Joseph

When it comes time to read the Christmas story, most people automatically turn in their Bibles to Luke chapter 2. This account paints a beautiful picture of Mary and the events that surrounded her as she gave birth to baby Jesus on that first Christmas night. I love this passage of scripture, but it really minimizes the role of one of my favorite characters from the Christmas story – Joseph.

I personally think that Joseph was pretty amazing, and the account of Jesus’ birth found in the first chapter of Matthew gives us some insight into Joseph’s story. Think about it – Joseph found out that his fiancée was pregnant – by someone else! He had to be crushed – not to mention a little bit angry – and I would imagine that Mary’s story about what had happened didn’t really make him feel any better… Until, an angel appeared to him in a dream and confirmed what had happened. The angel instructed him to take Mary as his wife and to give the baby the name Jesus. And, then comes the amazing part – Matthew 1:24 says: “When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife.” He didn’t argue with the angel. He didn’t say – I need to pray about it. He didn’t say – I need to talk to my mentors about it. He didn’t say – NO! He immediately did what the Lord commanded. That took faith and obedience. And, in his obedience, Matthew 1:22 tells us that he helped to fulfill a prophecy about the Messiah.

Fast forward to the visit of the wisemen: After they had left the family, an angel appeared again to Joseph and instructed him to take Mary and Jesus to Egypt in order to protect the child’s life. What was Joseph’s response? Matthew 2:14 says “So (Joseph) got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt.” He didn’t argue – He didn’t ask if he could wait until the morning – He didn’t explain how that really wasn’t a good idea since they didn’t know anyone in Egypt – He did ask where they would stay or how long they would be there. He just got up and went. Again, he showed himself to be a man of faith and obedience. And, again, he helped to fulfill a prophecy about the Messiah (Matthew 2:15).

His story continues much the same way throughout the rest of the second chapter of Matthew. God would speak, and Joseph would immediately obey. His heart was towards God. He had no idea of the importance of his actions. He didn’t realize that he was fulfilling prophecies. He didn’t fully understand God’s plan for this tiny baby that had been entrusted into his care for the few short years that He would live here on this earth. But, he loved the boy Jesus as his own child. He picked him up when he fell down. He tucked him into bed at night. He taught him the trade of carpentry. We don’t really hear much about Joseph after those short chapters in Matthew, but we know he was there – always in the background, always watching as the boy Jesus became a man, never turning back from the task that had been given him. A man of faith and obedience – a man who played an integral part in God’s plan to save the world…