A Look At Joseph At Christmas

Matthew 1:18-25

Today is Christmas Eve.  Many of you might have a small nativity set which you have set up sometime during this Christmas season.  My family has one made of china. Some of our Christmas cards may also have a nativity scene on them. As we look at the nativity scene, there is one character that often doesn’t get much thought.  We look lovingly on the Baby Jesus, and then upon His mother, Mary. We think of the shepherds who had the glorious news of the birth of the Savior announced to them by the angels. We look at the magi who came such great distances to bring their gifts to the Baby Jesus, bowing before Him as they worshipped.  Often, though, we don’t give much thought to Joseph. Oh yeah, he’s that guy standing in the background, over there in the shadows. I thought today, we could bring him out of the background, away from the shadows, and take a closer look at his story.

Joseph was from the genealogical line of King David, his family line given in Matthew 1:1-16.  Joseph was a humble carpenter, by no means a wealthy man. As our passage begins, we see that Joseph was betrothed to a young woman named Mary.  A betrothal was basically an engagement to be married. In Biblical times a betrothal was as binding as an actual marriage. Today people break off engagements with no problem, but in the past a legal divorce transaction was necessary to terminate a betrothal.

Joseph was probably looking forward to the coming marriage, when he found out that she was expecting a child!  (vs. 18). As one could imagine, this would have been a big blow to Joseph. He knew the child wasn’t his. Whose child was it?  The explanation that Mary gave was preposterous! An angel came to her! The Holy Spirit came upon her, and the child would be the Son of God!  That was too incredible to believe! Obviously she had been unfaithful to him.

Jews would stone to death a woman found committing adultery, and being unfaithful during the betrothal period was the same as adultery.  Joseph would have had that right. He was a very devout man who loved God and obeyed His Word. He was a man of integrity. What was he going to do?  Haul Mary out to the public square and have her stoned? Bring her to public shame as a promiscuous woman? Joseph was righteous, but he was also merciful.  He did not want to make Mary a public example. He wanted to do what was right, but also try to do it in the right way. The child wasn’t his, the promise seemingly had been broken, but deep down he must have known that Mary wasn’t an immoral woman.  He would end the betrothal, but not have her executed, nor put to public shame (vs. 19).

All of this stunning, unbelievable news, and what to do about it all, must have consumed Joseph’s thoughts day and night, and being a devout man, he must have brought it all to the Lord in prayer.  God responded by sending an angel to him in a dream, telling Joseph that what Mary had told him was the truth (vs. 20-21). The child she was carrying was conceived through the power of the Holy Spirit, and he was to go ahead and take Mary as his wife.

Joseph obeyed God, even though this would be at the price of his own reputation, as well.   Betrothal periods were usually about a year long, and weddings always very elaborate, well-planned events.  Theirs would have been a hasty, quiet one, and very soon it would become obvious as to why. People would soon be talking, not only about Mary’s reputation and shame, but his, as well.  Joseph placed God’s plan ahead of his own, even at the cost of his own reputation.

Joseph was told to name this child “Jesus”, which means “the Lord saves” (vs. 25).  Jesus came to save us, because we cannot save ourselves. Jesus was also called “Immanuel”, which means “God with us” (vs. 23).  Jesus is God in the flesh. He is both God and man. The infinite and unlimited God took on the limitations of humanity so that He could live and die for the salvation of mankind.

Out of the multitudes of eligible men at the time, God chose Joseph to be the foster father of the Lord Jesus, and the husband of Mary, His mother.  He was chosen for a reason, as God felt that he would be the best guardian and role model for Jesus as a child. So let’s move the figure of Joseph out from the shadows of the nativity, and praise God for using this godly man in the life and upbringing of Jesus.