The Obedience of Joseph
Christmas Series 2025 • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
0 ratings
· 7 viewsNotes
Transcript
Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily.
But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.
Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.
Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.
Introduction
Introduction
There are many different emotions associated with Christmas. Perhaps, fear is not one that many would mention. Yet, we see in our passage today that Joseph dealt with fear at the first Christmas.
Making decisions is a tough task for every person. Each day, we decide whether to go to work and what to eat. We have to choose a place to get gas for our vehicles and which route to take when the traffic increases. As we make decisions, fear plays a role because our finite minds cannot see the outcomes.
Recently, we have been looking for a new refrigerator. The other day, I was tired out by just looking at all of the options in two different stores and trying to make a decision. Life is filled with decisions and situations. We cannot avoid them but we must learn how to face them. Fear is a natural emotion to the unknown and unanticipated.
The passage in Matthew 1 tells us about the first Christmas but it does not mention Bethlehem, the shepherds or the angels singing in the fields. Instead, we read about Joseph and a prophecy about salvation. Two names are given for the child to be born: Emmanuel and Jesus. The focus of the prophecy is on the Deity of Jesus as His name is interpreted as “God with us.”
This is the focus of the Incarnation. God came to earth and was born as a man. He was fully God and fully man. For thirty-three and a half years, He lived on earth a sinless life. On the cross of Calvary outside Jerusalem, Jesus gave up His life willingly for the sin of the entire world. On the third day, He rose again and now He has ascended to heaven and sits on the Father’s right hand.
The passage this morning tells us about this coming birth but from the perspective of a problem to be solved. Joseph is not communicated with by God until this passage about the task of Mary to carry the Christ child. He has a problem to solve and his fear is apparent about the decision. Yet, we will see this morning that the courageous obedience of Joseph moves forward the perfect plan of God’s redemption for mankind. Joseph chose to listen to the Word of God through His messenger and to believe that what God said would bring about His plan. We too must trust God in the decisions and situations of life.
Declaration
Declaration
Joseph was afraid of going forward with the marriage to Mary. The angel revealed to him the importance of Jesus' birth for the redemption of the world. Obedience takes courage to see God work in our situations.
Joseph Faced a Situation
Joseph Faced a Situation
Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily.
The story of the Birth of Jesus is a joyful story. Mary was glad to be used of God to carry the Christ child. The shepherds were joyful to come and see the Baby born in the manger. Joy is one of the four words of Advent.
But Joseph in the beginning of our passage, is not experiencing joy. He is experiencing sadness. His life has taken a unanticipated turn. Expectations are no longer lining up with reality. Something has happened that he could not have anticipated or prevented. Joseph has been faithful to the Law of God as we see in the passage but now he is faced with a situation that he didn’t deserve.
Mary, Joseph’s “wife”, is pregnant. We see in verse 19 that Joseph is called her “husband”, though they are not yet living together. One commentator explains the situation in marriages at the time.
The Bible Knowledge Commentary 1:18–23
Marriages were arranged for individuals by parents, and contracts were negotiated. After this was accomplished, the individuals were considered married and were called husband and wife. They did not, however, begin to live together. Instead, the woman continued to live with her parents and the man with his for one year. The waiting period was to demonstrate the faithfulness of the pledge of purity given concerning the bride. If she was found to be with child in this period, she obviously was not pure…Therefore the marriage could be annulled. If, however, the one-year waiting period demonstrated the purity of the bride, the husband would then go to the house of the bride’s parents and in a grand processional march lead his bride back to his home. There they would begin to live together as husband and wife…
Verses 18 and 19 give us the situation in this passage. Mary is now seen by Joseph to be pregnant, indicating that she is not a pure bride. Mary is seen as being pregnant which by this point seems to have been not concealable. This was grounds for divorce on the Old Testament model found in Deuteronomy.
When a man hath taken a wife, and married her, and it come to pass that she find no favour in his eyes, because he hath found some uncleanness in her: then let him write her a bill of divorcement, and give it in her hand, and send her out of his house.
But from the passage we also see the situation from God’s perspective. The detail is given in verse 18 that this child was a result of the work of the Holy Spirit. God has already spoken to Mary that she would be pregnant and would bear the Saviour of the World. We see the “Annunciation” in Luke 1. God is working out His redemptive plan in the life of this descendant of David.
And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever. I will be his father, and he shall be my son. If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men: But my mercy shall not depart away from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before thee. And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever.
Joseph did not know what was happening. He only knew what he saw and what he heard. Joseph was a considerate person as we see in verse 19. He was careful to follow the Law. The word translated “just” points to the carefulness that he showed in obeying what God had commanded in the Torah. However, he was also interested in caring for Mary. There is much mercy in what he was trying to do. Instead of sending Mary to the gate of the city to meet with possible public humiliation and stoning for adultery, Joseph was “minded to put her away privily.” Joseph wanted a quiet divorce.
Each of us face situations each day. We have problems that we cannot see solutions to. We do our best to make the best decision but it doesn’t always come out as we intend or expect. The truth is that in all situations, God is in control. In the life of Joseph, God knew exactly what was happening and in His perfect timing, He communicates with Joseph. God works His will out in the lives of men and angels. He is the Sovereign God.
And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?
Two subordinate truths are now seen in the God’s solution to this seeming problem in Mary and Joseph’s life.
1. God Placed This Situation in Joseph’s Life
1. God Placed This Situation in Joseph’s Life
But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.
God brought this situation about in the life of Mary and Joseph. God chose them specifically out of all of the other humans that have ever lived to be the mother and step father of the Son of God. Though they had plans for their life that surely did not include this great privilege, God is Sovereign and He knows all things. He knew that Mary and Joseph were the best choice and He has brought this about accordingly.
God has chosen to bring each and every situation into your life for a reason. He knows you and He knows me. He has a plan for us and He will bring it about in our lives. Jesus later will teach about this Sovereignty of God.
Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
God came to Joseph as he thought on what to do. Joseph was ready to move forward with the best course he could take. He was following the Law and showing care for Mary. But, God stopped Him and sent an angel directly to him to tell him what God was doing.
The word that the angel in the dream uses is telling as to the emotional state of Joseph. He had fear about moving forward with marriage to Mary. Fear brought about the choice that he had decided on. Fear is a powerful motivator. But the truth is that Jesus came to remove the fear. This fear was not just fear of the unknown. It was the fear of eternal punishment for sin. Instead, Jesus’ death brings us eternal life. Paul writes to Timothy,
For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God; Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel: Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.
Fear is the opposite of the Gospel message that Paul preached and that is found in the Death, Burial and Resurrection of Jesus. The angel tells Joseph to fear not but to move forward with marrying Mary. God has brought this situation into Joseph’s life. God has chosen to allow this couple to be a part of the birth of Jesus, the Messiah who will bring about the salvation of the world. His name is here connected with the interpretation “for he shall save his people from their sins.” This is an allusion to Psalm 130.
Let Israel hope in the Lord: For with the Lord there is mercy, And with him is plenteous redemption. And he shall redeem Israel From all his iniquities.
The passage is the announcement to Joseph and to the reader of Matthew’s Gospel that Jesus has come to save mankind from our sin. We are all sinners as the Bible clear tells us. We have no hope on our own because our best is but “filthy rags.”
But we are all as an unclean thing, And all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; And we all do fade as a leaf; And our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
We cannot hope on our own as mankind to remove the eternal punishment that is the just reward for our sin. The reason for the coming of Jesus is clear in the message of the angel. There is a payment that will be made for the sins of the world. God is telling Joseph that He has sent Jesus to be born to pay the penalty and to deliver us from our sin. Paul writes to Ephesus,
Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.
God placed this situation in Joseph’s life. The reason was bigger than a test for him. The reason was for the salvation of the entire world. We will not have an angel come to us in the problems of our life to tell us why God has brought them to pass. Instead, we have God’s written word that tells us that God loves us and knows exactly what we facing. His eyes see us. His will puts us in situations to see if we will choose to be faithful. Joseph was in exactly that situation as he feared the unknown future of his marriage.
The Lord is in his holy temple, The Lord’s throne is in heaven: His eyes behold, His eyelids try, the children of men.
The final verse of this section, verse 23, may be a statement by Matthew or part of the words of the angel. We don’t know. What we do know is that this is a quotation about the Messiah from the book of Isaiah. God is keeping His promise to send help to us in the middle of our sin. Jesus is not only the sacrifice for sin. He is God Himself. God is now dwelling with man and in man when we choose to accept His free gift of salvation. This is the Incarnation and this is the event that happened at Christmas.
Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, And shall call his name Immanuel.
God placed this situation in the life of Joseph. We cannot choose what problems and situations we will face each day. God knows, God sees, and God leads. Joseph has a choice to be a part of what God is doing or to work things out his own way. We have the same choice in each situation in our life. The Word of God tells us to trust Him. Will we take this risk?
Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; And lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, And he shall direct thy paths.
2. Obedience Was the Correct Response to Fear
2. Obedience Was the Correct Response to Fear
Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.
Verses 24-25 return us to the actions of Joseph. He has seen the problem and he has chosen his next action that he feels is the best for himself and Mary. He has laid down to sleep and the angel has spoken to him. Now, he has the same choice we have. Will he trust God and obey Him?
Joseph obeys immediately and completely. He gets up and goes to carry out the command of God through the angel. God says to not fear but trust and that is exactly what Joseph does. Obedience was the correct response to fear. The story of Christmas is about light in the darkness and hope in the midst of fear.
One of my favorite Christmas stories is about the Christmas Truce in 1914. During the First World War, soldiers from both sides in the conflict sang carols, played football in No Man’s Land, and exchanged gifts. They gathered in between the two opposing trenches to celebrate Christmas.
The First World War is considered by historians as the first “modern” war. It was brutal and demoralizing to the troops that took part. But for a short time during December 1914, there was a sense of hope in the humanity of each side. When the war was over, there were still people just like at home living in the other country.
Fear gripped the soldier who charged out of the trenches toward the barbed wire. Hope for a short time at Christmas lit the night and the land between the two lines. Hope overcame fear when it was centered on the Birth of Jesus Christ.
This is the power of the hope that we have at Christmas. Obedience to God’s commands brings hope to our hearts. God always keeps His promises. Joseph saw the birth of Jesus as the fulfillment of the prophecies of the Old Testament prophets. When we are afraid of what might happen next, obey God. God sent Jesus to the world to shake the nations from their slumber in sin and prepare them for the kingdom.
For thus saith the Lord of hosts; Yet once, it is a little while, And I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land; And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come: And I will fill this house with glory, saith the Lord of hosts.
Joseph gets up from sleep and marries Mary. He is patient to wait for the birth of Jesus. When the time comes to name the Child, he obeys God and selects the name that points to the purpose Jesus’ Incarnation, the Saviour of the World. The actions of Joseph move the story along and demonstrate the faith in God that he had after hearing the Word of God. Obedience was the correct response to fear. The time had now come for the world to receive salvation.
But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
Are you willing to obey God today? God says go tell the good news. God says to give faithfully. God says to tell the truth. God says to trust Him and follow. Are you willing to obey God today? Joseph chose obedience and he saw the work of God in an impossible situation. We too will see God’s glory in impossible problems when we obey Him.
Conclusion
Conclusion
Joseph was afraid of going forward with the marriage to Mary. The angel revealed to him the importance of Jesus' birth for the redemption of the world. Obedience takes courage to see God work in our situations.
We all have situations in our lives that we cannot figure a way out of. We are faced with problems that God has brought into our lives for a reason that cannot see right now. The Christmas story is a reminder that God is in control. He chose an little known person in an little known town to bear the Son of God who would save the world. Why did He do that? One reason was that God uses the foolish things of the world to remove pride from the equation.
But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence.
God wants us to be humble and obedient. He gets the glory when we follow Him. Will we do that today? Will we accept the situations that God has placed us in and obey Him even in tough times? Are we willing to trust Him instead of our own understanding?
Joseph is an example of a man who walked by faith and not by sight. When there seemed to be no logical path other than to divorce Mary, he chose to obey God. God used the faith of Joseph to bring glory to Himself and salvation to the world. May we be obedient and be available to be a part of what God is doing in the redemption of the world today.
And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
Let’s be a part of what God is doing and let’s be characterized by obeying Him in any situation we find ourselves in. God is in control!
