Pastor Phil BurdoinDecember 18, 2022This 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. 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. 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.” 22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”). When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.
Matthew 1:18-25
When we read these words we instantly think of Christmas, after all isn't this the Christmas story? The truth is that this is long before Jingle Bells, Christmas trees, and frosty the snowman. in fact, it was before the first silent night, and the baby in the manger. THIS story is really about a terrible interruption in one person's life. It was the last thing that Joseph would ever hope for. And in fact, it would change everything he had done in his life up until this point.
Who is JosephMatthew describes Joseph as “a righteous man” or “faithful to the law.” The Greek word there is dikaios, which would be translated in Hebrew as the term tsadiq. this was the term or title that you most desired as a common man in that day. It meant that, without exception, he followed the Torah for the first five books of scripture at that time.
Joseph was engaged to Mary during this time. Back then and engagement was called a betrothal and it was a legal contract. It could only be broken by a divorce. One legitimate reason to be granted a divorce would be unfaithfulness.
but because Joseph was “faithful to the law,” this was much more serious. The penalty for adultery in God's law his death. But not only was Joseph a righteous man he was a merciful man. He understood that the greatest commandments are to love God and to love people as well.
What would this decision mean?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
We don't know how Joseph found out about Mary being pregnant, but most likely she told him. But he didn't believe her and that is why he considered divorcing her. And if she told him she most certainly said that she had not been with anyone. But Joseph doesn't believe her, that is why he contemplates divorcing her. One thing he knows for certain, it is not his child. He knows that he has not been with her and that if he does marry her it will look like an admission of guilt.
If Joseph didn’t believe her, who else is going to believe her? He knows his chance at growing his business is over. People don’t want to do business with a man who has a shady background. He can’t be trusted. If he does this he closes the door on any kind of future he had envisioned for himself. Instead of being a “righteous man” he would be labeled as “unclean.”
His reputation is ruined. Everyone will think either A) he married an adulteress and raised someone else’s child as his own and tried to covered it up by saying “God told him to.” Or B) he slept with her and made up some story about the Holy Spirit getting her pregnant.
What happens to Joseph? Joseph obeys.
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
Whatever happened to Joseph? We don’t know. Scripture does not tell us, there is no mention as to what happens in the future with him. Church history has some guesses, but they are just that, guesses. He probably died sometime before Jesus years in ministry. And he really receives no recognition anywhere else in scripture. No honor, no accolades, no recognition. Just quiet obedience.
We do know he remained faithful to his calling. Take a look at Luke 2:41. Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover. Every year Joseph took his family to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover festival. He remained faithful to his calling and faithful to his God. Faithful to his calling in raising Jesus by not leaving his family at home but bringing them with him. Faithful to his God by participating in the Passover festival and continuing to uphold the law.
God asks the unthinkable.
God asked Abraham to sacrifice his own son, God asked Moses to go to Egypt to free his people, God asked Jonah to go to the Ninevites, Jesus asked the rich young ruler to give all his wealth away, and God asked his son to die on a cross. What is God asking you to do? What unthinkable thing is God asking you to do?
