The Christian singer Michael Card wrote a piece entitled Joseph’s Song. To begin this morning, I am going to read a few lines from this song. Listen closely, and from what you know about Joseph from the Bible, think about whether these words could have come from Joseph’s own heart:
Lord I know He’s not my own.
Not of my flesh, not of my bone.
Still Father, let this baby be,
The Son of my love.
Father, show me where I fit into this plan of Yours.
How can a man be father to the Son of God?
Lord, for all my life I’ve been a simple carpenter.
How can I raise a King?
How can I raise a King?(1)
Matthew 1:19 says that Joseph was a “just” man. He was concerned about living a life of holiness before God. It is true that the lyrics of the song I just read are fictitious and not recorded in the Bible; however, they express Joseph’s concern for God’s will in his life, and I think Joseph was focused on pleasing the Lord.
The reason why Michael Card wrote this song is that there is not much said concerning how Joseph felt about the birth of Jesus. In the book of Luke, there is a great deal said about Mary’s feelings; but the only thing we see in Luke’s gospel about Joseph is that he marveled when Simeon said that Jesus was the Christ (Luke 2:25-33). In Matthew, all that is mentioned is how Joseph was a “just” man; and we also read about his fear of Mary being accused of adultery.
In the account that we will view morning, we will see something significant to understanding a very crucial character trait of Joseph. Joseph, serving as Jesus’ earthly father figure, was an exemplary father. He was not only an excellent role model for his son, but within him is a certain character trait, one which just happens to be Jesus’ strongest trait. So, “What is that trait?” you may ask. Well, let’s find out!
Mary Was Found with Child (vv. 18-19)
18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. 19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly.
Look at verse 18. We are told here that Mary was “betrothed” to Joseph. The concept of betrothal can be somewhat confusing, as it was different than how we do things in our western culture today. First, there was the engagement. The engagement was prearranged by both sets of parents while they were still young, and often without the couple having ever seen each other.(2)
Secondly, there was the betrothal. Betrothal was more formal than our engagement period is today. It was entered into by a ceremony performed by a rabbi,(3) and it was as binding as marriage. Betrothal lasted a full year, and during this time the man and woman did not live together,(4) and abstinence was to be maintained. If a woman became pregnant with child it was viewed as adultery. Under the strictest interpretation of the Old Testament Law, it was punishable by death.(5) Thirdly, there was the marriage, which took place at the end of the betrothal.
We read here that Mary became pregnant during this betrothal period, and that Joseph, “being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly” (v. 19). The Holman Christian Standard Bible translates this verse as “not wanting to disgrace her publicly, decided to divorce her secretly.” You see, during the betrothal period, the man and woman were viewed as husband and wife, and the only way the betrothal could have been broken was through a divorce.(6) If Mary had been divorced for such a scandal, a public example would have been made of her.
Therefore, Jospeh, being a just man, did not want this happen. The word “just” (dikaios) can mean “just” or “righteous.” In his understanding of righteousness, Jospeh had compassion on her.(7) If it had been any other man who had been betrothed to a woman, and found her with child, there is a high probability that he would have been enraged, sought revenge, and had her made a public example and then stoned to death. But Joseph refused to do this to Mary; and right here, he showed how much he loved her. He had compassion, and decided to divorce her secretly.
Conceived By the Holy Spirit (v. 20)
20 But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.”
Verse 20 begins by saying that Joseph “thought about these things.” Perhaps, he thought about who snuck into their relationship, and with whom she might have cheated. He might have been thinking about how he was betrayed; or perhaps he was considering how he was going to divorce Mary with the least amount of scandal possible. Commentator A. T. Robertson says, “He had pondered and had planned as best he knew, but now God had called a halt.” He was interrupted by an angel of the Lord, “and he had to decide whether he was willing to shelter Mary by marrying her and, if necessary, take upon himself whatever stigma might attach to her.”(8)
Notice that “the angel addressed him as a ‘son of David.’ That suggests that he is of royal descent of the house of David. It also reminded him that he [was] a godly man . . . The only other person in the New Testament who is called a ‘son of David’ is the Lord Jesus Himself [Matthew 1:1], and yet this is how the angel addressed Joseph.”(9) The term “son of David” would have also reminded Jospeh of the prophecies of the Messiah. Isaiah 9:7 declares, “Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever.”
He needed to be reminded of these things, so his heart would be ready to receive the news that followed: “That which is conceived in [Mary] is of the Holy Spirit.” This means that she had not been touched by another man; or any man at all, for that matter! Within her was a divine seed. Over in the book of Luke, when the angel of the Lord appeared to Mary and told her that she would conceive and bring forth a Son named Jesus (1:31), she asked, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?” (1:34), and the angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God” (1:35). The appearance of the angel, along with the news of a Holy Spirit conception, assured Joseph that he needed to go ahead and wed Mary.
The Name of the Savior (vv. 21-23)
21 “And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” 22 So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: 23 “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.”
Here, in verse 21, we see how the angel of the Lord told Joseph that she would bring forth a Son named “Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” The name “Jesus” is derived from the Old Testament Hebrew names “Joshua” and “Hosea,” which both mean “salvation.”(10) More specifically, “Yahweh is helper” or “Help of Yahweh.”(11) In verse 23, we read that Jesus is also known as “Immanuel, which is translated, God with us.” This information can be found in the words of “the prophet” (v. 22), and that prophet is Isaiah. Listen, as I read from Isaiah 7:14: “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.” In referencing this prophecy, the angel provided Joseph further assurance that Mary’s conception was indeed from God, and that marriage to Mary, and fostering Jesus was the right thing to do.
Salvation Was Exemplified (vv. 24-25)
24 Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife, 25 and did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son. And he called His name Jesus.
Isn’t this amazing! Joseph thought that Mary possibly committed adultery, but he heeded the words from the angel, and he kept Mary and took her to be his wife. Keep in mind that the angel had come to him in a dream. He could have thought it was just a dream or an illusion and nothing more. He also risked being questioned about Mary’s pregnancy, and he had faith in the unbelievable, which was a divine conception. Here is where Joseph’s true character shines forth.
In the book of Hosea, there’s an account somewhat similar to this one. We see from Matthew chapter 1 that Joseph was asked to take to wife a woman whom he initially thought had committed adultery. The prophet Hosea was asked to take to wife a verified adulteress. Hosea 1:2 says, “When the Lord began to speak by Hosea, the Lord said to Hosea: ‘Go, take yourself a wife of harlotry and children of harlotry, for the land has committed great harlotry by departing from the Lord’.” The Lord asked Hosea to take to wife an adulteress, which represented the Lord taking Israel to wed. Israel continually strayed from God and committed spiritual adultery, but the Lord loved Israel enough to take her back time and again. Every time that Hosea’s wife, Gomer, strayed from him, he loved her enough to take her back into his arms.
Remember how we just learned that Jesus’ name is derived from the Old Testament name Hosea? Both the name Jesus and Hosea mean “salvation.” Our understanding of salvation from Hosea is of unconditional love. God does not approve of our sin; however, He will love us no matter what sins we have committed, and He will allow us to approach Him for forgiveness. In fact, Jesus died for us while we were still living in sin. Romans 5:8 says, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Whatever you have done, and whatever sins you have committed, none of them is too great for God to forgive.
Joseph demonstrated “salvation” when he took Mary to be his wife, though he possibly suspected foul play. Joseph loved Mary unconditionally; and in doing this, he was demonstrating an example of the type of character that Jesus would be born with. Keep in mind that Jesus would not only “show” unconditional love, but He would “be” unconditional love and salvation. The Lord was using Joseph to reveal the coming nature of His Son, Jesus Christ.
If you will recall how Joseph was called the “son of David,” then you will also remember how I noted that he was the only other person in the New Testament called this besides Jesus. The Lord is revealing to us through this passage of Scripture that Joseph was modeling the person and character of Christ. The Lord wants us to realize that through Jesus, we have forgiveness. Through God’s Son we will receive unconditional love and be pardoned of any sins that we’ve committed.
Time of Reflection
So, what do you think about this display of love by Jospeh? Have you ever experienced unconditional love from anyone before in your life? How would you feel if you were Mary, and people thought that you had committed adultery, an act that you could be killed for? Then, how would you feel if someone stepped in and rescued you from being stoned to death? You would probably feel a sense of love that you had never experienced before in your entire life. What would you say if I told you that you could experience this same type of love today?
Romans 6:23 says, “the wages of sin is death,” and Romans 3:23 says, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” All people are in a situation like Mary, for we are all sinners and condemned to death. However, there is Someone who will step in and save us from being killed. There is Someone who will love us unconditionally, and His name is Jesus.
Jesus stepped in and took our place on the cross, and died for our sins. He was crucified and buried. But what happened on the third day? He rose again! He conquered sin and death on our behalf, and for each of us, that we might have eternal life in Him. Jesus is “salvation.” I want to encourage you to confess Him as Savior and Lord today, and you will escape death, and enter His love and eternal life forever in heaven.
NOTES
(1) Michael Card, “Joseph’s Song,” The Life, Sparrow.
(2) William Barclay, “The Gospel According to Matthew,” The Daily Study Bible, vol. 1 (Philadelphia: Westminster Press, 1958), p. 9.
(3) Doug Goins, Joseph, Obedient to the Lord, taken from the Internet in December 1999 at http:// pbc.org /dp/goins/CH-97-2.html.
(4) Warren Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 1 (Wheaton, Il: Victor Books, 1989), p. 14.
(5) Doug Goins.
(6) Barclay, p. 9.
(7) Frank Stagg, “Matthew,” The Broadman Bible Commentary, vol. 8 (Nashville: Broadman Press, 1969), p. 83.
(8) A. T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1930), pp. 9-10.
(9) Doug Goins.
(10) The New Bible Dictionary, (Wheaton, Illinois: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.) 1962.
(11) Robertson, p. 10.
