The life of Joseph
Matthew 1:18-25
Disclaimer:
This sermon was prepared with some of the resources available from Sermon central and private study.
Introduction-
As we begin the second week of Advent. I want to take a look at the life of Mary and Joseph, but centering of Joseph.
They tell us a tremendous story of being the Earthly parents to Jesus.
If you were to think of loving couples of history, most would not think of Joseph and Mary. Because most just look at them as pure vessels that God used as the Savior of the world entered in.
Because Jesus is the main character , which He should be, we forget the part that they played.(why did God pick them?)
I invite you to try to look at the Christmas story through the eyes of Joseph.
As a pastor, I have had young people come to me, tell me they are in love and that they want to get married.
Some have moonbeams in their eyes.
Som carry heavy responsibility from past relationships.
Some have no clue what they are getting into.
They get caught up with emotions, the thrill of romance, and my job is to bring them back down to earth, look objectively at their relationship and do this without being the Grinch that stole their marriage.
The Jewish culture has three stages for marriage.
The first stage is engagement:
Parents would discuss if the kids would be right fo reach other.
They would research each other, blood lines and see if it would be acceptable.
All this is done without the kids even being a part of the discussion.
The Jewish culture believed and kids accepted it that young people did not possess the wisdom to make that kind of decision, so the parents did.
You talk about a blind date, it’s like getting a surprise bag and you having to physically live with it .
The second stage is Betrothal:
Agreement to get married,
binding document was signed,
They were considered “husband and wife”.
They would not live together.
They definitely had no physical relationship.
It was a time to get to know each other.
It was a time of planning.
Time of Betrothal last about one year.
Illustration-
Paul Harvey tells about a airline stewardess who was being harassed by a slightly inebriated man up in the first class section who was making passes at her and trying to get her to agree to meet him in his hotel suite that night. With some difficulty she got away from him, only to encounter another man at the rear of the plane acting the same way, trying to find out where she was staying, and making suggestive proposals to her about that night. At last, the pilot announced that they were making their final approach for landing. Once again the guy in the front offered her a key to his hotel suite and begged her to meet him there. To his delight , she smiled at him and accepted his key, placing it securely in the pocket of her apron. Then she worked her way back towards the rear of the plane. When she got there she took the key out of her apron and with a big smile handed it to the other guy and said, “Now don’t be late”
We need to learn to say no.
The third stage would be the actual wedding, binding them from the engagement, but now with the physical union and privilege of marriage.
Some would say that they don’t agree with that
I believe we should pick our own spouses, but I believe if we had a binding engagement and put that kind of commitment and trust in to the relationships, there would be less hurt people, less unwanted babies, less dysfunctional families, more people’s self esteem would not be crushed by uncaring relationships.
Joseph and Mary saved themselves for each other.
The had expectations of a long and happy life together.
(V18)- “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 with child”.
This has to be shock and disappointment to Joseph. We are not told how she told him.
It could of been like:
I have some good news and some bad news.
The good news
I’m going to have a baby, not only baby, but the long awaited messiah. An angel told me this
I asked the angel “how can this be possible because I have not been with a man” he said it will be conceived by the Holy Spirit.
It’s a miracle Joseph , Isn’t it terrific , Aren’t you happy for me?
The bad news
People probably won’t believe me
Can you imagine how Joseph felt?
In the movie tombstone, Doc Holiday shoots a man, and he is talking to Wyatt Erp, “The strain was more than he could bare” Joseph must of felt like he was shot in the heart.
(V19)- He was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace “so he had in mind to divorce her quietly”
Joseph had every right to have Mary stoned, to be put to death for her actions.
He decides not to disgrace her or kill her, but privately divorce her. He takes the disgrace off her because of his love for her and is willing to take it upon himself and risk his reputation.
They were to live in Nazareth, their home town.
They were to make their money by being a carpenter.
Expectations are now sinking into disappointment.
The Gospel of Luke is Mary’s account
The Gospel of Matthew is Joseph’s account.
Listen how God puts this seemingly un-fixable circumstance together and shows all people involved that God was in the center of it.
Luke 1:26-38- Gabriel to Mary
Matt 1:20-24- Gabriel to Joseph
Luke 1:11-17- Gabriel to Zechariah
Luke 2:8-20- Gabriel to the shepherds
Do you get it:
God used Gabriel to send his message to make clear what he has for them to do.
What a blessing and a thrill for Joseph- for the angel of the Lord to appear to him, Mary is not lying, she has been telling the truth, she has been faithful to you.
The deep love they had for each other, and God asking the archangel Gabriel to speak to each one of them.
I am convinced this was more than a prearranged marriage. It was deep love for each other.
What can we learn from Joseph?
1. Be ready to accept God’s will. However hard, and maybe you don’t understand all.
2. Learn to care for others above yourself
He was going to care for Mary and the baby first.
He may not get the biggest part in the Christmas play, but it is a big part in the Christmas story.
Joseph could of had her killed- he took the high road, the road that said, “Do what was right” not what is convenient.
3. Joseph trusted God:
I am sure he ad a 1000 questions, wouldn’t you?
I am sure he asked “how can this be?” and God said Trust me
Isaiah 55
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways declares the Lord.
Roman 8:28-
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who are called according to his purpose”
Last point
Joseph was obedient
“When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. But they had no union with her until she gave birth to a son, and he gave him the name Jesus.”
Illustration-
I meet Ellen’s son Brian on Friday night at her mothers funeral. Brian is a big guy. He could play professional football. I shook his hand and mine was just lost in his.
There is a story told of a man named Wally who played the Inn Keeper in the Christmas play. I picture a man as big as Brian playing the part, because the Innkeeper is a villain. The night came for the Christmas play. And in it , Mary and Joseph came to Bethlehem, went to the Inn and knocked on it’s door. Wally opened the door and said, what do you want? Just as mean and gruff as he could possibly be. Joseph said, we need a room. We need a place to stay tonight. Well, you’ll have to stay someplace else to night, because there is no room here. There is no room at the Inn. Joseph said, my wife is expecting a baby just any time now. Isn’t there someplace where we can stay, where we are protected from the cold and where she can deliver her child? No Said Wally, there is no room here. Then suddenly there was a silence on the stage. It was one of those embarrassing moments when you know that someone has forgotten the lines. From behind the curtain you could hear the prompter saying “Be gone, Be gone” Wally was suppose to speak, but for some reason he had choked up and forgotten to say be gone. Finally, after he had been coached for several long seconds, Wally managed to say, Be gone . Mary and Joseph sadly turned to leave. But just as they did, Wally said. “Wait a minute. Wait minute. You can have my room”
Closing:
can you say to the Lord- you can have my life?
Friday night I shared of all the doors we open and close. The most important door is the door to the human heart.
You can have my room.
Joseph after hearing the angel awoke and did what he was commanded.
Mary reply “I am the Lord’s servant. May it be to me as you have said”
Angel to Zechariah- Do not be afraid Zechariah: your prayer has been heard.”
Is that your prayer today
Whatever it costs, where ever it takes me, I will do it .
God is looking for people like Mary and Joseph
pursue obedience
trust God- even at our darkest moments
God raises people up for a purpose.
