Momentous Decisions in Troubling Times
Chuck Sligh
December 4, 2016
TEXT: Turn to Matthew 1:18-25
INTRODUCTION
Most people know about the major characters of the Christmas story. We all know about the appearance of the angel to Mary, a simple, godly young woman. We know about the shepherds in the fields. We know about the wise men following the star.
But there was one other character in the Christmas story who is also important. We mustn’t leave out Joseph. For some reason not much attention is paid to Joseph. Perhaps part of the reason is that Joseph was not physically related to Jesus. Mary was His physical mother, but Jesus had no physical father. He was conceived of the Holy Spirit. So Joseph was essentially Jesus’s stepfather.
And yet, Joseph was every bit as important and godly and commendable as Mary was. Today, I’d like us to look at Joseph’s part in the story of the birth of Jesus.
I. CONSIDER WITH ME FIRST OF ALL JOSEPH’S CHARACTER – Matthew 1:18-20 – “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 privately. 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.”
Who was this man Joseph? The Bible doesn’t tell us much, but from the Gospels we get a snapshot of who he was and what kind of man he was.
In our text we see an unfolding drama: Joseph falls in love with Mary and dreams of the future, as any young man would.
He’s “espoused,” or literally, “betrothed” to Mary, which is like being engaged today, except that the tie was stronger than our custom of engagement. Today, you can call of an engagement at any point, even up to the last minute before the wedding, like in the move, Runaway Bride. A betrothal, on the other hand, was a binding legal transaction. There had to be two witnesses to a betrothal; pledges were given to one another; and money or goods were given to the betrothed bride’s parents as a dowry. Though the marriage was not yet consummated sexually and they lived apart until the actual wedding, they were in all other respects considered married and were even called husband and wife.
In fact, betrothal was so binding that it could be annulled only in extreme cases, and you actually had to have a bill of divorce to do it.
Now Joseph had done everything right according to law, religion and custom: He had become betrothed to her; he had paid the dowry; he had remained sexually pure; he made the pledges, and meant to keep them; he had followed the rules. He was ready for marriage—planning and dreaming like any other young man.
And then suddenly, his whole world came crashing in! He was told that MARY WAS PREGNANT! What would he do? One thing he did know: HE certainly was not the father! He could justly take her before the authorities and have her prosecuted for adultery (which could lead to a death penalty).…or he could quietly put her away quietly and privately.
No matter what he did, there were no easy solutions and Joseph found himself in turmoil and emotional upheaval. Being merciful, he decided to put her away privately by asking for a bill of divorce to spare her possible prosecution, which could lead to death.
This shows us that he was a man of character and integrity because he sincerely wanted to do the right thing; and it shows that he was also a man of compassion because he wished Mary no harm, although, based on the evidence he had at the time, it appeared that she had done him a grave injustice. In all these events, we see no hint of anger or a desire for retaliation. Nothing like scratching the doors of her truck, carving his name in the seats or smashing the headlights type of thing as in the Carrie Underwood song.
This is perhaps the most remarkable thing about his character that we see. Joseph was not looking for a way for RETALIATION, but for a way for RESOLUTION of his problem in a right and just and compassionate manner.
II. NOTICE SECOND, THE MESSAGE TO JOSEPH – Matthew 1:20-21 – “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.”
Verse 20 says the angel appeared to Joseph “while he thought on these things.” I can imagine that he could probably think about nothing else! The news of Mary’s pregnancy must have been a terrible blow to him. It must have preyed upon his mind every waking moment.
He was in an awful fix and he didn’t know what to do… He was PERPLEXED because this just didn’t fit who he knew Mary to be or he never would have proposed to her in the first place. He probably FELT LIKE A FOOL, having apparently made a foolish choice in choosing Mary to be his wife. Most of all, he must have FELT HURT AND BETRAYED, because he truly loved Mary—and he had trusted her.
Joseph was in a desperate situation! He was in a quandary about what to do and it preyed on his mind and emotions.
Is there something weighing you down in your heart and mind today?—a trial, a trouble, a disappointment, a betrayal—something that is consuming your thoughts and your time and sapping away your emotional energy? Then you know how Joseph felt. THAT’S where Joseph was that night when he lay his head on his pillow.
Well, as he went to sleep, God had a message for him in a dream in his hour of trouble.
• Note first of all that it was a PERSONAL message – The angel called him by name.
This was a message that had Joseph’s name on it! Today, I believe God speaks to his people primarily through His Word. In trouble and difficulty, I have often cried out to God for answers. And how many times have I gotten a verse or a promise or a warning from His Word that seemed like it had my name written all over it—as if it had been written just for ME!
• Second, it was a CHALLENGING message – The angel told him “fear not.”
Frequently in the Bible, angels told their hearers not to fear because meeting an angel was a pretty scary thing, to say the least! But here the exhortation to “fear not” has to do with what Joseph should do concerning his relationship with Mary. He said, “…fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife…”
To go ahead and marry and expecting Mary would require great courage.… It would cause a scandal. There would be accusations of immorality. People would say, “Uh-huh. An ANGEL appeared to you. Right!” People wouldn’t understand, and would judge them. There would be rumor-mongering.
This angel was telling Joseph to go against convention and custom and marry a pregnant woman. It reminds me that God asks us to do a lot of things that go against custom and our culture. Are you willing to do what God tells you to do even if it’s not popular.
• But I think God’s message must also have been an ENCOURAGING one!
The angel was saying, “It’s okay, Joseph. Everything’s will be alright.” He COULD marry his love, after all! His dreams WOULD be fulfilled, despite what others would think of it.
• This message was persona, challenging and encouraging, but it was also a SURPRISING message – The angel said, “…for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.”
What a shocking revelation! You mean Mary is bearing the MESSIAH? She carries in her womb Israel’s long-promised Deliverer and the one who would take away the sins of the world?
This was news that was the furthest thing from Joseph’s expectations. What had seemed sinful…now seemed sacred—sanctified. That which could have brought death to Mary…would bring life to all who would receive it by faith. What was sure to ruin Mary’s good name…would now immortalize it! When it seemed that everyone would call her BAD…instead she would be called BLESSED down through the annals of history. Joseph thought it was the end of his dreams AS A HUSBAND…and found it was the answer to his dreams AS A MAN.
Folks, there’s a gem of a truth here: When bad things happen to us, all too often we only see the little piece of the puzzle that is observable by sight, and we cry out to God, “Lord, take this bitter cup from me.” But God has a bigger picture and a bigger plan for us, just as He did for Joseph. Often “bad things” in our lives are really good things in disguise.
We have seen Joseph’s character, and God’s message for him.…
III. FINALLY, NOTE THE ENORMITY OF JOSEPH’S DECISION – Matthew 1:21-25 – “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.”
Verse 24 tells us that when Joseph awoke, he immediately obeyed what the angel told him to do, regardless of what others thought about it. From a human perspective, think of what would have happened if he had chosen to not do as he was instructed— If he had turned Mary in to the authorities, she might have been stoned to death with the Son of God in her womb. If he had quietly put Mary away, she would have lived her life in shame and disgrace, and Jesus would’ve been called an illegitimate child—forever putting a question mark on Christ’s legitimacy as the Son of God.
But by COOPERATING with God’s plan, Joseph GOT IN ON God’s plan.
Illus. – One of the pastors I served under used to have a little motto to get people off the negative and focused on doing what God wanted them to do. He used to say, “Get off of what we’re down on and get in on what God’s up to.” [REPEAT] By cooperating with God’s plan and stopping our complaining, we can “get off of what we’re down on and get in on what God’s up to,” like Joseph.
Though you and I don’t face decisions so earthshaking in their significance, the truth is that there are NO spiritual decisions that are not without consequences for good or ill. God help us to make right decisions in every decision we face.
CONCLUSION
Now let me tie this all this together this morning and make some applications to our lives.
• First of all, we saw the kind of MAN Joseph was.
I think the thing that strikes me about Joseph was that he refused to bow to vengeance. Despite being wronged as he saw it, we cannot discern a HINT of retaliation or revenge.
Years later, Paul would write the following words to the Romans: “Recompense to [“pay back”] no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. 18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. 19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. 20 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. 21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.” (Romans 12:17-21)
In another place he says, “Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: 32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.” (Ephesians 4:31-32)
Are you struggling with a desire for vengeance and retaliation, when God wants you to fully and freely forgive someone for something they have said or done against you?
I can’t imagine you feeling more wronged than Joseph felt, and yet Joseph refused to stoop to vengeance. He refused to retaliate and strike back. As Paul said, he “put away” those things from him. He acted rather out of kindness and a tender heart and found it in his heart to forgive Mary even before the angel told him what was really going on. And so should you forgive your offender.
• Second, we saw the MESSAGE to Joseph.
Joseph faced a perplexing situation, didn’t he? You might be finding yourself in just such a predicament. Why don’t you cry out to God like Jesus did in the Garden and say, “Lord, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, NOT MY WILL BUT THINE.”
The first part of that prayer is no problem; it’s the second part we struggle with. We naturally pray for DELIVERANCE. But, like Joseph, maybe it’s better for us to go THROUGH the trial.
God didn’t deliver Joseph from his problem. He still faced the DISAPPROVAL OF PARENTS. He still faced shame and accusations from people who didn’t know or believe the real reason for Mary’s pregnancy.
But Joseph firmly resolved to face the problems and endure them because God said to. And in the end, HE WOULD BE FOREVER BLESSED. How would you like to be chosen as the step-father of the Son of God? How would you like to have the privilege of rearing the Messiah?
What a wonderful blessing—all because Joseph went through his trial obediently, courageously and without complaint.
You see, it’s like the old saying that goes says, “No pain; no gain.”
By praying for deliverance from your problem or trial, you might be depriving yourself of the very thing God wants to use to develop your character or make you fit for service or give you a special blessing, like He did Joseph. Don’t pray just for deliverance from your problems. Pray for GOD’S WILL TO BE DONE.
Illus. – The story is told about a woman who wished to encourage her young son’s progress on the piano by taking him to a Paderewski concert. After being seated, the mother spotted a friend in the audience and walked down the aisle to greet her. Seizing the opportunity to explore the concert hall, the boy rose and eventually found his way through a door marked “NO ADMITTANCE.”
When the houselights dimmed and the concert was about to begin, the mother returned to her seat to find that her child was missing. Suddenly, the curtains parted and spotlights focused on the Steinway on stage. In horror, the mother saw her little boy sitting at the keyboard, innocently picking out “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star.” At that moment, the great piano master made his entrance, quickly moved to the piano, and whispered in the boy’s ear, “Don’t quit. Keep playing.” Then leaning over, Paderewski reached down with his left hand and began filling in a bass part. Soon his right arm reached around to the other side of the child and he added a running obbligato.
Together, the old master and the young novice transformed a frightening situation into a wonderfully creative experience, mesmerizing the audience.
Folks, whatever your situation in life—however outrageous, however desperate, whatever dry spell of the spirit, whatever dark night of the soul—God is whispering deep within your being, “Don’t quit. Keep playing. You’re not alone. Together we will transform the broken patterns into a masterwork of my creative art. Together, we’ll mesmerize the world with our song of peace.”
It reminds me of our closing song today.
Even in our darkest hour, the unseen arms of God are there and NOT FOR A MOMENT, WILL HE FORSAKE YOU.
In fact, he’ll turn your Twinkle, Twinkle Little Start into a symphony of joy.
• Lastly, we saw the MAGNITUDE of Joseph’s decision.
Perhaps God has a decision for YOU to make for Him today. It may not have such profound consequences as Joseph’s decision did. But believe me, if God reveals in your heart a decision you need to make, IT IS NEVER INSIGNIFICANT!
What decision might the Lord be dealing with you to make today?— I don’t know what decision the Lord may have for you to make, but God knows. And however the Lord may be dealing with your heart today, obey God’s voice. God will bless you for it just like He did Joseph.
