Subject – The Christmas Story: JOSEPH . . . More Than Just an Ordinary Joe!
Text – Matthew 1:18-19; Luke 1:26-27;
“Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. 19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily.” Matthew 1:18-19 (KJV)
“And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, 27 To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.” Luke 1:26-27 (KJV)
INTRODUCTION –
As we look at “The Christmas Story” as written in the Holy Bible, it is usually this account written in the gospel of Matthew where our discussion about Joseph begins. There is not a whole said about Joseph in the scriptures, but that doesn’t mean that there isn’t a whole lot to be said about Joseph.
Joseph is more than just the man who was to be the husband of Mary; Joseph was a very important part of Jesus’ history and prophecy. Of the four gospels, only Matthew and Luke give us an account of Joseph (with the exception of John where Jesus is referred to as the “son of Joseph.” (John 1:45; 6:42). The last account we have of Joseph in the New Testament is found in Luke 2:48:
“And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing.” Luke 2:48 (KJV)
There may not be a lot of things said about Joseph, but what is said has a lot of importance. As we look into our texts for today, we are going to see that Joseph wasn’t just some ordinary Joe!
POINTS –
- “Then Joseph her husband” (Matt.1:19) – In line with the customs of his culture, we see where being betrothed (engaged) meant almost as much as being married (expound).
- “Being a just man” (v. 19) – It is safe to say that Joseph was a righteous and God-fearing man; look at how he dealt with the horrific news of his betrothed being pregnant by someone besides him! (Expound).
- “Not willing to make her a public example” (v. 19) – We see some fruit of the Spirit in Joseph, as well as some wisdom and common sense in how he had decided he was going to deal with this situation (expound).
- “Was minded to put her away privily” (v. 19) – As we already mentioned, Joseph was not going to marry a woman who was supposed to be a virgin, but wound up pregnant by someone who was not him; I can see where Joseph would have thought it wise to make it a quiet divorce (expound). It was at this time Joseph had the first of four dreams:
- “But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. 21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins.” Matthew 1:21 (KJV)
- “And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.” Matthew 2:13 (KJV)
- “ But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, 20 Saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead which sought the young child’s life. 21 And he arose, and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel.” Matthew 2:19-21 (KJV)
- “When he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judaea in the room of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither: notwithstanding, being warned of God in a dream, he turned aside into the parts of Galilee: 23 And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene.” Matthew 2:22-23 (KJV)
CONCLUSION – I have stated earlier that Joseph was of historical and Prophetical importance. Remember when I read Luke 1:26-27 as part of our text for today? Well these verses along with Isaiah helps show Prophetical and Historical points about Jesus:
“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.” Isaiah 9:6-7 (KJV)
“And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse*, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: 2 And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord; 3 And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the Lord: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears: 4 But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth: with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked. 5 And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins.” Isaiah 11:1-5 (KJV)
*David’s father
“To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.” Luke 1:27
As you can see, there is a lot of things to talk about when it comes to Joseph. Joseph was more than just an ordinary Joe! Joseph was part of David’s lineage and thus making him part of the prophecy of Jesus’ birth. I also want you to take note that even though there is so much to talk about when it comes to Joseph, there is no written account of Joseph actually saying anything!