SCRIPTURE: Matthew 1:18-24; 2: 13-15, 19-23
INTRODUCTION
The story of Mary and Joseph is filled with high drama and intrigue. These two were no strangers to highs and lows, heartaches and joy. There is much on this side of eternity that we will never know. It will be quite a day when Jesus replays the whole epic saga for us.
Traditionally, Joseph receives little attention, seemingly playing a bit part next to Mary, shepherds, and wise men. But I submit to you that his role was much larger than we usually realize. It is Joseph’s genealogy that is recorded, Matthew tracing it back through David and Judah to Abraham (1:1-17); and Luke all the way to Adam, the son of God (3:23-38). It is through Joseph’s line, not Mary’s, through which Jesus is connected to David and can lay claim to the title: Lion of the Tribe of Judah.
Mary was betrothed to Joseph. Engagement is the only thing that approximates this for us. Though not a consummated marriage, by Jewish law it was a legally binding agreement. Only a legal divorce could break it. And this is where we get to enter the story. Joseph has become aware of Mary’s pregnancy, and for him, it is not a pretty picture, but Matthew tells us Joseph was a “righteous man” (1:19).
I. He Was An Obedient Man
When Joseph is informed that Mary’s pregnancy is part of God’s plan, there is no hesitation. He forsakes his gracious plan of private divorce for the Father’s plan of marriage. He takes Mary as his wife (1:24). When the Child is born he names Him Jesus just as he was instructed (1:21, 25).
Many months later when the second dream occurs, his response appears to be immediate. He arises that very night and departs Bethlehem for Egypt (2:14). Joseph is a no-nonsense man, and after he comes to understand that God is at work, he takes his role very seriously and without question.
The subsequent dreams produce the same kind of result. The angel of Lord leads Joseph and his little family out of Egypt, generally to Israel, and then more specifically, to Nazareth in Galilee (2:23). In a way in which mere human words cannot describe, the God of the Universe found a man who would listen and obey. And in that obedience the infant King of kings and Lord of lords was shielded from the evil that would have overtaken Him and extinguished the Light of the World.
It is astonishing that God would entrust this Treasure to one obedient man, but then again, it is astonishing what God can do with one person who will follow His lead!
II. He Was A Sensitive Man
Matthew tells us that Joseph did not want to disgrace Mary (1:19). Whatever conversation had taken place between Mary and Joseph, it had been unsatisfactory to him. Humanly speaking, the only logical explanation was adultery. Legally, that left Joseph with three choices. He could call for her death by stoning. This was, however, rarely practiced in first-century, Rome-dominated Palestine. More likely would be a public divorce which would leave Mary shamed, shunned, eventually destitute, and probably without hope of a future marriage. Joseph chooses high ground and seeks to “put her away” privately (1:19), a divorce that would take place simply in front of only two witnesses.
III. He Was a Man God Could Talk To
Some people are hard to talk to—difficult to have a conversation with. Perhaps even God struggles to have a conversation with us at times. After all, the problem lies more with the intended listener than the initiator of the conversation—especially in a “God talking to me” setting.
We all need to hear from God, though, and the question may not so much be, is He talking?—as it is, have we conditioned and positioned ourselves for hearing and listening?
The evidence shows that Joseph was a man God could talk to. In the first dream, the angel affirms that Mary’s explanation of her condition is true (1:20). In a way the angel is saying, “Joseph, this is for real!” How we need to hear those words sometimes. When we are surprised by a blessing and there seems to be no logical explanation except God, how we need to hear, “This is for real!” How we need to hear it about the Christmas story itself!
In the second dream Joseph is warned of the deceitfulness and evil intent of Herod (2:13). This time the admonition is, “Joseph, there is danger is your present surroundings.” There are times in our lives when we need to let God talk to us about the danger in our present surroundings. There may be people, causes, things, or habits we are allowing ourselves to be exposed to that may be hazardous to spiritual health, if not our physical and emotional well-being.
In the third dream which takes places in Egypt (2:19), Joseph is told, “Things have changed.” Sometimes God is saying that, but we’re not hearing it, or perhaps, don’t want to. The truth is, people can change when God gets a hold on their life. A situation or opportunity may have changed because of what God has been able to do in us, and we are not the same person we were. How we need to hear sometimes that things have changed and there are new possibilities for growth, service, and relationships!
The fourth dream seems to be a “course correction.” The angel told him in Egypt to return to Israel. In truth, God is now giving Joseph the specifics. He can do that, you know. Joseph is told to go to Nazareth in Galilee (2:22). The angel of the Lord is saying, “This is where I want you.” These are wonderful words to hear! To know we are in the place where God wants us and can use us is a happy place to be!
Oh to be a person God can talk to—ready to hear: “This is for real!” –attuned to the warning: “There is danger in your present surroundings.” Open to the possibility that, “Things have changed.” Moving in obedience and in His Spirit that we might hear, “This is where I want you.” Lord, condition and position us for hearing and listening!
IV. He Was The Caretaker of God’s Gift
Both Mary and Joseph are told to call His name Jesus, but only Joseph is told, “He shall save His people from their sins (1:21). Only Joseph is clued in as to the great mission of Jesus. To Joseph falls the awesome task of caring for God’s gift to the world, watching over His physical well-being, safe-guarding Him from the evil forces that would mercilessly overtake an innocent Child.
Twice the angel instructs Joseph to “take the Child and His mother.” Twice Matthew narrates, “Joseph . . . took the Child and His mother . . . ” (2:13-15, 19-21). This is a reversal of the typical order. There is an indication in some sense here that the Child, rather than Mary, is Joseph’s first responsibility. It is primarily the Child he is to remove from Herod’s grasp. It is the Child that he is to return to Israel. It is the Child that is to find a safe haven in Nazareth of Galilee.
Have you ever felt like you have been made the caretaker of a gift? Personally, it is not a role that I relish. It is an intermediary, third-party role. Bearing a gift from one person to another, though it is not from me, yet I must own the responsibility for it’s safe and timely delivery, and take the blame if something happens to the gift in the process.
Yet, Joseph was a man that God put His finger upon and said, “You can do this. You’re My man. Take care of the Child. Joseph willingly accepted and faithfully accomplished his world-changing assignment.
V. He Was Told, “He Shall Save His People From Their Sins
He—God’s gift to the world is all wrapped up in Jesus.
Shall save—we all need saving. We were born perishing. Lost is our first condition.
His people—that extends to us. The gift is not exclusive. His royal blood can course through anyone’s veins!
From their sins—someone once said, “From the biblical perspective sin is the basic (if not always the immediate) cause of all other calamities.”
He shall save His people—not as they sin, not while they sin, not so they can survive or get by in sin, but He shall save them from their sins. He has appeared to put away sin (Hebrews 9:26). Adam Clarke said, “The perfection of the gospel system is not that it makes allowances for sin, but that it makes atonement for it.”
CONCLUSION:
There are four things to realize today. First of all, Joseph was the caretaker of God’s precious gift of salvation—Jesus. Secondly, he completed his mission. He successfully delivered that Gift to the people of his day, and by extension, to us. Thirdly, if we have accepted Jesus Christ as our personal savior, you and I, also, are caretakers of this Gift. Finally then, we must ask ourselves these questions: Will you and I complete our mission? Will we successfully deliver this Gift of Jesus to the persons God puts in our path? Will we be willing to say to those God gives us the opportunity to love things like:
• “This Jesus is for real”This is Christmas—Jesus! He shall save his people from their sins. He is the greatest gift we can receive, and He is a gift of which we, too, are called to be faithful caretakers. For this Jesus is the greatest gift we can receive, and the greatest gift we can give!
• “There is danger in the life you are living right now”
• “Things – and you – really can change”
• “This is what God wants for you—this is where He wants you to be”
Preached December 13, 2009, Gallatin First Free Methodist Church, Gallatin, Tennessee
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