Coty Pinckney Picture a nativity scene. Whether the scene consists of figurines in your home or of live persons and animals – what characters are in it?
- Mary
- The baby Jesus.
- Shepherds
- Wise men (though they didn’t arrive until several days after Jesus was born)
- Animals (though Scripture doesn’t tell us there were any animals present)
Whom did I leave out?
Joseph.
But leaving out Joseph is not unusual.
In Scripture, Joseph’s actions are only recorded in Matthew 1 and 2 and Luke 2. He is referred to five other places:
- In Jesus’s genealogies in Matthew 1 and Luke 3
- Two times in John’s Gospel Jesus is referred to as the “son of Joseph”
- Finally, in Matthew 13:55 Jesus is called “the carpenter’s son” – that’s the only verse that refers to Joseph’s profession. He’s a builder – probably working with both wood and stone.
So Scripture tells us little about Joseph.
Furthermore, Joseph tells us nothing about himself. Indeed, Joseph never speaks in Scripture.
- Mary speaks.
- Elizabeth speaks.
- Zechariah speaks (when he’s not muted by the angel Gabriel).
- The shepherds speak,
- The wise men speak,
- Even Balaam’s donkey speaks!
But Scripture records not one word from Joseph.
Furthermore, he disappears early in the story of Jesus. He’s present at Jesus’s birth; then when Jesus is 12, Joseph and Mary search for Him in Jerusalem after Passover. But as the narrative resumes when Jesus is about 30, Joseph is not there. Presumably he dies in the interim – but we don’t know when or how.
Thus, we know very little about Joseph.
So perhaps it’s not surprising that of the 461 songs we have sung at this church in the last almost 18 years, not one mentions Joseph.
Today we examine the Christmas story through the eyes of this man whom God chose as the earthly father of our Lord and Savior. As with Zechariah, we’ll look at Joseph’s faith – and how he fits together with those listed in the Hebrews 11 hall of fame for faith: Men and women who held firmly to God’s promises, and by His grace advanced His great plan, whether they had substantial earthly success or lost everything in this life.
Matthew gives the most detailed account of Joseph, so we’ll focus on the Christmas story told in Matthew 1:18-25 under these headings:
- A Deep Disappointment
- A Dramatic Dream
- A Costly Obedience
- Following Joseph’s Faith
A Deep Disappointment
Mary and Joseph are engaged to be married. In this culture, betrothal is binding, requiring a legal divorce to end. But there is no consummation of the marriage until the wedding day, when the groom takes his bride from her parents’ house.
Joseph knows Mary’s parents – the two families surely met to arrange the marriage. But most likely Joseph doesn’t know Mary well. They will have had little together, and most likely no time at all alone together.
Nevertheless, Joseph undoubtedly is excited, greatly looking forward to the marriage, confident that Mary is the wife God intends him to love and to serve, hopeful that they will have children together.
But then someone tells him the horrible news: Mary – his Mary, his lovely young fiancé, is pregnant. How could that happen?
He hasn’t even been permitted to be alone with her – how could someone else? This is completely contrary to all he knows about her. But then, he must admit he really doesn’t know that much.
Deeply disappointed, deeply saddened for her and her family, as well as for himself, he must act.
Marrying her is not even an option. What kind of wife will she be if she is unfaithful even during the engagement?
He only has two choices:
- He can stand her before the entire town, display her obvious pregnancy, swear that he has not touched her, and then say that he divorces her. This will publicly shame her and her family.
- Alternately, he can meet with her family with only two witnesses present and divorce her quietly.
Despite all his hurt, despite the temptation to lash out at the one whom he thinks has hurt him, Joseph decides on the second choice. This will be just – the right response to apparent sexual sin – and merciful – not putting Mary and her family to public shame.
A Dramatic Dream
Before he has acted, however, Joseph dreams. He sees an angel, a messenger from God.
What does the angel say?
The angel definitely speaks the words from the middle of verse 20 to the end of verse 21. A minority of scholars – including D.A. Carson – think the angel’s words continue through “Immanuel” in verse 23. Since there are no quotation marks in ancient Greek manuscripts, we can’t know with certainty.
Here then are the angel’s words, assuming the minority is right:
“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 this very one will save his people from their sins. All this has come about in order that the word spoken by the Lord through the prophet might be fulfilled: ‘Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel.” (Matthew 1:20b-23a ESV; verses 21-22, own translation).
What is the angel saying? Let me expand on these words with an interpretive paraphrase:
“Joseph, you fear that Mary has been unfaithful, that she has had sexual relations with another man. But that’s not the case. This pregnancy is not to her shame; rather, it is to her honor and glory. Indeed, this pregnancy is the greatest privilege imaginable. Remember the prophecy in Isaiah – ‘a virgin will conceive and bear a son, and that son will be Immanuel, God with us.’ That son – a descendant of David – will be the Messiah, the eternal king. Furthermore, that son will be not only a king, but also a Savior from sin. For Isaiah also prophesies, ‘The Lord will lay on Him the iniquity of you all.’ Those prophecies are now fulfilled. Mary is pregnant by the Holy Spirit – not by any man. Thus, this child is Immanuel. And you too, Joseph, have a great privilege. A thousand years ago, David was your ancestor. You are the heir of David – though there has been no king among your ancestors for over 500 years. But now your adopted son – this child in Mary’s womb – will be the suffering servant and eternal king. You will be his earthly father. You and Mary have central roles in God’s great plan. Take Mary as your wife.”
How does Joseph respond?
A Costly Obedience
In Zechariah’s case, the angel appears right next to him while he is serving in the temple. There can be no denying the reality of the angel.
In Joseph’s case, the angel appears in a dream. But Joseph doesn’t suggest, “Maybe I imagined that angel. Maybe it’s just wishful thinking on my part.”
Instead:
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 1:24-25)
Immediately, as soon as he woke up, Joseph goes to the house of Mary’s family. He has to bring witnesses – but not for divorce. Instead, they witness a private marriage ceremony. Joseph then takes Mary to his home, but does not have sexual relations with her until after she gives birth.
Then according to the angel’s command, he names the child Jesus – not Joseph. He is obedient.
This obedience is costly. What is the cost?
In the eyes of everyone around him, Joseph is a fool, a complete fool. There’s only one way for a young girl to get pregnant. So, everyone naturally assumes that’s the case. They think: Either Joseph lacks self-control; deceiving Mary’s parents, he arranged to have sexual relations with Mary before the wedding day. Alternately, Joseph marries a woman who has been sexually promiscuous while engaged. In either case: He’s a fool.
Realize: God asks Joseph to believe in a miracle when there is an obvious, natural explanation for the event. It’s one thing to believe a miracle has occurred when an elderly woman, long past the age of childbearing – like Elizabeth – gets pregnant. It’s quite another when a young teen gets pregnant – that’s not unusual! No miracle is necessary.
The stigma of this supposed shame follows Mary, Joseph, and Jesus for decades. For example, in John 8:41, some Jewish leaders arguing with Jesus say, “We were not born of sexual immorality” – implying, “Like you!”
To fulfill God’s plan, Joseph obeys the angel – and by faith takes on himself this disgrace.
So how might we add Joseph to Hebrews 11? What statement could we make about him?
Here’s my suggestion:
By faith, Joseph took on himself the public shame of marrying a pregnant girl. Believing in God’s promise of a Messiah and Savior, he looked not at his humble origins or his perceived social standing, but gladly and immediately accepted his role as the earthly father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Following Joseph’s Faith
Joseph’s example leads to five exhortations for us:
1) Believe God’s promises
The angel does not have to convince Joseph that the Messiah is coming. Joseph knew the Scriptures. He knew what God had promised. He trusted those promises. He did not know that God would send the Messiah during his lifetime, and he had no hint about the important role he would play. But because he believed in God’s promises, when the angel spoke, reminding him of Isaiah’s prophecy, he was ready to obey.
Just so with us.
- Believe Jesus is returning as promised
- Believe that God will fulfill His plan, bringing all those who are His to Himself
- Believe that those will include some from every tribe, tongue, people, and nation.
These are God’s promises. These are certain to come about. Trust those promises.
2) Believe that God is using you to fulfill His promises.
Believe not only that God will use you in the future; believe that He is using you now.
Note: Joseph was already engaged to Mary before the angel spoke. He thought he was simply picking an attractive and godly wife from a good family. But all the while he was fulfilling God’s plan.
Similarly, God is using you right now. Your family, your choices, your obedience – your failures, your hurts and even your sins – God weaves all this together to bring about the fulfillment of His every promise.
My role and your role are unlikely to be as prominent as Joseph’s. But God nevertheless is using you now even while He prepares you for the purpose you will fulfill in the future.
So trust Him. Step out. As with all those listed in Hebrews 11, you can’t know ahead of time how He will use you – but He will.
3) Speaking may not be important for fulfilling your role
We preachers are called to speak – and praise God for the way He uses preaching. Praise God also for the way He uses witnessing, and words of comfort and encouragement.
But none of Joseph’s words are recorded in Scripture – only his actions.
Perhaps your actions are much more important than your words in fulfilling your role in God’s great plan.
Ask: How can I act to show the preciousness and authority of Jesus? How can I act to display the Gospel?
4) Trust and obey today
Like Joseph, when you know what following God implies, act right away.
This doesn’t mean that we should act rashly (though undoubtedly our obedient actions – like Joseph’s – may appear to be rash to others.) Scripture elsewhere exhorts us to count the cost and to seek counsel.
But when you know what actions faith in God’s promises requires, step out. Don’t procrastinate. Don’t dawdle. Joseph upon waking took Mary as his wife. Act similarly.
5) Gladly accept the cost of following Jesus
Jesus the baby appeared to be the result of sexual immorality. Joseph appeared to be an absolute fool for marrying a girl he did not impregnate. Those rumors, that innuendo, followed Jesus and presumably Joseph their entire lives. The social cost was high.
And Jesus took on even more shame: Hanging naked on a cross, executed as a common criminal, taking on Himself the punishment deserved by all His people of every century. But Jesus endured the cross, scorning its shame, for the joy of playing His role in glorifying God through the redemption of all His beloved people. Now He is exalted to the highest place, seated at the right hand of God. He promises to return to right all wrongs, to establish justice, to usher in His eternal Kingdom, to perfect all His people – and to say to you face to face: “Enter into the joy of your master.”
He will say that to you if you are among His people.
Are you?
If you’re not sure: Look to Him! He is gracious, merciful, and slow to anger. He is love and mercy. Repent. Confess. And God will lay your every sin, your every disobedience, your every rebellion on Jesus. He will then justly accept you as His own.
If you are sure: Know: Whatever the cost, whatever the loss, whatever the shame of playing your role in following Jesus, He is worth it.
By faith, be like Joseph. Trust the promises. Fulfill your part in God’s plan. And enter the joy of your Master.
[This devotion is based on the December 20 sermon. You can watch or listen to that service here.]