Grace and peace to you from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The Word of the Lord which engages us this evening comes from our Old Testament lesson (2 Chronicles 22 & 23).                 

In our sermon series on the genealogy of Jesus our theme has been "God keeps His promises". We've looked at Joseph and Rahab, both mentioned in Matthew. This week we consider an ancestor not mentioned in either Gospel, Matthew or Luke. That unnamed forefather is King Joash. People are sometimes surprised to learn that the Gospel genealogies, though they seem long, are actually on Reader's Digest abridged versions of Jesus' complete lineage. Joash's grandfather King Jehoram and Joash's grandson King Uzziah are both listed by Matthew, but not Joash himself. Joash reigned in the middle, that is he was king around 800 B.C., about 200 years after the Lord promised King David "Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever." About 200 years later, Jerusalem was destroyed and David's kingship appeared to be lost forever. But God had other plans.                 

The story of Joash shows us that God can and does choose and use anyone, in spite of circumstances. But just as important, Joash's story gives us a preview of the first Christmas. Through the remarkable story of Joash, GOD WAS ULTIMATELY PRESERVING HIS OWN CHILD OF DESTINY. God was keeping his promises.                 

Last week Curtis discussed how a family tree could have both good and bad in it. King Ahaziah, the father of Joash, became king when he was 22 years old, but was killed a year later. The Bible describes him as an evil king. When his father was killed, Joash was an infant, perhaps only 3 months old. His grandmother Athaliah, determined that she would rule the kingdom, so she executed ALL the heirs � or so she thought. Joash's aunt, who had married the high priest, foiled Athaliah's plot by hiding Joash in the temple for 6 years to await the right time to overthrow Athaliah.                 

Today we might call Joash's family dysfunctional. When your grandmother kills all your brothers, your family is definitely not normal! But God is bigger than dysfunctions or bad circumstances. God, and God alone is able to use a person from any situation.                 

Joash's aunt hid him from Queen Athaliah until he was seven years old, when the high priest, Jehoida, decided it was time for Joash to fulfill his destiny as king of Judah. But the high priest did not act on a whim. He was not simply engaging in another Middle Eastern power grab. Jehoida acted on God's promise. At Joash's coronation he said, "The king's son shall reign, as the LORD promised concerning the descendants of David" (2 Chronicles 23: 3). The priests anointed Joash, placed the crown on him and a 7 year old boy went from being the kid hanging around in the temple to the king of Judah.                 

When Joash was crowned, those assembled shouted "Long live the king!" (2 Chronicles 23: 11). A joyful celebration with people rejoicing, trumpets glowing, and loud praises to God followed. Hearing the noise, Queen Athaliah headed for the temple. As she came near, she saw King Joash wearing a crown and under heavy guard. Her reign was over. Athaliah was captured and executed, not only guilty of murdering her own sons and other heirs, but also of committing treason by doing so.                 

The LORD used Joash to bring reform in spite of his youth. Joash is remembered for repairing the temple. And who would be better for that project or know exactly how much it was needed that someone who had lived there for 6 years! His uncle continued to be a tremendous influence on Joash, such that the Chronicler (24: 2) writes, "Joash did what was right in the sight of the LORD all the days of Jehoiada the priest."                 

Joash was young when he made significant contributions to the kingdom of God. What contributions can our young people make? We've heard the saying "the youth are the future of the church." But remembering King Joash and his young age, the better saying and practice is "The youth are the future of this congregation now." God gives them opportunities for good works to share the message of Jesus just as He gives us adults those opportunities.                 

Because the story of Joash is not preached or taught often, we overlook something significant about him. Buried within the story of Joash is, at least from a certain perspective, a foreshadowing of Christ (see Luke 24: 27). There are several similarities between the story of King Joash and the King of Kings. King Joash was not the only baby king in Judah to be threatened by royalty. Herod searched for the baby Jesus in order to destroy him. And just as in the story of Joash, other children lost their lives in the attempt to kill Jesus.                 

The 2nd similarity is that both Joash and Jesus had to be taken into hiding. Joash hid in the temple for 6 years. Jesus lived in Egypt until the death of Herod. Both were hidden from royalty seeking to end their lives. A 3rd similarity is that both Joash and Jesus are noted for spending time in the temple as youngsters.                 

Joash was the only remaining living male descendant of David. If Joash had died at the hands of his grandmother, God's promise to David would not have been fulfilled. � But as important as Joash was as part of the Lord's plan of salvation, Jesus is the ULTIMATE living male descendant of David. Jesus lived and died and rose again to bring salvation to us. Instead of a king's palace, Jesus lived and taught among the people. Instead of a king's crown, Jesus had a crown of thorns. Instead of crowds cheering, "Long live the king" Jesus heard soldiers jeering, "Hail, King of the Jews!" Instead of an ornate throne, Jesus reigned with the power of God's love -- from an old rugged cross. Joash's grandmother died for her act of treason against the loving will of our Father in heaven. Joash lived so Jesus could die, and Jesus died so Joash � and me and you and all sinners who trust him � could live eternally. Jesus lived the perfect life that none of his predecessors � nor we � could live. Jesus' death and resurrection forgives his dysfunctional family, then and now. Because of Jesus' death, resurrection, and the forgiveness it brings, we will be crowned one day with the crown of righteousness.                 

The LORD helped a young boy overcome adversity from his family to accomplish God's purposes. While Joash is not listed in the Gospel accounts of Jesus' lineage, he undoubtedly gives us a picture of the 1st Christmas. Joash also gives us something else � a picture of the future! Because the Lord kept his promise to David through Joash, we, like the crowd at Joash's coronation, look forward to the day when Jesus is hailed King of kings and LORD of lords. Then we, too, shall shout, "Long live the King!"

And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will keep your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4: 7)

Pastor Marrs' sermons are also available within a few days at Immanuel's Website � www.geocities.com/hvnbound1999/

This sermon and series is modified from suggestions by Rev. Mark Anderson, Concordia Pulpit Resource, Dec. 2003