Joseph’s Jesus Story
Matthew 1:18-25
Introduction
What is your picture of the perfect Christmas? Beautiful decorations, lovely family, delicious food, well-selected gifts, and children that know how to behave! How many of us really have a Christmas like that? In reality, Christmas - is not nearly as pretty, much more messy. If any Christmas should have been the perfect Christmas, the FIRST one should have been … but reality interferes.
The New Testament opens by re-emphasizing a theme that runs through the OT: This is God’s story. He’s been writing it since before the beginning. He uses bizarre events, miraculous activity and unlikely people. It always exceeds our expectations and imaginations. The birth of Jesus Christ is multi-layered and filled with mystery.
The details are scandalous and messy. The focus of Matthew’s account is on Joseph’s Jesus story.
Matthew 1:18-25
18 This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit.
19 Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.
20 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.
21 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.”
22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet:
23 “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).
24 When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife.
25 But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.
It’s like our real Christmas … not the one we dream of having … but the one that we end up with. Joseph’s Jesus Story is one of relating to us … and that’s where he ends… Immanuel, God With Us. Joseph’s great example teaches us about being driven by the right motives.
1. Driven By Love (Matthew 1:18-19)
Joseph is one of the quiet heroes of the Bible. Little is known. “Joseph is known to us only as a dim figure in the background of the Gospel narratives” (Kerr). Jewish carpenter of Nazareth who disappears early in the account of Christ. He is presented as a righteous man. There are no recorded words of Joseph, there was inner turmoil. He is placed in the decidedly uncomfortable position of having a fiancé with whom he has not slept, tell him she is pregnant. Keener: “Joseph had no option of giving Mary a second chance, even if he wanted to. Jewish and Roman law both demanded that a man divorce his wife if she were guilty of adultery… Roman law actually treated a husband who failed to divorce an unfaithful wife as a panderer exploiting his wife as a prostitute.” He was in love. He did not want to expose her to public disgrace .. he wanted to put her away “quietly.” There was something kind in Joseph. Something that prevented him from an episode of anger and revenge. He loved her. This is a messy, complicated story.
The great love Joseph had is a great example to us. In our families - we love in spite of the flaws and failures. In our commitment to God - he was ‘faithful to the law’. In our grace with others - he did not want to expose her to public disgrace. 1 Corinthians 13:13 says "And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." Before the angel told Joseph what was going on, he was a great example of living a life
driven by love.
2. Driven By God’s Guidance (Matthew 1:20-23)
An angel of the Lord came to Joseph in a dream. (20)This is the first of three appearances of angels he would experience. The angel’s message is one of…
Historic Significance. Joseph son of David - “Joseph’s role in the story has to do with his Davidic descent. It also reminds us that the miraculous conception announced to Joseph has to do with Jesus’ Messiahship.” (Hare)
Circumstantial Significance. "Do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. What is conceived in her is from the
Holy Spirit." “The Holy Spirit is mentioned twice in these three verses and both times, with the same words, the Spirit is called the source …of Jesus inside Mary…the [Spirit] who began the world’s creation…now beings the world’s new creation and definitive salvation.” (Bruner)
Spiritual Significance: Two Names.
Jesus - (21) This is the NT’s “only attempt to find meaning in the name ‘Jesus’. The name was not uncommon among first-century Jews.” It was the Greek rendering for “Joshua” - Yahweh Saves. (Hare) Joseph, the common man gave the baby a common name, reminding us that God sees and loves every human.
Philippians 2:9-11 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Immanuel (23) - God With Us. Matthew connects this to a prophecy in Isaiah about a virgin giving birth.
Isaiah 9:6-7 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.
Hebrews 4:15-16 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. 16 Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
God is With Us! In these names, we see that Jesus is truly human and truly divine.
B. That’s a lot of information in just a short angelic visitation. The angel answered his most significant questions.
The angel provided inspiration that encouraged. This is the kind of information we have in Scripture. The most significant questions of life - including, how can I know I am saved? The encouragement to keep going when it’s hard.
3. Driven by Obedience (Matthew 1:24-25)
Joseph was involved – a part of God’s plan. Maybe because he disappears from the story early on, we can forget that Joseph was as much a part of God’s plan as Mary. The focus is, of course, on Jesus. But his earthy father was an important part of the way God planned to bring his son to the earth. Joseph’s Jesus Story is one of a Messy Christmas … .a Christmas like Ours … imperfect and in need of God’s help. Joseph was obedient. (MT 1:25 When he woke up from his vision, “he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife.”)
Obedience to God’s will is always a top priority for us. No one is perfect, only Jesus, Immanuel! But we do want to be more and more like Him in every way.
2 John 1:6 And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love.
When we are obedient to the teachings of Scripture we are becoming like Jesus our Savior.
Conclusion
1. Like Joseph, be driven by love, by God’s guidance and obedience.
2. Joseph was called a ‘righteous man’.
Are these qualities what we find when we look in our lives?
Are we driven by love, rather than self-service?
Are we driven by God’s guidance, rather than cultural pressures?
Are we driven by obedience, rather than ignoring God’s Word?
3. Jesus is not just the Savior of the World, he is Your Savior if you will give your life to Him. Everything Joseph and Mary experienced was a part of God’s plan to bring Jesus to your life right now.
4. Joseph’s Jesus Story is the setting for Your Jesus Story.
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Discussion Questions for Matthew 1:18-25
1. Joseph and Mary lived in a culture with different marriage customs. Why was he considering a divorce when they were not yet married?
2. Joseph had a dream of an angel (MT. 1:20-24). What comfort would the angel’s message have brought to Joseph? What anxieties might it have created?
3. Jesus was fully human and fully divine. Christians of all ages have grappled with understanding that reality.
- List some ways that Jesus was fully human.
- List some ways that Jesus was fully Divine.
4. Jesus’ name was a common Jewish male name. It is the Greek rendering of the Hebrew Yeshua, “He Shall Save”. Ten men in the Old Testament are named Yeshua, and three men besides the Lord in the New Testament are so named. What potential reasons can you think of for this to be the name of the incarnate Son of God?
5. Immanuel means ‘God with Us’. What are some ways that God is with us?
6. This entire episode is completely unexpected by Joseph. What are some ways God works unexpectedly in our own lives?
7. What are two other times that Joseph received an angelic visitation?
8. What else did you want to talk about today?
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Resources
Bruner, Frederick Dale. Matthew: A Commentary, Volume 1:The Christbook Matthew 1-12. Eerdmans, 2004.
Hare, Douglas R. A. Interpretation Commentary: Matthew. John Knox Press, 1993.
Kerr, C. M. Joseph, Husband of Mary. https://www.biblestudytools.com/encyclopedias/isbe/joseph-husband-of-mary.html
Keener, Craig S. The IVP New Testament Commentary Series: Matthew. InterVarsity Press, 1997.
Tate, Fred. Article entitled The Incarnation.
