Just Joseph

The Bible doesn't tell us much about Joseph, but he is a great role model.

What did this first Christmas mean to Joseph?

v.18:

Betrothal then was more binding than most engagements are today and was normally accompanied by the groom's payment of at least part of the bride price (dowry).

Betrothal, which commonly lasted a year, meant that bride and groom were officially pledged to each other but had not yet consummated the marriage.

advances toward anyone else were thus regarded as adulterous (Deut 22: 23- 27)

1) It meant LOVE and MERCY:

Joseph and Mary were in this one year waiting period when she was found to be pregnant.

Joseph truly loved Mary, and we can only imagine how his heart must have been broken by the news of her pregnancy.

However, his love for her was demonstrated in his actions.

v.19:

Joseph was a just man

When he thought he had been betrayed and disrespected, he still chose to put Mary's interests first.

(In today's society, people commonly use any and all means available to publicly shame someone who has wronged them.)

In our society, its "all about me."

People don't care who they hurt, as long as they get what they want and they don't have to look bad in front of their peers.

But not Joseph, he chose not to create a public scandal by exposing her condition to the judges at the city gate, which is where he would have put her on trial.

Such an act could have resulted in Mary’s death by stoning (Deut. 22:23-24).

Adultery was punishable by stoning, so he decided to quietly divorce Mary

Deuteronomy 22:23-24

Deuteronomy 22:23–24 NKJV

“If a young woman who is a virgin is betrothed to a husband, and a man finds her in the city and lies with her, then you shall bring them both out to the gate of that city, and you shall stone them to death with stones, the young woman because she did not cry out in the city, and the man because he humbled his neighbor’s wife; so you shall put away the evil from among you.

Instead he decided to divorce her quietly.

v.20:

Joseph was humble and obedient

2) It meant HUMBLE OBEDIENCE.

It’s clear that Joseph was genuinely concerned about what had happened.

He thought about the recent events, presumably in an attitude of humble prayer.

Through that humility, he was able to hear the voice of God.

He found out that things were not as they had seemed, and with God, such is often the case.

We are often too quick to jump to conclusions, while pride stands in the way of the truth.

Most of the time we are only concerned with "saving face," and have no interest in an explanation.

Pride keeps us from hearing God's voice!

When that happens, the results can be disastrous.

In Mary's case, it could have meant death!

The angel explained to Joseph that Mary's condition was not caused by man, but is the work of the Holy Spirit.

v.21:

The news that the angel brought to Joseph must have been almost unbelievable, but Joseph readily accepted it.

The Child would be the Messiah, the one to deliver the people from the bondage of sin.

This was extraordinary news, and must have been exciting to Joseph.

No more the blood of goats and bulls.

Joseph learned that their child would be the Messiah, no more need for the blood of goats and bulls

Hebrews 9:13-14

Hebrews 9:13–15 NKJV

For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh, how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.

No more yearly reminders of sin

Hebrews 10:3

Hebrews 10:3 NKJV

But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year.

No more sacrifices day after day, week after week, year after year!

Hebrews 7:26-27

Hebrews 7:26–27 NKJV

For such a High Priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become higher than the heavens; who does not need daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the people’s, for this He did once for all when He offered up Himself.

Hebrews 10:10

Hebrews 10:10 NKJV

By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

We can only imagine what Joseph must have been thinking.

Perhaps it brought to mind the prophecies of old.

Perhaps he recalled the words of the prophet Jeremiah 23:5–6

Jeremiah 23:5–6 NKJV

“Behold, the days are coming,” says the Lord, “That I will raise to David a Branch of righteousness; A King shall reign and prosper, And execute judgment and righteousness in the earth. In His days Judah will be saved, And Israel will dwell safely; Now this is His name by which He will be called: THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS

v.22:

With the words of the angel, Joseph must now realize that he has become part of the perfect fulfillment of prophecy.

v.23:

The angel recites Isaiah 7:14, a promise of hope which was probably very familiar to Joseph.

As noted by the angel, the birth of Jesus was a direct fulfillment of prophecy

Isaiah 7:14

Isaiah 7:14 NKJV

Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.

v.24:

Joseph was immediately obedient, and went ahead with the marriage.

Joseph was gracious

3) To Joseph, this first Christmas meant GRACE:

Joseph not only married Mary, he also accepted Jesus as his own son.

Joseph was truly a righteous man.

Many men may not have readily accepted this responsibility.

Many men couldn't stand taking second place behind a child who wasn't even biologically theirs.

But Joseph, acting in grace and humble obedience, took Jesus to raise as his own.

It was, undoubtedly due to these very attributes ph of love, humility, and grace, that God chose Joseph.

We need more men like this today. Men who will stand up and take responsibility.

Men who will be leaders in their homes and churches.

Men who will raise Godly families.

Men who will actually be men!

Men, you need to stand up and be the man that God has called you to be.

You are accountable for your family, you need to act like it!

What a different world this would be, if we had more of these men.

v.25:

Joseph was a class act all the way.

We see that he faithfully, obediently and selflessly put aside his own desires, and disregarded tradition by not consummating the marriage until after Jesus was born.

He kept Mary pure.

Joseph provides us an example of love, mercy, humility and grace.

What a wonderful example of how to start off the Christmas season.

By following Joseph's example, you will be a reflection of God's love to all those around you.