Why Joseph?

How God Uses Ordinary People to Accomplish Extraordinary Things

Introduction:

It seems that the goal of many people today is to be “famous.” The old adage is that all publicity is good publicity. Many people seek to have their names in lights and even to have their name be a household name.

In Ancient Israel, men didn't desire prestige, but rather a good reputation.

Joseph’s decision to stand by Mary and for God was not an easy choice to make. We learn through his story that when we trust and obey God, He mysteriously unfolds His plan and purpose for us and, in this case, for the whole world.

Joseph is a character who seems to be mainly in the background of the Christmas story. He doesn’t have much to say but is spoken to. He may seem to play a small role, but he is one whom God chooses as the Earthly Father to raise the Savior of the World.

Joseph was a man who was in the family of David, a man of royalty, yet seemed to be one without much meaning, as evidenced by Mary’s sacrifice of two turtle doves. We don’t know very much about him. He comes onto the scene, and then as quickly as he appears, he disappears. We do know that he was a carpenter. It would probably be more appropriate to call him a craftsman, one who worked with his hands and could do whatever kind of work needed to be done. We can only imagine that he wanted to live an ordinary life, pursuing his craft, going to synagogue, and raising a family. (Howard Edington, The Forgotten Man of Christmas—Joseph’s Story (Sanford, FL: Synchronicity Press, 2000), 1.

That wasn’t what God had in His plan for Joseph. Maybe you are here today or watching from home and like Joseph, you feel like you are just an ordinary person and wonder how in the world could God use you.

Let’s take a look at how God can take the Ordinary and do something Extraordinary!

1. Joseph’s Discovery of Mary’s Baby

Matthew 1:18 “This is how Jesus the Messiah was born. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. But before the marriage took place, while she was still a virgin, she became pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit.”

The scriptures tell us the betrothal agreement had been signed, and the dowry gifts had been accepted.

All the friends and relatives knew that Joseph and Mary were to be wed.

Even though they were engaged, there was no physical consumption of this marriage just yet.

It would have been something that Mary could not hide very long.

Maybe her mom was the first one to notice Mary’s bulging stomach.

Maybe it was someone else.

But what we know is that she became pregnant.

We can only imagine what the gossip must have been like around Nazareth… “Look, there’s Mary, she hasn't even actually gotten married yet, and she’s pregnant.” “I knew she was that kind of girl.”

Maybe her mom and dad questioned what took place. We really don’t know,

But what we do know is that this was not something that she could hide from anyone, especially the man who was closer to her than anyone else in the world: Joseph. (This was not part of the plan, Joseph must have said to Mary.)

I can only imagine what would have been going through this young couple's mind as the unexpected pregnancy was placed in their lives.

Sometimes we don’t know where things come from in our lives. It seems like they come right out of left field, and we are dazed by them.

Can I tell you today, that God is not at all dazed by anything that happens? And sometimes, not always, but sometimes, it is God who is orchestrating something great in your life.

For Joseph, this discovery was not welcome news, and it is like that for some of us. We have received news that has totally changed our lives.

But hang on, the story gets better.

2. Joseph’s Dilemma Over Mary’s Baby

Matthew 1:19 “Joseph, to whom she was engaged, was a righteous man and did not want to disgrace her publicly, so he decided to break the engagement quietly.”

Who really knows what was going through poor Joseph’s mind when he found out his sweetheart was pregnant?

You must realize that Mary had been told by the Angel, Gabriel, that she had found favor with God and would give birth to a son, and she would call him Jesus.

Luke 1:30–31 ““Don’t be afraid, Mary,” the angel told her, “for you have found favor with God! You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus.” )

Joseph had no such warning. He must have thought so many different things.

Was Mary already unfaithful to him? It couldn't be, she was a godly woman.

Maybe she was raped. No, she would have said something.

I love Mary but I can’t marry her now, but I can’t disgrace her either. What am I to do?

He could neither condemn her nor justify her.

He had to do something to satisfy the spirit of the law - Deut 22:23-24

Joseph did not know what to do, so he decided to break the engagement off but not tell anyone else besides Mary.

There are times in our lives when we face dilemmas that it doesn't seem like there is a solution that works either way. If I go left, it stinks. If I go right, it stinks. It’s not fair. Sometimes life is just that way.

But hang on, the story gets better.

3. Joseph’s Dream About Mary’s Baby

Matthew 1:20 “As he considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. “Joseph, son of David,” the angel said, “do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit.”

Oh, how welcome that dream must have been. What a blessing to receive word from an angel.

The Explanation

It was a vision from God. This was no figment of Joseph's imagination.

The angel used the phrase, “Joseph, son of David,” pointing to the prophetic word that Jesus would be a descendant of King David. Though the Holy Spirit conceived this child, Joseph would take him as his own, giving Jesus the true legal status of his line.

Luke 2:4 “And because Joseph was a descendant of King David, he had to go to Bethlehem in Judea, David’s ancient home. He traveled there from the village of Nazareth in Galilee.”

Now Joseph could see that the whole plan was one that God Himself had orchestrated.

That had to give total and absolute peace to Joseph.

It does the same thing for us when we can see it is God who is working His plan.

The Instruction

The Lord instructed Joseph to name the child Jesus.

Matthew 1:21 “And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.””

Joseph did what the Lord told him to do.

He was showing God his obedience.

Matthew 1:25 “But he did not have sexual relations with her until her son was born. And Joseph named him Jesus.”

How about you and me? Do we take heed and give Him our obedience?

The Revelation

Matthew 1:23 ““Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us.’ ””

Check out the wording here. This is a fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy as given in Isaiah 7:14 “All right then, the Lord himself will give you the sign. Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel (which means ‘God is with us’).”

It says “The virgin,” not “A virgin.” That is very specific. God, speaking through Isaiah was speaking about this very woman, Mary, who would be the one spoken about those many years ago.

How awesome a word!

4. Joseph’s Decision About Mary’s Baby

Matthew 1:24–25 “When Joseph woke up, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded and took Mary as his wife. But he did not have sexual relations with her until her son was born. And Joseph named him Jesus.”

The situation Joseph faced was what Max Lucado describes as being “caught between what God says and what makes sense.” (Max Lucado, The Heart of Christmas, “Joseph’s Prayer” (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 1998. 62-65)

Maybe you’ve been there yourself, having to decide to do what makes sense or do what God says.

I love what Max Lucado says, “Joseph didn’t let his confusion disrupt his obedience. He didn't know everything. But he did what he knew.”

God had to make sure that every little detail would be carried out.

Matthew does a great job of emphasizing the detail that this child would be the Son of God and not the Son of Joseph. Look at 3 verses he uses to make the point.

Matthew 1:18 “This is how Jesus the Messiah was born. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. But before the marriage took place, while she was still a virgin, she became pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit.”

Matthew 1:20 “As he considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. “Joseph, son of David,” the angel said, “do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit.”

Matthew 1:23 ““Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us.’ ””

God chose this man, Joseph, to be the earthly adoptive father of the God-child. What an awesome responsibility bestowed on a regular guy like him.

God still does crazy things like this.

We still have to answer the big question; Why Joseph?

For His plan to be fulfilled, God needed a man he could count on.

He needed man who was good with his hands, who was stable, and sensitive to His voice.

He needed a man who would stand quietly with a young virgin who might have seemed and object of ridicule, yet who carried in her the hope of the world.

He needed a man who would step quietly into the background while God stepped forward.

Joseph was a strong and compassionate man able to carry out God’s divine plan.

He would have taught Jesus how to use his hands and learn the law of Moses.

Joseph doesn't say a word during the Christmas story, but what he did speaks volumes to us all.

One of the greatest lessons we can learn from this simple man Joseph, is that God can take the simple things and install greatness into their lives. God did that when He sent his Son to take up residence in the young virgin, Mary. He did that when He sent Jesus to live in the hearts of people like you and me.

Will you allow God to do something great in your life?

Jesus took pleasure in doing what the Father commanded.

Psalm 40:7–8 “Then I said, “Look, I have come. As is written about me in the Scriptures: I take joy in doing your will, my God, for your instructions are written on my heart.””

I love Mary’s response to the angel:

Luke 1:38 “Mary responded, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” And then the angel left her.”

Are you willing to adopt this attitude? Will you say like them, “Lord, I will serve You anywhere, anytime, at any cost, even when it doesn’t make sense?”