Adent 4A

Text: “24 When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, 25 but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.” (Matthew 1:24-25)

24 When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, 25 but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.

It’s time. As I hope you’ve heard, we’re working our way through the book of Matthew over the course of the year. Part of the reason we choose the book of Matthew is that it is used frequently in our gospel readings between now and the end of next November. We won’t quite be going straight through, verse by verse, but especially next spring and summer, we’ll be coming pretty close to it.

Hopefully you’ll find it interesting (in fact, since we’ve already begun in our adult Bible study and since it’s been the basis for our Advent devotional, I hope that you’ve already started to find it interesting). Each of the writers of the four gospels gives us a slightly different ‘take’ on Jesus— each one presents Him slightly differently. They all give us a picture of the same person, but each one has a different emphasis. We see that already in Matthew’s gospel.

As you heard last Sunday in the Sunday school Christmas program, Matthew’s description of Jesus’ birth focuses on Joseph. He tells the story from the perspective of Joseph. That gives us a slightly different emphasis on who Jesus is. So, this morning, I’m taking a slightly different approach. Rather than trying to focus on one specific point, I’d like to give thought to who Joseph is and why he’s important.

This is only the second time I’ve preached on St. Joseph, guardian of our Lord. I have to say, as I worked on this topic, there were a lot more interesting observations and connections than I expected. One writer that I found compared Joseph, the guardian of our Lord, to the patriarch Joseph. I don’t know that I would have made that connection, but there are some really interesting parallels. Then there are some other observations that are a little more questionable. I think it was Bernard of Clairvaux who is quoted as calling Joseph the “Father of God” (not something I’m comfortable claiming…).

This is the first time I’ve preached on St. Joseph, guardian of our Lord. I have to say, there were a lot more interesting observations and connections than I expected. There was one comparison between Joseph, the guardian of our Lord, and the patriarch Joseph. I don’t know that I would have made that connection, but there are some really interesting parallels. Then there are some other observations that are a little more questionable. I think it was Bernard of Clairvaux who is quoted as calling Joseph the “Father of God” (not something I’m comfortable claiming…).

What really caught my attention, though, is the suggestion that several people made that March 19—the actual Feast of St. Joseph on the church’s calendar—should be the church’s “Father’s Day.”

The most common ‘take’ on Joseph is that he is an excellent example of living out your vocation. So, for example, compare Joseph and Herod as fathers. Herod had 17 children, killing most of them. Joseph was only a step-father, but he faithfully protected his Son. “Herod was a man of vengeance and war, Joseph walked in the way of peace.” Joseph faithfully took his family to worship in Jerusalem—and, presumably, just as faithfully to the synagogue in Nazareth. It’s hard to imagine Herod doing the same.[1]

“Herod was a man of vengeance and war, Joseph walked in the way of peace.” Joseph faithfully took his family to worship in Jerusalem—and, presumably, just as faithfully to the synagogue in Nazareth. It’s hard to imagine Herod doing the same.[1]

We rightly make much at Christmas time of Mary’s great faith. Well, Joseph’s “great act of faith” is simply living out his vocation. Pastor Mark Surburg, for example, points out that, “Joseph obeys God as he takes up the vocations of husband and father. This means[, for example,] putting God’s will ahead of his own. Every time we hear about Joseph in the first two chapters of Matthew he is being told to do something. In fact[, each time,] the commands use the exact same verb in Greek. He is to ‘take’ Mary as his wife. He is to ‘take’ the child and his mother in the middle of the night and flee to Egypt. He is to ‘take’ the child and his mother and return to Israel.”[2]

Another writer points out that, “Not one thing that Joseph ever spoke is recorded in the Scripture. He was quietly obedient to the Lord as Jesus’ stepfather and guardian, and husband to his wife.”[3]

“…Joseph is always overlooked, always overshadowed. How could it be otherwise? His son was the incarnate Son of God – conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. His wife was the one used by God to bring the incarnate Son of God into the world. She was as the early Church called her, the Theotokos – the God bearer. And of course all of this means that Joseph had nothing to do with the conception and birth of Jesus. Initially, the only thing Joseph contributed was his lineage. As a descendant of King David, when he took Jesus to be his own son, he made Jesus part of the line of David. He made him into the son of David.”[4]

And there are other, more subtle, things that Joseph contributed to the process of raising Jesus. “We learn in the Gospels that Jesus is described as the “carpenter’s son.” God the Father didn’t miraculously provide for Jesus Christ. Instead, he gave him Joseph who worked as a carpenter each day in order to support his family.

And, we alluded to a minute ago, “Joseph wasn’t only faithful in providing for the physical needs of his family. He was also faithful in providing for their spiritual needs. Luke tells us that Joseph brought Mary and Jesus to the temple in Jerusalem to offer the sacrifices commanded by the Law of Moses for her purification and to redeem Jesus as the first born son. And then we learn that it was their custom to go up to Jerusalem every year for the Passover. Joseph brought his family every year to Jerusalem just as God’s Word directed. Scripture tells us that Joseph was a pious and faithful father who led his family in the ways of the Lord.”[5]

“There is something [subtle, yet] impressive in the Bible’s final remark on the life of St. Joseph: “Then [Jesus] went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was subject to them. . . . And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men” (). [That is to say, t]he Son of God was raised… as any little boy should be raised, growing day by day in the practical and moral skills of life, the formation of character, even as he grew in height and build.” I wouldn’t go near calling Joseph the “Father of God.” But he certainly had more of an impact than we probably give him credit for. “While God’s Son assumed humanity in his mother’s womb, it was Joseph who taught him what it means to be a man. Thus, Joseph was to leave the forming mark (charakterin Greek) of his own manhood on the God-Man.”[6]

And, in fact, I would suggest to you that Jesus truly was His step-father’s son in a lot of ways. We assume that He learned to be a carpenter, like Joseph. But it goes much further than that. It goes to the defining actions of Joseph that are recorded for us in the New Testament.

You see, like Joseph, Jesus has a bride: the Church. The Church is the Bride of Christ. And, before the marriage is consummated, Jesus’ bride is also found to be with child. Actually, many children, to be exact. That’s you and me. And, like Mary’s child, they are “children of God, born not of human flesh or a father’s will, but of God….” And, like Joseph, Jesus has no fear of taking Her as His wife, because He knows perfectly well that the children conceived in her are of the Holy Spirit. He, Himself, has sent His Spirit upon her for that very purpose. These children born of the Virgin Bride of Christ are, indeed, from the Holy Spirit. “35 …The Holy Spirit [has] come upon [her], and the power of the Most High [has] overshadow[ed her]; therefore the child[ren] born [to her are rightly] called holy—[sons] of God” (, ESV). (That’s you, by the way.)

Jesus obviously had a far more active role in the story than Joseph did. Jesus is, at the very same time, also the second Adam. His bride is formed when God opened His side as He slept, still hanging from the cross. His side was opened as the soldier’s spear was thrust into it, bringing forth blood and water. His bride was formed from that blood and water. He is the one who has made her holy. “25 …[He] gave himself up for her, 26 that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish” (, ESV). Like Joseph, He went to Jerusalem and offered the required sacrifice for her purification and yours.

He didn’t require an angel to tell Him that the devil was seeking to devour you. He came—just as faithfully as Joseph—with purpose, according to God’s plan, to gather you safely into His Church. He still protects His bride and her children day in and day out. He still breaks and hinders every evil plan and purpose of the devil, the world, and your sinful flesh which do not want you to hallow God’s name or let His kingdom come. He gathers you out of the world and safely into the Church to shelter you from your spiritual enemies, even as the devil continues to pursue you in his wrath, nourishing you until the proper time to deliver you fully and finally from this valley of sorrow to Himself in heaven.

This is not just the story of Jesus’ birth. It also points to your birth into God’s kingdom, as well, as the Holy Spirit overshadowed the waters of baptism and gave you the washing of regeneration and renewal (). He may not make you a descendant of David, but “7 [having been] justified by his grace [you have] become heirs according to the hope of eternal life” (, ESV). He is the perfect, spotless lamb required to be offered to redeem you.

Titus 3:5-6

And He is the Great King in the line of David. There are some who speculate that the angel’s greeting to Joseph, calling him “Son of David,” indicates that he was the rightful heir of King David. We can’t be quite sure about that, but we know, without a doubt, that Jesus is. Although we don’t see it, He is still ruling over you, guiding events of nations as well as the small details of your life for the sole purpose of strengthening and keeping you in the faith. He gathers you to worship, week after week, where He also provides for you, feeding you with His word, even sustaining you with His own body and blood.

). He may not make you a descendant of David, but “7 [having been] justified by his grace [you have] become heirs according to the hope of eternal life” (

). He may not make you a descendant of David, but “7 [having been] justified by his grace [you have] become heirs according to the hope of eternal life” (

Although we don’t see it, He is still ruling over you, guiding events of nations as well as the small details of your life for the sole purpose of strengthening and keeping you in the faith. He gathers you to worship, week after week, where He also provides for you, feeding you with His word, even sustaining you with His own body and blood.

Titus 3:5-7

, ESV). He is the perfect, spotless lamb required to be offered to redeem you. Although we don’t see it, He is still ruling over you, guiding events of nations as well as the small details of your life for the sole purpose of strengthening and keeping you in the faith. He gathers you to worship, week after week, where He also provides for you, feeding you with His word, even sustaining you with His own body and blood.

, ESV). He is the perfect, spotless lamb required to be offered to redeem you. Although we don’t see it, He is still ruling over you, guiding events of nations as well as the small details of your life for the sole purpose of strengthening and keeping you in the faith. He gathers you to worship, week after week, where He also provides for you, feeding you with His word, even sustaining you with His own body and blood.

“24 When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, 25 but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.” There you have it— a number of thoughts on St. Joseph. Hopefully they pricked your interest in the unique view of Jesus that Matthew gives us in his gospel. Either way, by all means, take time to get to know St. Joseph, the guardian of our Lord, better. And, in the process, know his Son a little bit better, as well.

One of my favorite moments from the Exodus comes from a time that the people were complaining about only having manna to eat. They wanted meat like they had back in Egypt. And Moses hears about their complaining—I’m sure there was a faithful soul who came up to Moses and said, “Moses, some people are upset because all we get is this manna every day….” Moses is fed up. “11 Moses said to the LORD, ‘Why have you dealt ill with your servant? And why have I not found favor in your sight, that you lay the burden of all this people on me? 12 Did I conceive all this people? Did I give them birth, that you should say to me, ‘Carry them in your bosom, as a nurse carries a nursing child,’ to the land that you swore to give their fathers? …15 If [this is the way it’s going to be, then] kill me at once, if I find [any] favor in your sight…’” (, ESV).

No, you haven’t conceived all this people that God should call you to lead them. You’re Joseph. The step-father. The guardian. You are called to care for and provide for God’s children and their Mother. Would that we were as faithful as Joseph in that.

You and I have been called to feed them faithfully. And yet, how often do you dish out the Gospel like you’re serving food at Weight Watchers’ dinner—I can’t give you too much or you’ll get flabby and out of shape. Except what He’s given you to serve is “6 [the feast that He has prepared] for all peoples[—]a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wine, of rich food full of marrow, of aged wine well refined” (, ESV). That is the meal He has given you to serve. God was not stingy. He did not nibble away at death. “7 [He] swallow[ed] up …the covering that is cast over all peoples, the veil that is spread over all nations. 8 He [has] swallow up death forever…” (, ESV). The wine that He gives you to pour out for His people is as fine and well refined as the cup that He drank was bitter.

Right here, in the presence of our enemies, He directs you to prepare the table before them, set the feast, and pour out the wine until their cups overflow.

By all means, take time to get to know St. Joseph, the guardian of our Lord, better. And, in the process, know his Son a little bit better, as well.

[1] Schroeder, Rev. Mark. “The Commemoration of St. Joseph, Step-Father of Jesus, 19 March.” www.ConcordiaKoinonia.com, March 19, 2018. https://concordiakoinonia.com/2018/03/19/the-commemoration-of-st-joseph-guardian-of-jesus-19-march-2/

[2] Surburg, Rev. Mark. “Sermon for the Feast of St. Joseph.” March 19, 2017. http://surburg.blogspot.com/2017/03/sermon-for-feast-of-st-joseph.html

[3] Schroeder.

[4] Surburg.

[5] Surburg.

[6] Reardon, Fr. Patrick Henry. Touchstone Magazine. Quoted at https://concordiakoinonia.com/2013/03/19/the-commemoration-of-st-joseph-step-father-of-jesus-19-march-2013/