The Christmas story characters- who would you choose?
- Hero
- The Magi
- Innkeeper
- Shepherds
- Angels
How about Joseph, the earthly father of Jesus?…
The forgotten one of Christmas??
Introduction to Joseph 101
- His father was Jacob.
- His families hometown was Bethlehem in Judea.
- Carpenter
- Poor man
- He was a righteous man, a keeper of the law.
- Probably still a teenager.
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. And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. 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. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us). 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 1:18-25 ESV
Betrothed
++Mary is pregnant
++And that is not my baby!!
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. – Matthew 1:18 ESV
What words would describe Joseph’s feelings and emotions?
Lets dig deeper…
Because Joseph was an observant Jew, the Law forbids him to marry her and could either divorce her or stone her to death.
But here is the greatness of a righteous man’s (husband, future father) heart…
His love and devotion covered her shame.
And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. –Matthew 1:19 ESV
“Righteous” (D Kai os: Greek) means: Interested in doing the right thing, honorable and good.
“Joseph” means “to add to”
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. –Matthew 1:20 ESV
God meets us at the point of our needs at exactly the right moment!
She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” –Matthew 1:21 ESV
“Jesus” means “Savior, God rescues”
“Save” is so-zo = “to rescue, to keep from harm”
“you (Joseph) shall call his name Jesus”
Biologically- Son of God
++Legally- son of Joseph, son of man, heir to the Davidic kingdom/lineage.
Why Joseph?
Here’s the reason God, the Father, chose Joseph to be the adoptive, earthly father to Jesus.
Joseph “did as the angel of the Lord commanded him.”
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 –Matthew 1:24-25 ESV
The choices of Joseph, the father.
1. By marrying Mary quickly, he broke all Jewish customs but protected Mary’s reputation.
2. By keeping her a virgin until after Jesus’ birth, he protected the miracle against slander by others.
3. By naming the baby, Joseph protected the family name.