We continue our journey with the players of the Christmas story, and today we look to Joseph, the earthly father of our Savior. We know some about him but not a lot.
Joseph was from the right family, was a righteous man, and he was a tradesman, a carpenter. This was a great time in his life as he was engaged to be married to Mary, the player we talked about yesterday. He was a good bit older than her at the time.
Then all his world began to spin. Things went off track real quick, and he had to make some decisions. When Joseph learned that his wife to be was pregnant and that he wasn’t the father, Joseph was going to make some hard choices, yet in the middle of those choices, he was going to be kind to Mary.
Let’s listen to the story for a minute.
Matthew 1:18-25 NLT
This is how Jesus the Messiah was born. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. But before the marriage took place, while she was still a virgin, she became pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit. 19 Joseph, to whom she was engaged, was a righteous man and did not want to disgrace her publicly, so he decided to break the engagement quietly. 20 As he considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. “Joseph, son of David,” the angel said, “do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. 21 And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 22 All of this occurred to fulfill the Lord’s message through his prophet: 23 “Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us.’” 24 When Joseph woke up, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded and took Mary as his wife. 25 But he did not have sexual relations with her until her son was born. And Joseph named him Jesus.
We learn much about this man from these eight verses. There are several things that apply to us as well.
The fact that the baby that will be born is different may be the biggest take away from what we just read and have heard for years. This is not just a baby. This is the son of God. This is God with us. This is the plan of God for the entire world, in Joseph’s time and until eternity.
Joseph was chosen to be a key player in the life of our Savior. He was chosen by God, as we have been similarly chosen. He was to be His earthly father which is an important role. We do know that Joseph was a righteous man and he was from the right family.
Like us and like Mary, and I would most certainly understand, he had some questions and a lot of fear to move forward with the marriage to Mary. But God removed his fear. As he learned of God’s plan his faith began to grow.
We see his determination and his father in the last two verses. He like Mary did what the angel of God told him. And because of his choice Jesus, the Savior of the world, found a home with Joseph and his wife Mary.
God prepared a way, for Joseph and the world, for all to see the goodness of God as well as the good plan of our gracious God to come to earth for our short comings. Jesus was God in the flesh, plan in hand and life to live. A life not for Himself but for us. For Joseph and others.
May we like Joseph be open to the way for the Savior each and every day. If we or our family have not met and come to know Jesus, may this be the time that it happens. May others through us from to know the baby born to Joseph and Mary, and may that meeting make a profound difference in us and in many others.
Have a great and blessed week of Christmas!
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