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Joseph
So, tonight I would like to start a mini series on three of the main Characters of the Christmas story.
Our first
Joseph was a man hand-picked and personally prepared by God for a special mission, his life was not without its trials and tragedies.
In fact, Joseph faced, weathered and overcame trials that would have derailed many other people.
A quick look at what Joseph faced and how he reacted can help us as we seek to become all the Lord would have us to be.
Matthew 1:18-25
I. Who Was Joseph
Joseph = let him add.
Joseph was of Royal descent (Mat 1:6) we are shown Josephs lineage Through David to Solomon.
It would appear that Joseph was no ordinary man.
From our text, it is easy to see that Joseph was a man of compassion, integrity, decency and love.
He was a man who honoured God’s will in his life, and was totally committed to doing God’s will.
Joseph was a humble man who was more concerned about what God wanted out of his life than about what he himself wanted.
II.
Where Was Joseph From?
We know from Luke chapter 2 that he lived in the city of Nazareth in the region of Galilee, but his place of birth was Bethlehem.
Not much else is said about where he is from.
III.
What was he like?
well As you know, this man Joseph was betrothed to a young woman named Mary.
The betrothal period was, for all intents and purposes, just like a marriage, except for the fact that the couple did not live together and did not engage in physical relations.
Both parties were expected to keep themselves pure for the day they physically came together as husband and wife.
It was common for the betrothal period to last several months or longer.
It was during this period of time that Joseph discovers the Mary is pregnant.
No doubt, she shared with him her side of the story as the phrase “she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.”
But, who had ever heard of such a thing?
Joseph knows where babies come from and to him, this is a shocking discovery!
No doubt like most men, Joseph was looking forward to the day when he and Mary came together to share their lives.
He was probably preparing the home where they would live.
He was busy putting together all the things they would need as husband and wife.
I am sure his days were filled with work and his nights with dreams about all the future held for Mary, for himself and for the children they would someday have together.
Then, like a cruel slap in the face, came the news that shattered all his hopes and his dreams.
Mary is pregnant and Joseph is not the father.
For a time, it must have felt like his heart had been ripped from his chest.
It must have hurt as every dream he had came crashing down around him.
All of his plans, his hopes and his dreams fell from his grasp as though they were grains of sand.
It was a time of shattered dreams.
What was Jospeh to do? Well in our Text we see why he was able to be the right man for the job.
A. A Just Man
– Matthew 1:19
Now, Joseph is faced with a dilemma.
The Bible says that he was a “just” man.
This means that he was “righteous and one who kept the divine laws.”
He knows what the Law says.
It is quite clear!
When a woman is found guilty of adultery, she is to be stoned to death, Deut.
22:20-21.
But, there is another option.
Deut.
24:1 says that he can just give her a bill of divorcement and send her away.
As he meditates, Joseph determines that he does not want to embarrass Mary publicly; he does not want to see her stoned to death either.
in his mind, the best course of action is to deal with the matter privately, and just divorce her quietly.
No doubt the things Joseph pondered broke his heart.
It was a time for sorrowful decisions!
Some people maybe even his own realitives would blame Joseph for his clemency: I mean who would blame him.
His own ancestor dealt with this kind of thing with swift punishment Gen. 38:24
but it is here that it is spoken of to his praise;
because he was a just man, therefore he was not willing to expose her.
He was a religious, good man; and therefore inclined to be merciful as God is, and to forgive as one that was forgiven.
So he was a Just man \
next He was
B. A Spiritual Man
– Matthew 1:20 - 23
Joseph does not take matters into his own hands, he doesn’t make a rash decision in the heat of the moment.
The Bible says that he “thought on these things.”
You can imagine Joseph laying this all before the Lord, asking Him what he should do.
Mat 21:22
Joseph gets his answer.
Joseph is instructed that he is not to divorce Mary and he is not to have her stoned; but he is to take to himself as his wife, and he is to embrace her child as if He was his own Son.
Joseph is told to name the Child, thus he is given the responsibility of caring for and of providing for the Baby Jesus.
This man is handed a difficult task.
After hearing what is required in his task, Joseph learns the amazing truth.
The baby Mary carries is to be fulfilment of the greatest promise God ever gave to man, then, Joseph hears the angel tell him that this child is to be named “Jesus.”
Why?
Because He will be the One Who will save His people from their sins.
His name will define His mission, “Jehovah is Salvation.”
How would you react?
Would you fly off the handle, would we say something that you would later regret?
Would you act in the heat of the moment?
Would you do the unthinkable?
I know that’s extreme but you can see the point.
Take it to the Lord in Prayer – don’t react, don’t fly off the handle, take time to think, and take time to pray about all situations because what you may see as a problem God sees a plan.
Jospeh was A Just man
He was a spiritual man
C. A Faithful Man
– Matthew 1:24
The real test of maturity is not what a person faces in life, nor is it revealed in what they are called on to do.
The real evidence of the depth of a person’s character is seen in what they do with what they are handed.
It is one thing to be placed in a trial;
but it is another thing altogether to respond to that trial in a proper manner.
It is one thing to be called to carry out a task for the Lord;
but it is another thing altogether to do it without question.
In Joseph’s response we are given a priceless glimpse of this man’s testimony.
Many men would have walked away from the Lord and from Mary at that moment.
But, not Joseph!
As soon as he awoke, he rose and carried out the command of the Lord.
There is no doubt that people talked about this young couple that had been unable and unwilling to wait until they were “properly married.”
At this moment in Joseph’s life, he was not interested in what the community thought about him;
he simply wanted to carry out the will of the Lord for his life.
In spite of his question, his fears and his concerns, Joseph sets out by faith to obey the Lord.
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