Silent Joseph: A Godly Man
December 9, 2012
TEXT: Matthew 1:18-24 – “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 public 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.”
INTRODUCTION
We so often talk about Mary as a godly woman—an example of virtue, faith and obedience. Perhaps because Joseph was Jesus’ stepfather, he seems to be neglected when we examine the story of Jesus’ birth.
As I was wondering why that is so, I discovered something remarkable about Joseph: Did you know that not a single word that Joseph ever uttered is recorded anywhere in the Bible? He listens and obeys; that’s all that’s recorded
• We assume his words are recorded because we can visualize the conversations he must had with Mary and the Angel Gabriel, yet they are not recorded in the scriptures.
• We imagine a dialog between him and the innkeeper, but that’s pure speculation since ALL the Bible says about it is “there was no room for them at the inn.” (Luke 2:7)
• We can visualize him teaching Jesus about carpentry…but nothing is actually recorded about it in the New Testament.
Yet if you look at Joseph’s LIFE in the Gospels, you see that he was every bit as godly and exemplary as Mary. Let’s look at this man of excellence and godliness God chose to be Jesus’s earthly dad:
I. FIRST, NOTE THAT HE WAS A VIRTUOUS MAN – Matthew 1:18 – “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.”
Note the phrase “before they came together.”
Joseph and Mary had not consummated their love physically because they were NOT married YET.
Today very few people begin marriage as physically virtuous and pure.
Because we’re living in an era of moral decline, sex before marriage is common and no longer carries a stigma.
Joseph and Mary were also living in a period of moral decline.
It was another low point in the history of Israel.
Yet despite the prevailing moral values, they remained pure, even during their betrothal, and that’s a testament to Joseph’s character as well as Mary’s
Joseph resolved to keep himself pure despite what the culture said was okay.
Men, we need to be men of moral purity: men who can be trusted implicitly by our wives; men who would never stray or be unfaithful.
May we be men who are like the Old Testament Joseph, who when Potiphar’s tried to seduce him, he ran so quickly out of the house that she tore his coat off his back.
May we be men who do not have wandering eyes—who will heed David’s words in Psalm 101:3 – “I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes…”—who refuse to look at pornography or ogle passing women.
II. SECOND, I’D LIKE YOU TO SEE THAT JOSEPH WAS A COMPASSIONATE MAN – Matthew 1:19 – “Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily.”
Think of what a betrayal it must have seemed to Joseph! Joseph could’ve publicly accused her of immorality, because that’s how it appeared. He would certainly be within his rights under Jewish law. But Matthew says because he was “…not willing to make her a public example, [he] was minded to put her away privately.”
Why?—I think it was because of compassion for Mary.
Men, we ought to be men of compassion. Compassion and tenderness in men are not valued in our macho culture, especially in the military.
But the greatest man who ever lived was a walking example of those very qualities. The Bible says that even as Jesus was a “man’s man”—strong and imposing and masculine enough to run the moneychangers out of the Temple—He also possessed a meek and lowly spirit. Twelve times in the Gospels we’re told that Jesus had compassion on someone. And several times we’re told of Jesus’ tears, usually in public before many people. Jesus was man enough to cry!
God help us to be men who stand for right; men with conviction and backbone; men who will not bend to compromise to do evil, yet who, like Jesus, also have the corresponding spirit of kindness and love and compassion and tenderness.
Carl Sandberg said of Abraham Lincoln that he was “a man of steel and velvet.” Men, let’s be like Abraham Lincoln, and Joseph, and our great example, Jesus, and be “men of steel and velvet!”
III. THIRD, NOTICE THAT JOSEPH HAD FAITH IN GOD – Matthew 1:24 – “Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife.”
Joseph had faith that Mary HAD been virtuous and pure despite the fact that his eyes told him differently every time he looked at Mary’s rapidly expanding waistline In human eyes a pregnant woman HAS to have been with a man. Yet Joseph trusted God’s messenger, Gabriel.
Hebrews 11:1 says, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
God give us men of faith!—and women of faith!
Illus. – I remember my dad’s faith in praying for $20 to pay our electric bill when my parents were totally broke. We all prayed around the table and when Dad was finished, he looked around the table and said, “Now wait and see what God will do!”
Shortly afterward, Dad went to clean and vacuum the car, and about 10 minutes later he came back in the house shouting, “God did it! God did it!” We all came running to see what the ruckus was about and Dad told us that he had found a $20 bill down under the driver’s seat of the car.
I have many illustrations of this kind of faith my dad and mom exhibited, and what a heritage!
Men, set an example for our kids by being true men of faith in God!
IV. FOURTH, JOSEPH WAS OBEDIENT TO GOD – Matthew 1:24 – “Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife.”
He “did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him.” Joseph’s life was marked by this kind of obedience.
In fact, he was always INSTANTLY obedient—the kind of obedience we should have in our own lives and also be building into our children’s lives. Look at how this instant obedience plays out in Joseph’s life:
• After the wise men left, note what happened in Matthew 2:13-14: “And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him. 14 When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt.” – Imagine Mary being awakened that night, “Mary, get your clothes on and gather up some belongings for a LONG trip. We’re leaving in an hour!” (ACT OUT MARY’S REACTION AND THE INTERCHANGE BETWEEN THEM.)
• Matthew 2:19-22 – “But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, 20 Saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead which sought the young child's life. 21 And he arose, and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel. 22 But when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judaea in the room of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither: notwithstanding, being warned of God in a dream, he turned aside into the parts of Galilee.”
He obeyed the initial order. Then when God changed the orders once he got into Israel, again Joseph was obedient to God.
Do you instantly obey God?—Or do you hang on to things in disobedience to God; determined to have your own way or seeking to find the most comfortable path? God help us to set an example for our families by being instantly obedient to God in EVERY area of our lives.
IV. JOSEPH WAS WILLING TO FACE THE CONSEQUENCES OF OBEYING GOD
God help us to obey God no matter WHAT the consequences!
At Christmas, we focus on the glories of Jesus’ incarnation. But remember that to Joseph, he had to face suspicions of others about his and Mary’s moral situation before the birth and questions about Jesus’ paternity for the remainder of his life. For nine months he had to face the ridicule of those who scoffed when he told them about an angel telling him to marry Mary because she had been impregnated by God! Imagine the looks of shock when you tell Mom and Dad THAT story around the Thanksgiving table! He would have faced ostracism from many—even his own family.
Men, there are always consequences of obeying God. One of them is that you may be ridiculed. Another is that you may face ostracism from the world. Whatever the cost, pay the price; it’s worth it!
CONCLUSION
Let’s be like Joseph. Let’s be men of virtue and purity; men of compassion and tenderness; men of unwavering faith in God; men who are instantly obedient to God; men who are man enough to face the consequences of obedience to God.
In the end, Joseph went down in the annals of history as the man who reared the Son of God. What a privilege! But the reason that God could trust him to do this is because of his sterling character!
May we too be men of firm, unshakable sterling character.
