GOD’S CHOSEN PARENTS (MATTHEW 1:18-25)
Joseph, like any young man his age, had dreams and ambitions of his own but willingly surrendered or relinquished his dreams for a higher calling – to be father of the Messiah. Joseph was the father figure in Jesus’ life but, more often, he was the forgotten important parent figure in Jesus’ life. In fact, he does not have a word to say or a conversation to share in the Bible.
What kind of a father figure is God pleased with? What is the father’s role and responsibility in raising a child? What is one’s position, part and purpose in life? How can you rise to the occasion and fulfill your God-given potential?
1. Be Trustworthy in Disposition (1:18-19)
Joseph and Mary were not perfect, sinless or angels but they were noble, moral and upright. Joseph, in particular, was a righteous man (v 19). God chose an outstanding citizen, a blameless man and a perfect gentleman to be Jesus’ father. Joseph He was good to the core, kind in his nature and held in high honor. As such, Joseph was a dependable, respected and hardworking man.
Joseph was the strong and silent type, but never the slighted and stoic type. He did whatever he could to bring stability to the child, the mother and the family. People and neighbors knew Joseph as the quiet, hardworking, honest carpenter, who would not give them poor workmanship, supply them rotten wood and charge them exorbitant fees.
2. Be Teachable in Doubt (1:20-25)
One might even say God required or expected more from Joseph than from his wife, John the Baptist’s father or the night shepherds in the Advent narratives. Joseph did not have the advantage of a visible angelic manifestation that Mary, Zechariah and the shepherds had.
The angel of God appeared to Joseph on three occasions, but never in angelic form each time but always in a dream (Matt 1:20, 2:13, 19-20). We are not told if Joseph dreamed in black and white, but the words were loud and clear. Joseph acted in faith and did as he was told. Matthew used the Greek word “TO take” (v 20) to demonstrate Joseph’s old-fashioned obedience (v 24, “he took”). The word is used 49 times in Greek, but 6 times related to Joseph – the most in any one account or on any one individual. The first two occurrences of the word were when the angel of the Lord commanded Joseph to take Mary as his wife (Matt 1:20), to take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt (Matt 2:13), and to take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel after Herod’s death (Matt 2:20).
3. Be Tenacious in Danger (2:13-15)
At times Joseph must have felt he was useless as a man, less of a man and not much of a man when he could not find an inn for his wife and child. The truth was that he was very central to the family’s well-being, the lone ranger in decision-making and every inch involved in child-raising. He fought tooth and nail for the family and was extremely devoted to their safety and needs.
Joseph was the one who gave Jesus His name at His birth (Matt 1:25). When Simeon took baby Jesus in his arms and praised God in the temple courts, Joseph’s name was mentioned first (Luke 2:33). The angel again turned to Joseph (Matt 2:13) when the child’s life was at risk at the murderous hands of Herod, commanding him with three imperatives – “take,” “escape” and “stay” (v 13) – to travel 70 miles through the desert to Egypt. An angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph for the third time, this time commanding him to “take” and “go” to the land of Israel after Herod had died (Matt 2:20). Joseph had a fourth dream, but this time he decided on his own that it was best for the family to settle in the rural and remote Galilee rather than busy the hustle and bustle of Judea.
Conclusion: God has given His all when He gave infant Jesus to mankind. Jesus has come to save His people of their sins. God is not looking for gifts and goods in return, but your life and your love in return. Are you the righteous, obedient and strong person God is looking for to do His will? Are you a gentleman to the opposite sex, a fatherly figure to youngsters and a pillar in the family? Have you given your best and your all to Jesus who gave Himself for you?
