Message Two: "The Holy Family"

By Dr. Michael Guido, D.D.
Matthew 1:16

When Wellington was born in England, that decided the battle of Waterloo. When Handel was born in Saxony, that decided the writing of The Messiah. When Gutenberg was born in Germany, that decided the libraries of Christendom. When Washington was born in Virginia, that decided American independence. When Jesus was born in Bethlehem, that decided the redemption of the world.

There’s not another family like the Holy Family–the world’s most famous family. In the many paintings of the Nativity, Joseph, the husband of the virgin Mary, is usually in the background. The artists portray him as an elderly gentleman with a kind face, a long beard, and a strong body, who is always lovingly watching everything that concerns the virgin Mary and the Christ Child. I don’t know why the records are so meager, but so little is said about him in the Bible. Great man that he was–don’t you know that pleased him?

Joseph was devout. He’s described in the Bible as a “just man.” You can’t beat that, can you? Oh, he was honest, humble and holy. Joseph was of the house of David, and he had royal blood in his veins. He faithfully and fervently worshiped God whom he loved with all his heart.

Look at his diligence! He spent his long days happily in his carpenter shop working with his hands. He must have been a skillful carpenter, and he doubtless taught Jesus how to work with wood and tools, and passed on to Him the habit of stern labor.

You can’t find a more devoted man. He put God first in his life, and God had a special work for him to do. His mission was to be the provider and protector of Jesus during the dangerous and difficult days of His infancy, and he did his work well.

Today, as it was in his day, God needs strong men who, at any cost, will be faithful providers and protectors of the interests of His work and workers. Will you be such a man? Mary, the mother of Jesus, is the best-known woman of the Bible, and of the world. After all the centuries, the declaration still stands, “Blessed art thou amongst women.”

Among all the godly maidens of Israel, God selected Mary to be the mother of His Incarnate Son. What a glorious honor! She looked upon Him as her Savior and Lord, for one day she told some servants, “Whatsoever He says to you, do it.”

There was a sanctity that accompanied her selection. Because her divine Child was to be “holy,” she herself had to be different from others. When the angel brought her the good news that she would have a baby Boy, he recognized her spiritual fitness for such an honor by saying, “The Lord is with you.” Well did Augustine say, “Mary first conceived Christ in her heart by faith before she conceived in her womb.”

Have you noticed her submission? It’s sweet. When the angel told her that she’d become the mother of Jesus, and that He’d be called the Son of God, she answered with all humility, “I am the Lord’s servant, and I am willing to do whatever He wants.”

Dare you say that to the Lord? Woman may be called the weaker vessel, but sometimes she has the stronger spirit. It was a woman who was the last person to leave the cross and the first person to arrive at the grave. Today, more than ever, our Lord needs women who’ll serve Him with all their hearts.

Jesus, son of the virgin Mary, was of her, but He wasn’t hers. He was wholly God’s. Though He was legally the son of Joseph, He wasn’t actually his son. He was really and truly the Son of God. He was born of a woman, but without an earthly father. The birth of Jesus was the work of the Holy Spirit, not a human sinner. Since our Lord was born in the supernatural way it means that He was not sinful, as was Adam, but sinless as His heavenly Father. His life, which began without sin, was preserved without sin. He chose not to sin so He might save us from our sins.

Yesterday one said in tears, “I’m terrible. I deserve to go to hell, I know it. But I want to be saved and go to heaven. Will Jesus save me?” “He will,” I replied, “if you’ll receive Him as your Savior from sin.” “But,” she asked, “why will He save me, a sinner?” “Because,” I replied, “people who are well don’t need a doctor. It’s sick people who do. And Jesus said, ‘I have come to urge sinners, not the self-righteous, back to God.’” “Then,” she replied, “I’ll come to Him.” Won’t you?

copyright 2000 Guido Evangelistic Association

All Scripture verses are quoted from the New King James Version.

This series of messages on the books of the Bible were originally written for broadcast on Dr. Guido's radio program, "The Sower." For more free studies, go to the main site, www.TheSower.com.