As we turn our thoughts toward Christmas and its true meaning, the birth of Jesus, I’ve found myself viewing the story through a different lens this year. While the birth of Jesus is still the most important aspect, I’ve given a little more attention to a character that generally gets less attention: Joseph, Jesus’ earthly or adoptive father.
We aren’t given a whole lot of detail about Joseph or who he was. However, what we are told reveals a great deal about the type of man he was. From a few short passages in Matthew, we can tell several things about Joseph: 1) he was obedient to God, 2) he cared for Jesus and Mary, and 3) he was a selfless man. Joseph listened to and obeyed God’s direction for him concerning the child (Jesus) that God had entrusted to him
We aren’t given a whole lot of detail about Joseph or who he was. However, what we are told reveals a great deal about the type of man he was. From a few short passages in Matthew, we can tell several things about Joseph: 1) he was obedient to God, 2) he cared for Jesus and Mary, and 3) he was a selfless man. Joseph listened to and obeyed God’s direction for him concerning the child (Jesus) that God had entrusted to him
Not long before Joseph and Mary are to be married, Joseph discovers that Mary is pregnant and not by him. Because he “was faithful to the law” (Matt 1:19), Joseph planned to divorce Mary. His faithfulness to the law reveals Joseph’s desire to obey and, therefore, honor God. But pay close attention; Joseph was not going to just throw Mary out to deal with her shame. The passage (v. 19) goes on to say that he planned to “divorce her quietly” so as not “to expose her to public disgrace”. While Joseph was likely hurting and maybe even angry due to this unexpected turn of events, he still wanted to care for and protect Mary and her child. Then an angel explains to Joseph in a dream that Mary’s child was conceived from the Holy Spirit and that Joseph should still marry her. Seemingly without hesitation, Joseph wakes up and is obedient to the instructions given him. (Matthew 1:18-24)
Later on, another angel comes to Joseph in a dream telling him to flee to Egypt with Mary and Jesus to protect them from King Herod who wanted to kill Jesus for fear that he would try to overthrow Herod’s reign. Again, we see that Joseph woke up and obeyed these instructions. He actually got up in the middle of the night and left! No hesitation. After Herod died, Joseph was again told in a dream to take them to Israel and again on to Nazareth. Guess what…he did that too. (Matthew 2:13-23)
I hope you’re beginning to see my point. Joseph took obedience to God and caring for his family very seriously. None of this would have been easy or convenient for him, but he did it and seemingly without hesitation. What a humbling example. I wish I could say that I was the same. I can’t count how many times I’ve ignored God’s urgings or not cared for my wife as I should have because it wouldn’t have been easy or convenient for me. I admit I am a selfish man. Probably even more than I admit to myself. But this is something I’m working on. Going forward, I want to follow Joseph’s example of godly obedience and caring for my family. Especially as Beth and I grow our family through adoption, I want to be an example of a godly man for Baby Burge. I thank God that I have many examples of what this should look like in my life from Jesus’ father Joseph, awesome men in my church, and especially my own father.
Merry Christmas,
Craig
Later on, another angel comes to Joseph in a dream telling him to flee to Egypt with Mary and Jesus to protect them from King Herod who wanted to kill Jesus for fear that he would try to overthrow Herod’s reign. Again, we see that Joseph woke up and obeyed these instructions. He actually got up in the middle of the night and left! No hesitation. After Herod died, Joseph was again told in a dream to take them to Israel and again on to Nazareth. Guess what…he did that too. (Matthew 2:13-23)
I hope you’re beginning to see my point. Joseph took obedience to God and caring for his family very seriously. None of this would have been easy or convenient for him, but he did it and seemingly without hesitation. What a humbling example. I wish I could say that I was the same. I can’t count how many times I’ve ignored God’s urgings or not cared for my wife as I should have because it wouldn’t have been easy or convenient for me. I admit I am a selfish man. Probably even more than I admit to myself. But this is something I’m working on. Going forward, I want to follow Joseph’s example of godly obedience and caring for my family. Especially as Beth and I grow our family through adoption, I want to be an example of a godly man for Baby Burge. I thank God that I have many examples of what this should look like in my life from Jesus’ father Joseph, awesome men in my church, and especially my own father.
Merry Christmas,
Craig
