Sermon Tone Analysis

The Thrill of Hope – 2 – Hope Obeys

Matthew 1:18-25; 2:13-23

Introduction

When God wants to do a special work in the world, He always places a man or woman there who will be the instrument through which He accomplishes His purpose.

Once that man or woman is in place, their job is twofold: trust God and obey God.

This is God’s pattern of working mightily in the world.

- When God wanted to form a new nation that would be for His glory in the world, He called Abraham out of Ur and into the Promised Land.

Abraham’s job was to trust and obey.

- When God wanted to rescue His people from centuries of slavery in Egypt, God put Moses in Egypt to be raised by Pharaoh’s daughter, and then into the deserts of Midian to learn how to shepherd obstinate sheep.

Moses’ job was to trust and obey.

- When God wanted to rescue His people from various enemies during the era of the Judges, He placed men like Gideon and Samson, and women like Deborah into specific roles of leadership.

Their job was to trust and obey.

- When God wanted to save His people from annihilation in Persia, God placed Esther in the royal palace as Queen.

Her job was to trust and obey.

When God wanted to bring all His eternal work to fruition and personally come into the world, He placed Joseph and Mary in just the right circumstances where they would meet and get engaged.

Their job was to trust and obey.

We will talk more about Mary, the mother of Jesus, on Friday night at our Christmas Eve service.

For out time today, let’s take a look at this man God chose to be the adoptive father of God’s own Son.

In one sense, it is tough to spend much time looking at the life of Joseph…there isn’t much text dedicated to him, and he has zero speaking lines recorded in Scripture.

Some have labeled Joseph the Silent Knight.

But in another sense, there is much we can glean from the passages we do have that mention Joseph.

And they are worth our consideration.

One characteristic of Joseph stands above all the others…overwhelming obedience.

Joseph was obedient to all God called him to do.

His obedience to God changed not only Jesus’ life, but yours as well.

Joseph played three roles of obedience:

1. PARTNER

Matthew 1:18-23 - 18 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.

19 And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly.

20 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.

21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”

22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:

23 “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,

and they shall call his name Immanuel”

(which means, God with us).

Joseph partnered with Mary to raise a son.

God told him to take Mary home as his wife and raise Jesus together.

That was not Joseph’s original plan.

His plan was to divorce her.

Now, to get married in their culture was a bit more of a confusing process than it is today.

The engagement period was arranged by the parents, a matchmaker, sometimes yourself.

The “betrothal” was the ratification of that engagement.

It could still be backed out of, but with much difficulty.

The betrothal period lasted one year and was legally binding.

This is the period Mary and Joseph are in.

Then the marriage ceremony/celebration typically lasted a week and then you were formally husband and wife.

To break the betrothal, one had to legally divorce the other.

During this time you were referred to as husband and wife, but did not live together or have any sexual component to the relationship.

To go outside of this betrothal with another person sexually was considered adultery.

It was punishable by stoning to death.

So Joseph plans to divorce her quietly.

Why? Two reasons are given in the text.

Both of them are in v. 19 - 19 And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly.

First, because he is a ‘just’ man.

Just is the word for righteous.

Joseph is righteous before God.

Meaning, he is right with God and that is reflected in his relationships with people.

So because Joseph loves God, worships God, and has devoted his life to God, his plan is to divorce Mary.

And the second reason given is because he is unwilling to put her to shame.

Here is what both of those reasons clearly imply…Joseph believes Mary has committed adultery.

And why wouldn’t he think that?!

Luke’s Gospel gives a bit more detail about the timing involved in this scandalous Christmas account.

The angel Gabriel tells Mary she is going to become pregnant, though she is a virgin.

It will be the supernatural work of the Holy Spirit to bring God’s Son into the world.

Upon hearing and receiving this news, Mary seemingly immediately leaves town to go visit Elizabeth, her relative, where she stays for three months.

So you’re Joseph…your fiancé leaves town for three months and when she comes back into town she is pregnant.

You know you didn’t do that.

There are clear explanations for how that happened.

Mary has obviously been unfaithful.

So he plans to divorce her…because he is a just man.

His righteous character means he cannot in good conscience marry someone who is unfaithful.

But also because he loves her so much, he doesn’t want to subject her to the public shame that would undoubtedly be attached to all this when word gets out.

His action would have saved her life (could be stoned to death) and it keeps the tabloid nature of such things away from her.

But then God speaks to him in a dream and confirms that Mary’s account of what happened is in fact true.

V. 20-21 - 20 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.

21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”

God changes his plans.

“Don’t be afraid.

Take Mary home and marry her.

This is God’s work in her life and in your life.

You are the man I have chosen for this historical moment to work in and through to accomplish great things in the world.

His name is Jesus…Savior.”

And look at his obedience.

V. 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.

As soon as he wakes up, he does what God says.

He trusts.

He obeys.

And he goes even further to ensure God’s miracle of the virgin birth is fully confirmed…he has no sexual relationship with her until after Jesus is born.

What incredible integrity!

What honor shown to her and to the Lord!

2. PROTECTOR

Joseph shows us a side of biblical manhood that is so sadly absent in the world today.

He gladly takes his role to protect both Mary and Jesus.

Too many men today are predators, not protectors.

They are after what they can get from women…sexual fulfillment, emotional fulfillment, financial provision.

Instead, God calls us to gladly, joyfully give ourselves away for the betterment and blessing on the lives of those around us.

One of those ways is to protect those whom the Lord has placed in our lives.

- Joseph protected Mary from Stoning.