Mary in the Christmas story is faithful and obedient to the call of God. Her immediate experience of that is rejection by family, friends and neighbours ... even Joseph!

1. It’s all gone wrong … No one likes me : (
Boyfriend/Girlfriend quitting
Family arguing
Friends leaving
Neighbours fed up

2. 9th December 2012
Christmas 2012 [2/5]
No one likes me anymore : (
Matt 1:19 Because Joseph her husband was
faithful to the law, and yet did not want to
expose her to public disgrace, he had
in mind to divorce her quietly.

3. Mary followed God
• She was faithful & obedient
• Not much of a ‘Betrothal’
What to say to her family?
Joseph planned to divorce
• Not much of a Wedding
Rushed and ‘on the quiet’
• Not much of a Honeymoon
Travelling to Bethlehem
Eight months pregnant

4. Luke 1: 26-27
In the sixth month of
Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God
sent the angel Gabriel to
Nazareth, a town in
Galilee, 27 to a virgin
pledged to be married to a
man named Joseph, a
descendant of David. The
virgin’s name was Mary.

5. Luke 1: 39-40
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 leaped in her
womb, and Elizabeth was
filled with the Holy Spirit.

6. Luke 1: 56
Mary stayed with Elizabeth
for about three months and
then returned home.

7. Matthew 1: 18-19
Mary was pledged to be
married to Joseph, but before
they came together, she was
found to be pregnant through
the Holy Spirit. 19 Because
Joseph her husband was
faithful to the law, and yet
did not want to expose her to
public disgrace, he had in
mind to divorce her quietly.

8. Matthew 1: 24-25
When Joseph woke up, he
did what the angel of the
Lord had commanded him
and took Mary home as his
wife. 25 But he did not
consummate their marriage
until she gave birth to a son.
And he gave him the name
Jesus.

9. Luke 2: 1&4-5
Caesar Augustus issued a
decree that a census should
be taken …
4 So Joseph also went up
from the town of Nazareth
in Galilee to Judea, to
Bethlehem … because he
belonged to the house and
line of David. 5 He went
there to register with Mary

10. Us following Jesus
• It can be & will be difficult
… don’t be surprised if it is!
• God is still at work
… even if it feels like a battle
• He doesn’t let go of us
… even if we feel its over
• But … it will get better
… just keep going & trusting!