Joseph's Obedience

Introduction

Opportunity came to move in the direction I thought we needed to go to. I made plans. It was a shoe in. It was going to happen in my mind.

I had to learn, again, a valuable lesson that following God means abandoning my plans. And we see that in the life of Jospeh as a man who was obedient to God’s plan.

Please open your Bibles Read

Abandoning Plans

When we follow God, we abandon our plans. Or better yet, God’s plans become our plans.

Doesn’t mean we don’t stop planning but our outlook on those plans changes. We hold them lightly.

Here Matthew has proven that Jesus is of the right pedigree, now he proves that Jesus is who he is by showing his origins.

Matthew 1:18–19 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.

Matthew 1:18-19

Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. Did you catch that? Big statement there about who Jesus is.

Jesus was born = 100%

Jesus is Christ = Messiah, He is the one who will save.

Betrothed = Formal engagement. It was like being married without living together. Legal arrangment, about a year. To get out of it required a divorce.

Before they came together (had sex) Mary was pregnant. You got to think of what Joseph was thinking. Joseph had a plan. He was moving forward with it. Starting to think about the future.

BUT what Joseph didn’t know yet, was that second part of the sentence: was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. But before speaking of Joseph’s attitude Matthew explains that the pregnancy was due to an activity of the Holy Spirit.

Morris, L. (1992). The Gospel according to Matthew (p. 27). Grand Rapids, MI; Leicester, England: W.B. Eerdmans; Inter-Varsity Press.

VS. 19 Being a just man He was a man who followed the Law that was set out. He observed the law. He knew that the law required that he divorce his soon to be wife. So he had a decision. He didn’t want to be harsh. For Joseph being just before God included an element of mercy. Jospeh’s righteousness, in the sense of obedience to the law, is set over against his own wishes. He already thinks he is obey God.

How do you typically react when your plans are disrupted?

When your child decides to help out with something

When health deters you from doing somethign you had planned for ages.

When you are faced with tradgety, loss, how do you typically react when your plans are disruptured?

How we react to when we have to abandon our plans, depends on how we see God and that he is still Good.

When are plans meet God's plans, they will change and it's worth it, because God is good.

God’s Goodness in his Plans

Matthew 1:20–23 ESV

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).

VS. 20 But as he considered these things As he’s trying to figure out who to carry out this plan, God intervens with his plan. God quickly changes Joesph’s plans. An angel of the Lord shows up to Joseph and overturns his strategy by casting an entirely new light on Mary’s pregnancy.

When we make plans, we have a very finite understanding of what is happening around us. How God is working. So when our plans change, we are challenged to abandon them to God’s plan, but we have a choice, are we going to continue in an attitude of trust and obedience, or in rebellion. See, God’s plans aren’t going to change. It’s ours, so our attitude doesn’t affect God’s sovereignty over the situation, it affects our relationship with our Holy God. We need to be reminded that God is good.

How do you typically react when your plans are disrupted?

Back to my decision: I really struggled with seeing God’s goodness in the midst of a messy time. It wasn’t until after that I saw that once again, God is good, he is good all the time.

Joseph, son of David there’s a delibrate choice of words here. Matthew is forcefully telling us something through the genealogy of Jesus, and continuing it here. Jesus, the legal son of Jospel, as he shall become through Jospeh’s obedience, is the fulfillment of the prophecy made back to in Isaiah that we looked at last week. God reminds Joesph of who he is, that he is of the line of David. He commands Jospeh not only no to divorce Mary but to go ahead and marry her

This is the thing that is crazy to me: This is the Word of God. It is trustworthy, and true, perfect, and yet again, more evidence is here.

For that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. This really shows the passive role of both Jospeh and Mary had in this whole situation. God’s plan will be fulfilled. God initiates the action in all of this.

Vs. 21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins. Jesus = Yahwah salvation or “the Lord saves.” And that is EXACTLY what God is going to do!!!!! Jesus ministry is about the physical liberation of Israel, but the spiritual salvation of God’s people by removing the alienation from God which their sins have created.

OH MAN HOW I LIVE CHRISTMAS. LOOK AT WHAT GOD HAS DONE FOR YOU…FOR ME!!!

Gospel Move We needed to be rescued and God makes a rescue plan.

Jesus was not so much the Man born to be King, as He was the Man born to be Saviour. Don’t miss the point of Grace that is shown here.

Every time something comes up, my attitude really shows how much I trust God’s goodness.

Vs. 22 This is the thing that is crazy to me: This is the Word of God. It is trustworthy, and true, perfect, and yet again, more evidence is here. All this took place to fulfill what the Lord has spoken. All that had happened in all of history so far, including this conception, was the fulfillment of God’s sovereign purpose that was told of before. God’s promises are being fulfilled.

BI: When are plans meet God's plans, they will change and it's worth it, why? Because looks at Verse 23.

VS. 23 The Child, born of a virgin, by a miracle that only God can do through the Holy Spirit

TRANSITION God’s goodness is displayed in his plan and he calls us to trust him as we obey. Jospeh trust God and comes out in obedience.

BI: When are plans meet God's plans, they will change and it's worth it.

Our Obedience is a “yes” to God’s plan.

Matthew 1:24–25 ESV

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.

Matthew 1:28

VS. 24 When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: He took his wife.

When confronted with the Word of God, Jospeh obeyed what God had commanded him to do. He finished the marriage process, made things official.

Vs. 25 But he knew her not until she had given birth to a son. Jospeh didn’t have sex with Mary until after Jesus was born. You may ask: why would Matthew include this? This guarantees that Jesus was born of a virgin.

Our obedience doesn’t dictate if God’s plan will work or not. God doesn’t ask for our permission, he calls us to trust him.

What are the things God has called you to trust you in?

Remind yourself of the goodness of our God. The grace he has poured out for you. That what ever you are going through right now is for your good and his glory.

What can prevent us from quickly saying yes to God’s plans?

What are some practical ways we can follow Joseph’s example of obedience

What can prevent us from quickly saying yes to God’s plans?

When are plans meet God's plans, they will change and it's worth it.

DISCUSS: What are some practical ways we can follow Joseph’s example of obedience?

Conclusion

Word Biblical Commentary, Volume 33a: Matthew 1–13 Explanation

The focus of attention is, of course, not on the birth itself but on the significance of the child, on the role he will play in fulfilling God’s will—as is seen particularly in the importance of the naming in the passage, as well as in the content of the names themselves, Jesus and Emmanuel. The one who is born embodies both God’s presence and his saving efficacy

for Joseph being just before God included an element of mercy

Word Biblical Commentary, Volume 33a: Matthew 1–13 Explanation

The story is thus both simple and profound, told with enthusiasm and restraint. Joseph appears as a very real person, confronted with an understandable dilemma. Yet this righteous man, of such little significance to the narrative on the one hand and such great significance on the other (bestowing Davidic descent upon Jesus), receives a revelation to which he is submissive and obedient.

Morris, L. (1992). The Gospel according to Matthew (p. 28). Grand Rapids, MI; Leicester, England: W.B. Eerdmans; Inter-Varsity Press.

So What?

One question I think Remains? You may ask: “Pastor Nate, how do I know that God’s plans are better?”

I Tell you, look to the cross. Look and see how God himself made it possible for you to be made right before a holy God. Look at how he stepped down from his thrown for you. Look at how God used the obedience of Jospeh to use him as part of his rescue plan for all who would repent of their sin and believe in the gospel. That Christ died for our sins and rose front he dead.

God’s plan is better. Better than anything we can imagine. It may not be easy, it won’t be. Bot it’s good. And the cross proves it. Will you trust him?

BI: When our plans meets God’s plan, they will change. And it’s worth it.

Back to two years ago. I had to learn:

Who’s plan will work

Reminded of God’s goodness

To take steps of obedience as I trusted God’s goodness.

Let us respond to God according to his Word.

When are plans meet God's plans, they will change and it's worth it.