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A Look At Joseph, Husband Of Mary Series
Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Dec 18, 2024 (message contributor)
Summary: Joseph, the husband-to-be of Mary of Nazareth, was looking forward to his wedding day! But he received some news that almost made him change his mind. After a word from the Lord, he followed the Lord's instructions.
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(Based on a sermon preached December 15, 2024 at New Hope Baptist Church, Fulton, MO. This is not an exact transcription.)
Introduction: Two Sundays ago we looked at Zacharias and Elisabeth as two important people in the first Christmas story. Last week we studied the message of the angel Gabriel to Mary, a Jewish virgin who agreed to become the mother of the Messiah, Jesus! Today we look at one of the unsung heroes of the story, Joseph, the man who would be Mary’s husband.
To say the least, Joseph had a lot to deal with and resolve as he approached the day when he would actually be married to Mary and live with her as husband and wife. But he received some news that almost made him change his mind!
The text comes from Matthew, chapter 1, beginning at verse 16. We’ll read through verse 25.
Text: Matthew 1:16-25, KJV: 16 And Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ. 17 So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; and from David until the carrying away into Babylon are fourteen generations; and from the carrying away into Babylon unto Christ are fourteen generations.
18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. 19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily. 20 But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. 21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.
22 Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, 23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. 24 Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: 25 And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.
1 The Pedigree of Joseph
Dr. C.I. Scofield, in his reference Bible, observed that the first words of the New Testament point back to the Old Testament. Matthew wrote this gospel, as many believe, to show the Jews, especially, that Jesus was not only the Messiah promised but also the fulfillment of any number of Old Testament prophecies.
One way Matthew did this was to trace the line of Joseph all the way back to Abraham, through David. And, if I read this correctly, Joseph was listed as the heir to the throne, or, crown prince! I mean, look at how, especially with David’s line, each son listed, down to Jeconias (he was known as Jeconiah, Coniah, or Jehoiachin in the OT), was king of Judah!
So then, Joseph had the lineage of being a great-great-whole lotta greats-grandson of David. This proves there were historical records, too, as there is no dispute that Jesus was a “son of David”. Look at how many times He is called this in the Gospels.
Something to keep in mind, also, is that this genealogy or family tree of our Lord includes some of the best and some of the worst in Israel’s history. All of the people listed here were sinners, yet, happily, at least some found salvation in the God of Israel (Ruth, for one)! Charles Spurgeon had some interesting comments about a number of people in this genealogy, found online at (https://godrules.net/library/spurgeon/45spurgeon4.htm) From David, one of the best (not counting Abraham himself); to Manasseh, one of the worst sinners ever, our Lord shows He is the God of all people, not just the righteous!
But in spite of his pedigree, Joseph was in no position to lay claim to the throne. And he seemed to know it. Now let’s take a look at his position.
2 The Position of Joseph
We’ve mentioned that Joseph was in the royal line and, again if I read the text correctly, he was the crown prince, directly in line to the throne. He’d never be king, though, for a couple of reasons: first, Rome was firmly in charge of the known world (including Israel, known then as part of Syria or Judea) and wasn’t about to allow any other king to be in power (neither would Herod, allowed the title of “King of the Jews” but that’s another story). Second, and even worse for every descendant of David through Jeconiah, God had placed a curse on that line or “dynasty” one might say: no other son of that line would ever be king. This was spoken by the LORD through Jeremiah before Judah was carried off to Babylon (Jeremiah 22:30).