A Man of Godly Example

INTRODUCTION

Open your Bibles and join me in Luke chapter two. Luke chapter two.

PLUG FOR “GREATER BOOKS”

“Do as I say, not as I do.” Terrible advice. This is the advice of what we might call a “hypocrite.” And, this is advice that, really, could not be applied to the life of Joseph…mainly because there is nothing recorded in the Bible of what Joseph said—only what he DID.

TRANSITION

As we have been looking at what we know about the life of the earthly father of Jesus—Joseph—we have seen that Joseph was a man of purpose. He was a man of righteous integrity. He was a man of faithful obedience.

This morning, as we wrap up our Advent series, we’re going to see, in Luke chapter two, that…

Joseph was a man who led his family by setting a godly example.

Now, this is a pretty lengthy text so follow along closely.

Joseph led his family to obey God's WORD.

Joseph didn’t just say “Oh, yeah, we believe the Bible. We believe that those things are true.” No. He actively and faithfully obeyed God’s Word and led his family in doing so, too.

Now, I want you to see how Joseph carefully and faithfully led his family in obedience to the Word of God:

1) Verse 21 — circumcision after 8 days (Genesis 17:12; 21:4; Leviticus 12:3)

2) Verse 22 — Mary’s purification “according to the Law of Moses” & offering of sacrifice (Leviticus 12:1-6)

3) Verse 22 — Dedication of baby Jesus to the Lord (Exodus 13:1; Numbers 3:11-13)

Look at verse 39…

Luke 2:39 (ESV)

And when they had performed everything according to the Law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth.

JOSEPH led his family in such a way that the Word of God was the authority over their lives. The Word of God ruled and set their family agenda. Joseph didn’t compromise.

Joseph led his family in WORSHIP.

Jews were required to travel to Jerusalem three times a year to celebrate the Feasts of Passover, Pentecost and Tabernacles.

Luke tells us, in verse 41 & 42, that it was Mary & Joseph’s custom (or, their habit) to go—EVERY YEAR—as a family to Jerusalem to celebrate the Feast of the Passover.

The journey from Nazareth to Jerusalem was 90 miles…would have taken around 30 hours to walk. But, Joseph was faithful and consistent in his commitment to God and leading his family to worship.

Now, I want to point something out that the Lord showed me this week. Turn a page or two over to Luke 4. Jewish worship wasn’t limited to just three trips to the synagogue a year—like they were going on Easter, Christmas and Mother’s Day. Look at verse 16…

Luke 4:16 (ESV)

And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. And as was his custom, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and he stood up to read.

So, here is Jesus, in his hometown attending his home synagogue “as was his custom” // his routine/his habit…that I believe started at a young age when Joseph made it the rhythm and routine of their family.

Joseph led his family to follow God's WILL.

All throughout his story, we see Joseph responding to God’s call on his life—and his family’s life—and following God faithfully.

There are two scenes in this text that I want to draw your attention back to…and the setting for both of them are in the temple.

First, we see Joseph—in obedience to God’s Word—bringing Jesus to the temple and consecrating him to God—essentially dedicating him to God. Now, you may be thinking, “Jesus—even this baby Jesus—IS God. Why on earth is he being dedicated to God?” Well, you could also ask—if Jesus is God, then why was he baptized?

Joseph took Jesus to the temple to consecrate him to the Lord for two reasons—first, as I said earlier, Joseph was being obedient to God’s Word. Second, it was Joseph’s way of symbolically saying, “God, this is YOUR child. His mother and I want YOUR will for his life—not ours.”

And while they’re there, they have interactions with two elderly _____________. Simeon prophesies over Jesus quoting several OT scriptures…and then he says…

Luke 2:34–35 (ESV)

“Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”

Think about this—Joseph and Mary are hearing this godly man prophesy that their son is the long awaited Messiah sent by God, who will be used by God in powerful and miraculous ways, but who will also suffer.

The next scene I want to point out is in verses 41—52. Joseph has taken his family along with hundreds of other pilgrims to Jerusalem to celebrate Passover. Mary and Joseph lose 12-year-old Jesus for 3 days and find him in the temple having theological conversations with the rabbis.

Now, I want you to notice what Mary says and how this preteen Jesus responds.

Mary says, “Son, why have you treated us so? Behold…now see this…YOUR FATHER and I have been searching for you in great distress.” Your father—Joseph—and I have been worried sick!

Now, see how Jesus responds— “I must be in my Father’s house.”

Notice—There’s a switch, here. We don’t know at what point in his young life Jesus fully realized who he was. But, what we see here is this young man—who is mysteriously and miraculously God in human flesh—knowing His purpose and His identity.

And, Luke tells us (in verse 50) that Mary and Joseph didn’t understand the saying that he spoke to them. They didn’t forget all that had happened 12 years prior. They knew who Jesus was. They remembered the angels and the visions and the visitors that all validated that their son was the Son of God.

Here’s the point—Joseph doesn’t push back. Joseph doesn’t tell Jesus that he’s just being disobedient or cocky or a know-it-all preteen.

Listen…parents…I’m not telling you anything you DON’T know, here. YOU’RE NOT RAISING THE SON OF GOD. Your children aren’t the Messiah. They aren’t sinless and perfect. You know that.

But, here’s what I want to press down on…are we fostering an environment in our homes in which our kids are aware of WHOSE they are? Are we raising our kids in such a way that WE are aware of WHOSE THEY ARE? Are we raising our kids to hear God’s voice? Respond to God’s call? They’re not ours, parents. Many of you stood either on this stage or one like it and dedicated your kids to the Lord.

Our number one role as parents is to lead our kids to a saving knowledge of Jesus. Our second role is to lead them to hearing God’s voice and His call in their life and responding to that. No matter what that means. You want to hold onto your babies. I get that. I’m a dad. Mine drove me around yesterday for the first time. But, they don’t belong to us.

TRANSITION >> CONCLUSION

Joseph—by his own godly example—led his family to obey God’s Word, he led them to Worship, and he led them to follow God’s Will.

He didn’t just “say” he believed in these things—He actually lived them out.

As we come to the end of this series on the life of Joseph, I want to land the plane right here. In the first sermon of this series, I said…

I think Joseph’s story simply boils down to one thing—STEWARDSHIP.

Joseph took what God gave him, he took what God called him to, and was a faithful steward.

And, Joseph, a man who through his integrity, obedience, and godly example, was a faithful steward of what God had entrusted him with—left, what I think all of us want to leave, a LEGACY.

Are you going to live in convenience or are you going to live consistent?

Legacy requires commitment.

Obedience to the Word

Are they seeing YOU living in obedience?

Living in repentance?

Living out the gospel?

Does the Word of God have a central place in your family’s life? Are you building your family and your family’s calendar ON THE WORD OF GOD?

Worship

Corporate and private

Your kids don’t need you to take them to church. They need to see you PARTICIPATING IN WORSHIP…leading in family worship.

God’s Will

They need to see YOU living in obedience to God’s will…serving Him!

End of one year…beginning of another. Maybe this week you’ve been inconsistent/compromised/settled for convenience.