We are going to close out the year by looking at 25 posts on Mary and Joseph for Advent. Part 5: Joseph’s sacrifice.
Matthew 1:18-25 (NLT)
18 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.
Dear God,
There is so much here. In fact, I could just stop at verses 18 and 19. In fact, I just might. I think it is good to sit with Joseph in the moment of verse 19 for a while.
18 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.
What are the range of emotions this man must have experienced?
● Anger
● Betrayal
● Confusion
● Hate
● Love
● Compassion
● Mercy
What impresses me is the last half of the list I just made triumphed over the first half of the list. In fact, I would never have suspected him of experiencing love, compassion, or mercy, except that he lived out those three emotions through his actions.
As a dad, a husband, and in many other parts of my life, I have been betrayed, and there were times I did not allow love, compassion, and mercy to triumph over anger, betrayal, confusion, and hate. I have avenged myself. I have struck back. I have betrayed in return. I have done it all. Sure, sometimes I have done it right, but in light of what Joseph did here, all I can remember at the moment are my failures.
So what would deciding to divorce her quietly cost him? What would mercy, compassion, and love cost him? Amid his pain, he not only chose to show her mercy, but he actually put a lot at risk as well.
● Reputation. If she were to have been sent on her way, it could have been said of him that he had gotten her pregnant. Even if she moved to live with Elizabeth, rumors would have flown around town. How would that have impacted his future earnings as a carpenter? His future marriage or ability to marry? His standing in the temple?
● Money. As I mentioned above, this could impact people’s willingness to do business with him. Would they see him as a barbarian who got Mary pregnant and then refused to do the right thing?
● Marriage. It could have impacted his ability to court and marry another woman. Who would trust him now?
● Temple. He would potentially never be respected and given any responsibilities as an upstanding member in the community.
And what would have happened if he did not divorce her quietly? What if he had allowed the instincts I would have followed to rule the day? What if he gave in to the anger, betrayal, confusion, and hate? Well, the simple answer is that he could have gotten Mary and her unborn baby killed. You needed him to be the man he was for your plan to work. And you knew him.
I think it is also important to point out that his angel visit came after he learned Mary was pregnant. Knowing how he responded before the angel told him it was okay reveals so much about Joseph’s character.
Father, thank you for creating people like Joseph in the world. Thank you that you created him and prepared him for such a time as this. I am sorry for him that his earthly life was not easy. In fact, it was decidedly harder because of his obedience to you. It seems unfair, but none of this must be fair. It is not about us. It was not about Joseph. He probably would have been the first one to say that given his response to Mary’s pregnancy. And it is not about me either, although I am not always the first one to say that. It is all about you and the plan you have for the world through my life. Help me to live into that knowledge with my whole heart and not just my head.
I pray this in Jesus and with your Holy Spirit,
Amen
