​ ​is​ ​what​ ​Joseph​ ​was​ ​told​ ​to​ ​name​ ​his  adoptive​ ​Son​ ​when​ ​He​ ​would​ ​be​ ​born.​

​​ ​Remember​ ​what​ ​the​ ​angel​ ​of​ ​the​ ​Lord​ ​said​ ​to​ ​Joseph​ ​in​ ​his  dream.

The​ ​name​ ​of​ ​Jesus​ ​means​ ​"God​ ​saves."​

​​ ​What​ ​God​ ​saves,​ ​God​ ​adopts​ ​as​ ​His​ ​own​ ​and​ ​for​ ​His​ ​own​ ​by  the​ ​power​ ​of​ ​the​ ​Holy​ ​Spirit.

Paul​ ​goes​ ​on​ ​to​ ​write​ ​about​ ​the​ ​adoption​ ​into​ ​God's​ ​family​ ​in​ ​his​ ​letter​ ​to​ ​the​ ​Ephesian​ ​church.

After​ ​our​ ​adoption​ ​into​ ​the​ ​family​ ​of​ ​God​ ​the​ ​Father​ ​that​ ​is​ ​made​ ​possible​ ​by​ ​Jesus​ ​the​ ​Son,​ ​in​ ​due  time​ ​Jesus​ ​will​ ​give​ ​us​ ​a​ ​new​ ​name.

That​ ​is​ ​adoption​ ​language.​

​It​ ​includes​ ​the​ ​responsibility​ ​of​ ​a​ ​father​ ​to​ ​name​ ​his​ ​child.​

​​ ​What​ ​child​ ​is  this?​ ​​ ​He​ ​is​ ​the​ ​one​ ​who​ ​enables​ ​adoption​ ​into​ ​God's​ ​family​ ​to​ ​take​ ​place​ ​and​ ​will​ ​give​ ​a​ ​new​ ​name​ ​to  those​ ​who​ ​become​ ​part​ ​of​ ​His​ ​family.​

​​ ​These​ ​are​ ​the​ ​characteristics​ ​we​ ​see​ ​in​ ​Jesus'​ ​adoptive,​ ​earthly  father,​ ​Joseph.​

​​ ​These​ ​are​ ​the​ ​truths​ ​and​ ​responsibilities​ ​of​ ​the​ ​One​ ​we​ ​celebrate​ ​who​ ​was​ ​born​ ​in​ ​a  manger​ ​so​ ​he​ ​could​ ​die​ ​on​ ​a​ ​cross​ ​leading​ ​to​ ​resurrection​ ​and​ ​the​ ​defeat​ ​of​ ​sin​ ​and​ ​death.​

​​ ​Such  victory​ ​and​ ​life​ ​enables​ ​adoption​ ​to​ ​be​ ​available​ ​for​ ​all​ ​who​ ​call​ ​on​ ​His​ ​name!​ ​​ ​This​ ​is​ ​the​ ​ultimate  answer​ ​to​ ​the​ ​question:​ ​what​ ​child​ ​is​ ​this?​ ​​ ​

He​ ​is​ ​Jesus,​ ​the​ ​adopting​ ​and​ ​naming​ ​God​ ​who​ ​sets​ ​us​ ​on  His​ ​knee​ ​and​ ​calls​ ​us​ ​sons​ ​and​ ​daughters.​

​​ ​He​ ​enables​ ​us​ ​to​ ​be​ ​family​ ​as​ ​He​ ​gives​ ​us​ ​our​ ​name.

In just a few minutes we are going to observe the Lord’s Supper and before we do we need ask ourselves a few questions:

Have I been adopted into the family of God?

It is vitally important to understand that you are not adopted into God’s family by coincidence.

As we learned earlier, it is through faith in Christ and His victorious death and resurrection, that our sins are forgiven and we are given new life in Christ.

It would be extremely unwise and a mockery of what Christ has done for you to reject His sacrifice but observe the commemoration of this sacrifice.

As a believer have I been unwilling to confess or repent of sin that I know is in my life.

We know from Scripture, there were believers in the Corinthian Church who were living in sin and were unwilling to forsake and confess their sin, but they chose to partake of the Lord’s Supper anyway and God brought judgement upon them.

It would be IMPERATIVE for us all to do some SPIRITUAL INVENTORY at this time as really ask God to search our hearts.

Do we have room for Jesus in our hearts or do we like the Innkeeper say, “Oh, Sorry no room in the inn.”

Do we love our Savior more than our sin?

Jesus said we cannot serve two masters.

Is there anything we need to confess and forsake today?

Now is the time.

INVITATION

At this time we will pass out the bread and the cup.

We ask you to hold these and wait further instructions.

While these are being passed out take some time to think about the body of the Lord Jesus that was broken and the blood that was spilt for you.

Praise Him for the sacrifice that was made so that YOU might have life and have it more abundantly.

At this time we will PRAY and thank God for the sacrifice of His Son and what the bread and the cup represent.

That night, Jesus would eat the Passover Meal one last time with His disciples.

However, He put a new twist on the meaning of Passover.

He helped the disciples understand that He was their Passover Lamb and by trusting in Him and applying His blood, by faith, to the doorposts of their hearts they could be sure to have the freedom from the power and penalty of sin.