THE QUIET CHARACTER OF A GODLY MAN
I want you to imagine what would happen if you knew that you would not be around to raise your children. Who would you choose to parent them through their lives to adulthood? You would want someone who would protect them and provide for them like you would, and who would teach them all the things you thought important. You probably wouldn’t just make a list and then hand it to the first stranger you met on the street and inform them, “This is how I want my kid raised.” You would want someone you could trust- someone whose values were as close as possible to your own, who was responsible and faithful. You would want to know this person was trustworthy and good,
I believe God wanted the same thing when it came time to choose the parents of Jesus. I do not believe He left that choice to chance, but gave this task to two very special people. I also believe this is at least part of the reason that He chose this quiet man of character named Joseph to protect and provide for Jesus.
This morning, I want to talk to you about the character of this almost forgotten character in the Christmas story , but since there are several different definitions for this word, let me begin by trying to make what I mean clear.
We sometimes use the word character to speak of someone who is unique or odd, as we might say, “Old Joe is a real character.” Or we might speak of a person who is part of a story as a character in a book or movie. We could also speak of a person whose life exhibits admirable or noble traits as a person with character.
On all three levels, these definitions pertain to Joseph. He was unique in all the story of the Bible for what God chose him to do. He is a character in true story that we are all familiar with. But most of all, I believe that he is a man whose personality reflects the very character of God Himself.
And yet this carpenter seems to be the least important member of the cast of characters in the Christmas story. He was not Jesus’ real father, and although we see the words of Mary, the shepherds, the Wise men, even evil King Herod quoted in Scripture, we never see one word of Joseph recorded in the Bible.
But I believe that this quiet man left behind something that speaks much louder than his words ever could. I believe we can see in the Biblical record that God did not choose this man by accident to be the foster father of His Son. Joseph was chosen because he was a man of godly character, someone who not only reflects the character of God, but also gives us all a good example of how we should live as well.
Let begin his story in Matthew 1:18.
I. JOSEPH WAS A RIGHTEOUS MAN (MATT. 1:18,19)
The word just is used to sum up the character of Joseph in v. 19, and it is full of meaning. Some translate it by the word righteous. It was a word used of someone whose way of thinking, feeling, and acting is wholly conformed to the will of God. Joseph shows this quality of character in how he dealt with the unique situation that he found himself in.
A. He loved what was right. The Bible tells us that Joseph and Mary were espoused, or some versions say betrothed. Hebrew marriage consisted of 2 stages: the betrothal (kiddushin) and the marriage ceremony (huppah).
During the betrothal, the parents would arrange the contract of marriage where the groom’s father would pay the bride’s father a dowry, or bride price, which would provide “insurance” should the groom become dissatisfied with the woman and want to divorce her. The couple was considered legally married as soon as this contract was made, but the couple would still have to wait up to a year for the huppah before they would consummate the marriage. The betrothal period served as a time of probation and testing of fidelity.
The trouble came when it appeared that Mary had violated that trust, and becomes pregnant. In addition to disappointing Joseph greatly, it put Joseph in a dilemma.
The Law gave him the right to call for a public humiliation of Mary for her apparent betrayal, or even to have her stoned as an adulteress. Or he could settle the matter privately. No matter what he chose to do, marrying a woman who had (as far as he knew) betrayed her commitment to God and him made it wrong for him to marry her because Joseph was a man who loved good and hated evil.
B. He loved one who had done wrong. Of his available options, Joseph chooses to divorce Mary quietly, meaning a private ceremony that would break the betrothal before 2 or 3 witnesses. The reason for his decision given is that he was not willing to make he a public example. Why not? Why not relieve his hurt and pain by shaming her as she had shamed him?
I believe it was because he really loved Mary. Joseph was not a vindictive man who nursed his own wounds, but a man who loved this girl a lot, in spite of what he thought was her unfaithfulness to him. In spite of what he could only see as sin, he loved her.
C. He wanted to do what was just. Though Joseph would later change his plans when he learned the truth, his heart mirrors both the justice and mercy of God Himself. In fact, Joseph shows a perfect picture of how God’s love weds His justice and His mercy together.
God loves righteousness perfectly. He is holy, and he loves holiness, and hates sin with a perfect hatred.
Psalm 45:7 Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness…
Yet God also loves sinners- those who have betrayed and disappointed Him. The Bible says He loves sinners enough to send His son to die for them.
Romans 5:8 But God commendeth (to show, prove, establish, exhibit) his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
This character of this quiet man of God illustrates the righteous love of God in real life, and not just theory. He was willing to show mercy to one who did not seem to deserve mercy. So also, God is willing to show mercy to us who in reality do not deserve mercy. Joseph loved Mary in spite of what he thought she was- God loves us in spite of what He knows we are.
But what about us? Do we reflect God’s love to us in who we love other people? Can we love them in spite of their sin? Or do we let sin overshadow that love by telling ourselves “they don’t deserve our love”? God wants the same grace He has shows to us to be the same love that we show to even the worst people we know.
A young employee embezzled several hundred dollars of his business firm’s money. When discovered, he was told to report the senior partner of the firm. As he walked up the stairs, the he was heavyhearted. He knew he would lose his position, but also feared legal action would be taken. Seemingly his whole world had collapsed.
In the office of the senior executive the thief was questioned. When asked if the allegations were true, he said yes. Then came an unexpected question: "If I keep you in your present job, can I trust you in the future?" The young worker brightened up and said, "Yes, sir, you surely can. I’ve learned my lesson."
The executive responded, "I’m not going to press charges, and you can continue in your present position." The employer concluded by saying, "I think you ought to know, however, that you are the second man in this firm who succumbed to temptation and was shown leniency. I was the first. What you have done, I did. The mercy you are receiving, I received. It is only the grace of God that can keep us both."- Don Mallough, Crowded Detours
Joseph hated sin, like God does, but He also loved the one who had sinned, just like God does. Do we do the same? This is what God’s grace is all about, and we were meant not just to receive God’s grace, but to mirror that grace by our lives.
II. JOSEPH WAS A RESPONSIVE MAN (MATT. 1:20-25)
We do not know if Mary told Joseph about the visit from Gabriel . We can see, however, that he and Mary’s future occupied his thoughts, even after he had made his decision to divorce her quietly. It seems that his perplexing thoughts followed him to bed that night, where God reveals the truth about what is happening to this troubled man.Joseph’s response to God’s angelic revelation again shows us a good example of godly character:
A. He listened to God. As far as we know, God only spoke directly to Joseph in his dreams. We don’t know exactly why this was, but it is interesting that Joseph took these dreams seriously. He did not merely say What a weird dream! It must have been that extra helping of lamb I ate for supper that has me thinking up such things! Joseph’s ears were open to hear whatever God would say to him, in whatever manner God would say it.
This does not mean that all dreams have such significance but it does mean that if anyone wants to hear from God, they must be listening to hear Him to speak. God prefers to speak to us by His Spirit through His Word, but these were unusual circumstances. Joseph may not have been expecting this message in his sleep, but he was willing to listen to God communicate to him however He chose to do so.
B. He believed God. Joseph not only heard the message of God, but he believed the Word of God. It is not certain if the echo of Isaiah 7:14 here was part of the angel’s message for Joseph, but it is very possible that these words reminded Joseph of the promise from the OT of the Messiah. In any event, Joseph trusts the Word of God to be true, in spite of what he seemed impossible.
It was not normal for a baby to be born apart from a human father. No one else may believe it, but Joseph did, because God told Him so. Here was a man of faith, who trusted God, even when what God said did not seem to make sense!
C. He obeyed God. This is the strongest possible evidence that Joseph believed God- he obeyed the Word of God. He cancels his plans for a divorce and weds Mary- probably over the protests of his family and friends.
Can you imagine what they must have said? You are willing to marry this immoral woman just because of a dream? Have you considered what this is going to do to you and your family’s reputation? Are you willing to raise someone else’s son as your own? (If they had only known whose Son this was!). Nothing hinders Joseph from responding to God’s Word in the only appropriate way- obedience.
There was probably no big wedding celebration for him and Mary. Their family and friends probably did not understand. In a small town like Nazareth, people probably talked a lot for a long time about who Jesus’ real Dad was, and why Joseph would do such a strange thing.
We may speculate what would have happened if Joseph had not responded to God with obedience, but the fact is that disobedience would have been out of character for Joseph. He had made a practice of listening to God’s Word, believing God’s Word, and obeying God’s Word. When it came time for the test, Joseph did not fail.
Can you say the same thing? Are you listening to hear God speak through His Word? Do you obey what you hear? Can God depend on you to obey Him in everything, or would you say that you spend more time asking forgiveness for being disobedient? Joseph is an example of one whose life is characterized by obedience to God.
Old Betty was converted late in her life, and though she was very poor she was very active. She visited the sick; out of her own poverty she gave to those who were still poorer; she collected a little money from others when she could give none of her own, and told many of the love of the Savior. At last she caught a cold and rheumatism and lay in bed month after month, pain-worn and helpless. A good minister went to see her and asked if after her active habits she did not find the change very hard to bear.
"No sir, not at all. When I was well, I used to hear the Lord say day by day, ’Betty, go here. Betty, go there. Betty, do this. Betty do that," and I used to do it as well as I could. And now I hear him say every day, ’Betty, lie still and cough.’" - Charles Haddon Spurgeon,
Joseph’s response of listening and obey God was not a one-time burst of spirtuality. He had developed the habit of listening to God, believing God, and obeying God, regardless of the circumstances. What a good example for us to follow from this quiet character!
But there is one more aspect of Joseph’s character I want us to see:
III. JOSEPH WAS A RESPONSIBLE MAN (MATT. 2:13-15, 19-23)
One of the qualities that appears in the life of a person who is righteous and responsive to God is a commitment to duty. We might call this character quality responsibility or perhaps even faithfulness. Paul mentions this virtue in passing to the Corinthians in his second letter:
1 Corinthians 4:2 Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.
This righteous manis given an assignment: take care of Mary and serve as the foster father of the Son of God. In these verses we see Joseph, we find that he is a faithful steward of God.
A. He protects his family. Matt. 2:1-12 tells us the story of how the Wise Men from the east who came to worship Jesus and unwittingly alerted the evil king Herod to a threat to his kingdom. Herod slyly seeks to use the Wise Men to find this baby king, so he can kill him, but God once again intervenes, and in vs. 13-15 He warns Joseph in a dream to flee to Egypt. ( flee: a word denoting an urgent continuous action, meaning indicating that they were to leave immediately and not stop until they were far enough away to escape danger)
Joseph acts quickly, leaving at night to escape notice. To us t may seem natural for Joseph to do this, unless we stop and consider some potential problems. Where exactly will this refugee family live? How will they live? Why doesn’t God just get rid of Herod instead of sending Joseph, Mary, and Jesus 100 miles by foot into a foreign land? Hadn’t they had enough problems finding a place to stay in their own land?
Historians record that there was a large population of Jews in Egypt at this time. The gifts of the Magi would have paid for the journey, and perhaps even giving them enough to get settled.
But beyond all this, I believe Joseph was compelled by two main facts: God had warned him his family was in danger, and God had provided a plan for their escape. Joseph does not know why Herod wants to kill Jesus, only that it is up to him to protect the baby. He does not know why God has chosen to fulfill His plan this way but he does know that it he is charged with seeing that God’s plans for keeping his family safe are accomplished. There is a connection between his responsibility to obey God and his responsibility to protect his family.
B. He provides for his family. We don’t know how much time has elapsed between the flight to Egypt and their return to Israel, but God appears again to Joseph, commanding him to return to Israel. He may have headed back to Bethlehem, but he stops before he gets there, because he sees more danger. Herod is dead, but one of his sons is reigning over the Judea. Joseph decides it is wiser to return to his own hometown of Nazareth, where he can care for his wife and foster son. As they return to Nazareth, this is the last time we see Joseph in Scripture.
What happened next? We can only speculate that Joseph and Mary settle down in Nazareth. Joseph is called a carpenter in Matt. 13:55, a trade which would make them a decent living. Like any other Jewish father, he taught Jesus his trade, taught Him the Law of Moses, and tried to raise Jesus in the ways of the Lord. He probably died before Jesus began His ministry, after doing what most fathers did at that time- provide physically and spiritually for his family. Joseph just quietly fulfilled his responsibility before God for his family.
C. He pleases God. We may be tempted to overlook this simple carpenter with a monumental assignment from God. He is given the responsibility that all fathers have for their families, with one significant difference- one member will be the Son of God- God in the flesh- the sinless Savior of the world.
Stop and consider- it was probably the rough hands of this carpenter that delivered Jesus into the world. It was this simple carpenter who worked to see that Jesus was fed, clothed, and protected from those who would harm Him. It was this forgotten foster father who would teach Jesus to drive a nail, saw a board, build a house. Joseph taught the law of God to the One who wrote that Law, and teach the wonders of Creation to the One Who Created the world.
I am convinced that God took special notice of this quiet man of character I believe that when he died, he heard a familiar voice speak these words of welcome: well done, my good and faithful servant.
What has God given you to do in this life? What places has He given you to be responsible for? Once you answer that question, then it is time to ask another- how faithful are you to do what God has called you to do? Maybe it’s being part of a family- husband, wife, son or daughter. Maybe it’s just doing your job. All of us who belong to Christ have a responsibility to serve as part of His church. Your calling may seem insignificant, or bothersome, or even aggravating. But one thing you can count on- God expects you to be faithful.
Recently I asked the preschool class in our Sunday school to draw a picture of God. I intended to use them as an illustration for my Sunday sermon. Toward the end of class the children were excited to show me their work. They came up with rainbows and men with big hands. Finally, my daughter showed me her picture: a man with a suit and tie on. "I don’t know what God looks like," she said, "so I just drew my daddy instead." What an awesome responsibility. - Al Serhal, Oakford, Ind. "Lite Fare," Christian Reader. Leadership.
None of us will be called on to do what Joseph did, but let me remind you that whatever God calls you to do, you can be faithful in doing it. Remember, one day you will give an account to God for your faithfulness to Him. How we handle our responsibility has eternal consequences!
One of the best ways we can learn how to live is to look at someone whose life was successful.
You may look at Joseph’s life and not see much success. He was never wealthy, never powerful, never politically popular. He never wrote a book or a song, never invented anything amazing. He never even traveled to very far from his home. He lived his life quietly, doing what he could to please God and provide for his family.
But let me ask you- how different would the Christmas story be without him? Who would have raised Jesus if Joseph had refused to wed Mary? How would Jesus have fulfilled the prophecies concerning Bethlehem as His birthplace, and Nazareth as His hometown? No one else may have ever noticed this quite man, but He was an important part of God’s plan.
You are an important part of God’s plan, too!
God knew you before you were born. He knew what you would look like, who your parents would be, where you would live. He knew all that would happen to you.
He also knew you would be lost without Him in sin. He knew you would choose to do wrong instead of right, and that you would make a mess of your life without His forgiveness.
That’s why He sent Jesus to this world. Because He not only knew you, He loved you. He sent Him to be born, but also to die to pay for your sins and give you a new life. He has great and wonderful plans for you!
But all of His plans are dependent on one thing that God does not control- your will. He has given you a choice. He will not force you to accept His love, or serve Him. You must make the choice of either accepting His love, or living on your own. You have to choose which master you will submit to- sin or the Savior.
I want to invite you to respond to His invitation this morning. If you have never surrendered yourself to Christ, please come and take Him up on His offer. If you are saved this morning, but you are not allowing Jesus to rule your life, let me also remind you that you will never be happy apart from following His map for your life.
