Actions Speak Louder than Words

Matthew 1:18–25 ESV

Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us). When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.

Pre-introduction: A Children’s Sunday school class was putting on a Christmas pageant which included the story of Mary and Joseph coming to the inn. One boy wanted so very much to be Joseph, but when the parts were handed out, a boy he didn’t like was given that part, and he was assigned to be the inn-keeper instead. He was pretty upset about this but he didn’t say anything to the director.

During all the rehearsals he thought what he might do the night of performance to get even with this rival who got to be Joseph. Finally, the night of the performance, Mary and Joseph came walking across the stage. They knocked on the door of the inn, and the inn-keeper opened the door and asked them gruffly what they wanted. Joseph answered, "We’d like to have a room for the night." Suddenly the inn-keeper threw the door open wide and said, "Great, come on in and I’ll give you the best room in the house!" For a few seconds poor little Joseph didn’t know what to do. Thinking quickly on his feet, he looked inside the door past the inn-keeper then said, "No wife of mine is going to stay in dump like this. Come on, Mary, let’s go to the barn." - And once again the play was back on track!

Introduction: How many of you have ever been in a situation where you felt like you were just part of the background scenery? For several years after I married Penny, she was well known in our Baptist association because of her involvement in the music ministry.

So I got used to hearing people say, “Oh him, that’s Penny’s husband.” But, I’m not bitter about it or anything…now.

This is just speculation, but I think Joseph was the kind of person who was used to being in the background. When he introduced himself to others, they probably said, “I’m sorry, who did you say you were again?” To which He maybe replied, “I’m Joseph. You know – Mary’s Husband?”

Have you ever noticed that in Most Christmas pageants, Joseph role is the easiest to play? No lines to memorize, no songs to sing, no gifts to bring. He just accompanies Mary to Bethlehem making sure she is in the right place at the right time. Then he just hangs around like a doorman or something! Joseph’s place in the pageant doesn’t seem that important – but it really is.

Compared to some of the other people mentioned in the birth narratives of Christ, we don’t read much about Joseph

. We read about John the Baptist and his parents – Zacharias and Elizabeth. We read about the shepherds who tended their flocks by night. We read about the Wise men – who by the way didn’t actually show up at the Manger but came 1-2 years after the Birth of Jesus.

We hear about Mary and her reaction to the news that she was God’s instrument for bearing the Savior into the world. Her words are recorded in the book of Luke in a passage we now know as the Magnificat.

But none of Joseph’s words are recorded in the scripture and only a small portion of his story is presented in Mathew’s Gospel.

Tradition says that Joseph may have been a much older man than Mary and a widower. Joseph disappears from the Gospels after he and Mary momentarily lost Jesus in the temple when Jesus was twelve. Some say he may have even died shortly after that incident.

The picture we do get of Joseph in the scriptures is that of a man of humble faith. Joseph was known more for his works than for his words. He is an example to all believers.

He Was a Righteous Man (v. 19)

The ESV renders it that he was a just man while other versions render it a righteous man. This means that he was conscience of what God required of him according to the law.

Being a righteous man, he was a man of integrity. I believe this was extremely important to the story and how it all works out.

Yes, Joseph was righteous. He understood the law and kept it to the best of his abilities. He knew what the penalty was if it could be proven that adultery had taken place.

Both parties deserved death. So If Mary and had relations with another man, the law was clear.

However, there is a difference between the letter of the law and the spirit of the law. I’m reminded of the words of Jesus to the scribes and pharisees.

Matthew 23:23 ESV

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others.

Sometimes, religious people aren’t very loving. Religion becomes the big stick that we beat people over the head with. Joseph wasn’t like that.

His righteousness was tempered with mercy and compassion for his beloved.

HE WAS A MAN OF COMPASSION (v. 19)

Joseph was engaged to Mary – which meant they were legally married in that culture. They would have been called husband and wife.

When the news of her pregnancy got around, it would have been automatically assumed by those who heard that the child was illegitimate.

He had a legal right to divorce her on grounds of infidelity. If she consented to this charge, she could be divorced privately in the presence of two witnesses. Or, if she objected to the charge, she would stand before a court of three rabbis and be divorced publicly.

Joseph however being a compassionate man decided to not embarrass her and wanted to give her a divorce privately. A lesser man would have demanded justice. Joseph chose mercy. (Which would you rather receive?)

I think we could use a little more of that kind of compassion when dealing with others.

The Bible says in Micah 6:8 “He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?”

Illus. Woman with AIDS dying in Ugandan Hospital, Husband left her to die – went back to other 3 wives, no food provided in hospital.

HE WAS ATTENTIVE TO THE VOICE OF GOD (vv. 20-22)

The Bible says that as he thought about these things, an angel appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins.”

What would have happened if Joseph had not been in tune with the voice of God? What would have happened if he had not been used to seeking God’s will in all things? It might have been a much different story!

Do we try to tune ourselves to God’s voice? Do we seek to do His will? Those who are attentive to the voice of God and seek his will out are the ones whom God can and will use!

How does one develop an ear that hears the voice of God? It doesn’t happen overnight. It takes spiritual discipline and there must be a hunger for God.

Illus. “There is no better way you can be ready to follow God’s voice than to cultivate your heart.” - Henry Blackaby

You must spend time alone with God. (Consider our example, Jesus)

You must regularly confess your sins.

You must read the word of God.

You must be around other believers. (Heb. 10:24:25)

You must act on what you hear.

HE WAS OBEDIENT TO GOD’S WORD (v. 24)

James 1:22 ESV

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

An angel appeared to Joseph a total of three times – before Jesus birth, after the visit of the wise men about two years after the first incident and after the death of Herod when it was clear to return home. Each time the Bible records that Joseph did as the angel had instructed.

Jesus said in John 14:21a: “Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me.”

The true test of love is obedience. If you have an obedience problem, you have a love problem. If God were to evaluate your obedience record right now, what would it say about your love for Him?

Joseph may not have completely understood what all was going on when this angel first appeared to him, but he took it all on faith and obeyed God’s word?

Can you say the same this morning? Even if you don’t understand everything that God is doing in your life, can you trust God and obey Him?