HoHum:
There is a forgotten man at Christmas. Poetry, paintings and stories of the nativity treat him minimally, if at all. Few sermons are preached on him. Why is he neglected? Perhaps his silence contributes to his downgrading. Not a single word he speaks is recorded in the gospel story. Also, he is found alive only in the first 2 chapters of 2 gospels, Matthew and Luke. Then he fades from the scene.
WBTU:
Since the father ruled the roost in Hebrew home life, God would select a “holy” leader to properly guide the domestic affairs of the “holy” family. God undoubtedly supervised the choice of husband for Mary. Had another husband been chosen the story might have been very different
Thesis: What kind of a man was Joseph?
For instances:
1. A considerate husband to be
Betrothal in Joseph’s day was as binding as marriage in our day. This is why Joseph is called Mary’s husband, and she his wife, even before their marriage. Matthew 1:19- “Joseph her husband” and then Matthew 1:20 “Mary as your wife.” An engagement could be dissolved only by divorce. Infidelity after engagement was regarded same as infidelity after marriage today.
“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 to be with child through the Holy Spirit.” Matthew 1:18, NIV. But Joseph did not have the last 4 words, “through the Holy Spirit”, at least for a while. Joseph and Mary knew the birds and the bees, before they came together
“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her” Ephesians 5:25, NIV. Hosea and Gomer, Hosea goes and gets Gomer even though she has been unfaithful. But this was after their nuptials, Mary and Joseph was before.
2. An Obedient Servant
A. The problem of what to do with Mary, his wife to be
“Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.” Matthew 1:19, NIV.
When Mary received the message from the angel, she left and went to be with Elizabeth. After 3 months, just before the birth of John the Baptist, Mary returned home. No longer could she hide the news from her husband to be. She told Joseph. The news naturally jolted him into sickening, stunning bewilderment. Put yourself in his place. She always told the truth. Her character to that point was blameless. She held to this supposed message from an angel. She reported Elizabeth’s amazing conception with Zechariah of that baby. But Mary’s story was fantastic, a biological impossibility, perhaps a cover for infidelity during her 3 month absence in the hill country. But she insisted, “Joseph, I have not been unfaithful to you!” The conflict raged in Joseph’s soul as he tried to work it out. Justice called for public exposure and stoning. But his love would not permit such severe treatment. Compassion called for a considerate compromise. He could not consummate the marriage, but he would show mercy by sending her away privately. His failure to specify the cause of “divorce” would spare her reputation and feelings. What to do, what to do? Many waking hours and restless nights. Doubtless he prayed time and time again for an answer and it finally came. “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. 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.”” Matthew 1:20, 21, NIV. Perhaps he believed it more readily because the OT prophesied it. Matthew goes on to say, “All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel”--which means, “God with us.”” Matthew 1:22, 23, NIV. From this Joseph obeyed. “When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife.” Matthew 1:24, NIV. How many men would accept this situation?
Joseph obeyed the Lord. Then came the trip to Bethlehem occasioned by the decree of Caesar Augustus. Obedient to the law of the land as he was to God’s leading, Joseph went to Bethlehem with his very pregnant wife. Nervously he tried to find a room for his wife to bear this child. Only room available was in the stable. Here a rough manger would serve as crib for the Messiah
Michael Card song, Joseph’s song: How could it be this baby in my arms, sleeping now, so peacefully, the Son of God, the angel said. How could it be? 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.
B. The problem of what to name the baby
Zechariah and Elizabeth had a hard time naming their baby. “On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to name him after his father Zechariah, but his mother spoke up and said, “No! He is to be called John.” They said to her, “There is no-one among your relatives who has that name.” Then they made signs to his father, to find out what he would like to name the child. He asked for a writing tablet, and to everyone’s astonishment he wrote, “His name is John.” Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue was loosed.” Luke 1:59-64
“But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.” Matthew 1:25, NIV.
C. The problem of what to do about Herod’s envious hatred
Story of the Magi. “When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up,” he said, “take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.” So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: “Out of Egypt I called my son.”” Matthew 2:13-15, NIV. Then we have the slaughter of the innocents but Jesus was spared
Notice the distance they came. From Nazareth to Bethlehem is approximately 90 miles, from Bethlehem to Egypt is approximately 430 miles
D. The problem of where to live after Egypt
“After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, “Get up, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who were trying to take the child’s life are dead.” So he got up, took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel.” Matthew 2:19-21, NIV. But where in Israel?
“But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning in Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. Having been warned in a dream, he withdrew to the district of Galilee, and he went and lived in a town called Nazareth. So was fulfilled what was said through the prophets: “He will be called a Nazarene.”” Matthew 2:22, 23, NIV. Went back to the hometown of Joseph and Mary where the tongues would be wagging. Joseph nobly bore the reproach with her. He willingly assumed fellowship in the sufferings of the Savior. Again we see the miles here, approximately 520 miles from Egypt to Nazareth
3. Faithful father
Joseph was poor. How do we know? Because of Jesus’ dedication in the temple. “and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: “a pair of doves or two young pigeons”.” Luke 2:24, NIV. The wealthy brought along with these birds a year old lamb for a burnt offering but no mention of that here. Law of Moses said poor only bring the birds.
“And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.” Luke 2:52, NIV. Joseph a big part of this. Joseph was responsible for the physical, mental, social and spiritual development of Jesus.
Jewish law demanded every boy learn a trade. Joseph taught Jesus how to be a carpenter. “Isn’t this the carpenter? Isn’t this Mary’s son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon? Aren’t his sisters here with us?” Mark 6:3, NIV.
Jesus went to synagogue because Joseph lead the way in this. “He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom.” Luke 4:16, NIV. Many synagogues would have a school where the boys learned Hebrew.
Jesus knew the Scriptures and Joseph lead the way in this. Knew much at a young age, “When he was twelve years old, they went up to the Feast, according to the custom.” “After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers.” Luke 2:42, 46, 47, NIV. On the father rested the obligation to teach his children the sacred laws. “Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.” Deuteronomy 6:7, NIV.
So what?
Joseph must have felt special responsibility for Jesus. Though he had 4 other sons and at least 2 daughters, he knew Jesus to be the coming Savior. Jesus had been loaned to Joseph for a special task. Joseph would be accountable to God. In a sense, all children are on loan from God to whom we shall all someday give a record of our faithfulness. “Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.” Ephesians 6:4, NIV.
Joseph never utters a sound in the Christmas story. “When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise.” Proverbs 10:19, NIV. Joseph was not mute but combined his silence with action. So did the Son. “He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.” Isaiah 53:7, NIV.
Joseph of all human influences molding the human side of Jesus, his was the greatest. For he was the man nearest Jesus.
