Honoring Joseph

HoHum:

There is a forgotten man at Christmas. Poetry, paintings and stories of the nativity treat him minimally, if at all. Few sermons are preached on him. Why is he neglected? Perhaps his silence contributes to his downgrading. Not a single word he speaks is recorded in the gospel story. Also, he is found alive only in the first 2 chapters of 2 gospels, Matthew and Luke. Then he fades from the scene.

WBTU:

Since the father ruled the roost in Hebrew home life, God would select a “holy” leader to properly guide the domestic affairs of the “holy” family. God undoubtedly supervised the choice of husband for Mary. Had another husband been chosen the story might have been very different

Thesis: What kind of a man was Joseph?

For instances:

1. A considerate husband to be

Betrothal in Joseph’s day was as binding as marriage in our day. This is why Joseph is called Mary’s husband, and she his wife, even before their marriage. Matthew 1:19- “Joseph her husband” and then Matthew 1:20 “Mary as your wife.” An engagement could be dissolved only by divorce. Infidelity after engagement was regarded same as infidelity after marriage today.

“This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit.” Matthew 1:18, NIV. But Joseph did not have the last 4 words, “through the Holy Spirit”, at least for a while. Joseph and Mary knew the birds and the bees, before they came together

“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her” Ephesians 5:25, NIV. Hosea and Gomer, Hosea goes and gets Gomer even though she has been unfaithful. But this was after their nuptials, Mary and Joseph was before.

2. An Obedient Servant

A. The problem of what to do with Mary, his wife to be

“Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.” Matthew 1:19, NIV.

When Mary received the message from the angel, she left and went to be with Elizabeth. After 3 months, just before the birth of John the Baptist, Mary returned home. No longer could she hide the news from her husband to be. She told Joseph. The news naturally jolted him into sickening, stunning bewilderment. Put yourself in his place. She always told the truth. Her character to that point was blameless. She held to this supposed message from an angel. She reported Elizabeth’s amazing conception with Zechariah of that baby. But Mary’s story was fantastic, a biological impossibility, perhaps a cover for infidelity during her 3 month absence in the hill country. But she insisted, “Joseph, I have not been unfaithful to you!” The conflict raged in Joseph’s soul as he tried to work it out. Justice called for public exposure and stoning. But his love would not permit such severe treatment. Compassion called for a considerate compromise. He could not consummate the marriage, but he would show mercy by sending her away privately. His failure to specify the cause of “divorce” would spare her reputation and feelings. What to do, what to do? Many waking hours and restless nights. Doubtless he prayed time and time again for an answer and it finally came. “But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”” Matthew 1:20, 21, NIV. Perhaps he believed it more readily because the OT prophesied it. Matthew goes on to say, “All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel”--which means, “God with us.”” Matthew 1:22, 23, NIV. From this Joseph obeyed. “When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife.” Matthew 1:24, NIV. How many men would accept this situation?

Joseph obeyed the Lord. Then came the trip to Bethlehem occasioned by the decree of Caesar Augustus. Obedient to the law of the land as he was to God’s leading, Joseph went to Bethlehem with his very pregnant wife. Nervously he tried to find a room for his wife to bear this child. Only room available was in the stable. Here a rough manger would serve as crib for the Messiah