Two year ago I wrote the Faith of Joseph of Nazareth .
Matthew 1:18-19 (HCSB) 18 The birth of Jesus Christ came about this way: After His mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, it was discovered before they came together that she was pregnant by the Holy Spirit. 19 So her husband Joseph, being a righteous man, and not wanting to disgrace her publicly, decided to divorce her secretly.
Then he got a visit from an angel;
Matthew 1:20-25 (HCSB) 20 But after he had considered these things, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, don’t be afraid to take Mary as your wife, because what has been conceived in her is by the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to name Him Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.” 22 Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet: 23 See, the virgin will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and they will name Him Immanuel, which is translated “God is with us.” 24 When Joseph got up from sleeping, he did as the Lord’s angel had commanded him. He married her 25 but did not know her intimately until she gave birth to a son.
If he confessed that he was not the father, Mary would be condemned as an adulteress. If he lied and claimed to be the father, the reputations of all and the qualifications of Jesus as Messiah would be tarnished.
His decision was to take Mary as his wife, to keep her a virgin until after the birth of Jesus, and to serve as the father of our Lord, protecting him from danger. It took a lot of faith for Joseph to choose this last option.
Matthew 1:18-19 (HCSB) 18 The birth of Jesus Christ came about this way: After His mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, it was discovered before they came together that she was pregnant by the Holy Spirit. 19 So her husband Joseph, being a righteous man, and not wanting to disgrace her publicly, decided to divorce her secretly.
Then he got a visit from an angel;
Matthew 1:20-25 (HCSB) 20 But after he had considered these things, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, don’t be afraid to take Mary as your wife, because what has been conceived in her is by the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to name Him Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.” 22 Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet: 23 See, the virgin will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and they will name Him Immanuel, which is translated “God is with us.” 24 When Joseph got up from sleeping, he did as the Lord’s angel had commanded him. He married her 25 but did not know her intimately until she gave birth to a son.
If he confessed that he was not the father, Mary would be condemned as an adulteress. If he lied and claimed to be the father, the reputations of all and the qualifications of Jesus as Messiah would be tarnished.
His decision was to take Mary as his wife, to keep her a virgin until after the birth of Jesus, and to serve as the father of our Lord, protecting him from danger. It took a lot of faith for Joseph to choose this last option.
What Can We Learn For Joseph’s Faith?
Editor’s Note: Some content from 5 Things We Learn from Joseph's Faith by Debbie W. Wilson
1. By Faith Joseph Displayed Kindness under Pressure
From a human viewpoint, Joseph had every right to be angry. His fiance unexpectedly left town for three months and returned three months pregnant! Her story about an angel’s visit and still being a virgin—but pregnant—must have sent him reeling. Under the Mosaic Law he had every right to divorce Mary.
Matthew 1:18-19 (HCSB)18 The birth of Jesus Christ came about this way: After His mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, it was discovered before they came together that she was pregnant by the Holy Spirit.19 So her husband Joseph, being a righteous man, and not wanting to disgrace her publicly, decided to divorce her secretly.
How could he have been so deceived about Mary’s character? And why would she make up such a ridiculous story about an angel’s visit to cover her betrayal?
There’d never been a virgin birth before. It was natural for Joseph to doubt Mary’s explanation. Yet Joseph’s faith guided him to be kind even when his emotions whirled within him. He chose to quietly divorce her and protect her from public shame.
Joseph models a Christ-like response to betrayal. Kindness and grace leave the door open for the wrongdoer to repent and be restored to God and his people. In Joseph’s case, when Mary’s reputation was cleared, he had to deal only with having doubted her story. He had no regrets about how he had handled the matter.
Joseph’s kindness with Mary when he believed she’d betrayed him shows the kindness faith produces even under pressure.
Galatians 5:22-23 (HCSB)22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith,23 gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law.
2. By Faith Joseph Showed CourageMatthew 1:20 (HCSB)20 But after he had considered these things, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, don’t be afraid to take Mary as your wife, because what has been conceived in her is by the Holy Spirit.
Why was Joseph afraid? The obvious answer is that he feared Mary was involved or had been with another man, that she was immoral and not the person he’d believed her to be. Since he hadn’t heard from God at this time, how could he believe Mary? How could he ever trust her? How could he raise another man’s child?
The angel quieted this fear. There was no other man. Mary had told him the truth. She was carrying the Son of God.
I imagine other fears also taunted Joseph. Mary was three months pregnant at this point. To take her as his wife made him look immoral. What would this do to his standing in the Jewish community? Would his carpentry business suffer? Would they be thrown out of the synagogue and shunned by family and friends?
But when Joseph heard that this was God’s plan for him, all other concerns melted. He put aside his fears and followed God in faith. Joseph didn’t deny the challenges involved, but he accepted God’s plan with courageous faith.
When we know and trust God, we too find the courage to face our fears and follow Him.
Editor’s Note: Some content from 5 Things We Learn from Joseph's Faith by Debbie W. Wilson
1. By Faith Joseph Displayed Kindness under Pressure
From a human viewpoint, Joseph had every right to be angry. His fiance unexpectedly left town for three months and returned three months pregnant! Her story about an angel’s visit and still being a virgin—but pregnant—must have sent him reeling. Under the Mosaic Law he had every right to divorce Mary.
Matthew 1:18-19 (HCSB)18 The birth of Jesus Christ came about this way: After His mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, it was discovered before they came together that she was pregnant by the Holy Spirit.19 So her husband Joseph, being a righteous man, and not wanting to disgrace her publicly, decided to divorce her secretly.
How could he have been so deceived about Mary’s character? And why would she make up such a ridiculous story about an angel’s visit to cover her betrayal?
There’d never been a virgin birth before. It was natural for Joseph to doubt Mary’s explanation. Yet Joseph’s faith guided him to be kind even when his emotions whirled within him. He chose to quietly divorce her and protect her from public shame.
Joseph models a Christ-like response to betrayal. Kindness and grace leave the door open for the wrongdoer to repent and be restored to God and his people. In Joseph’s case, when Mary’s reputation was cleared, he had to deal only with having doubted her story. He had no regrets about how he had handled the matter.
Joseph’s kindness with Mary when he believed she’d betrayed him shows the kindness faith produces even under pressure.
Galatians 5:22-23 (HCSB)22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith,23 gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law.
2. By Faith Joseph Showed CourageMatthew 1:20 (HCSB)20 But after he had considered these things, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, don’t be afraid to take Mary as your wife, because what has been conceived in her is by the Holy Spirit.
Why was Joseph afraid? The obvious answer is that he feared Mary was involved or had been with another man, that she was immoral and not the person he’d believed her to be. Since he hadn’t heard from God at this time, how could he believe Mary? How could he ever trust her? How could he raise another man’s child?
The angel quieted this fear. There was no other man. Mary had told him the truth. She was carrying the Son of God.
I imagine other fears also taunted Joseph. Mary was three months pregnant at this point. To take her as his wife made him look immoral. What would this do to his standing in the Jewish community? Would his carpentry business suffer? Would they be thrown out of the synagogue and shunned by family and friends?
But when Joseph heard that this was God’s plan for him, all other concerns melted. He put aside his fears and followed God in faith. Joseph didn’t deny the challenges involved, but he accepted God’s plan with courageous faith.
When we know and trust God, we too find the courage to face our fears and follow Him.
3. By Faith Joseph Received Guidance and Revelation
Matthew 1:21 (HCSB)21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to name Him Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.”
Matthew 2:13 (HCSB)13 After they were gone, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Get up! Take the child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I tell you. For Herod is about to search for the child to destroy Him.”
God warned and directed Joseph step by step. The Bible says God still shares insights with those who walk with Him.
John 16:33 (HCSB)33 I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world.”
And He directs our path
Proverbs 16:9 (HCSB)9 A man’s heart plans his way, but the LORD determines his steps.
4. By Faith Joseph Obeyed God
Joseph demonstrates the obedience of faith. Three times when an angel spoke to him in a dream he immediately obeyed.
Matthew 1:24 (HCSB)24 When Joseph got up from sleeping, he did as the Lord’s angel had commanded him. He married her
Matthew 2:13-14 (HCSB)13 After they were gone, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Get up! Take the child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I tell you. For Herod is about to search for the child to destroy Him.”14 So he got up, took the child and His mother during the night, and escaped to Egypt.
Matthew 2:19-21 (HCSB)19 After Herod died, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt,20 saying, “Get up! Take the child and His mother and go to the land of Israel, because those who sought the child’s life are dead.”21 So he got up, took the child and His mother, and entered the land of Israel.
Joseph’s obedience showed his trust in God’s wisdom and provision for the unknown.
5. By Faith Joseph Lived Within His MeansAt we often feel pressure to spend more than we should, especially when we want to please our family and friends with great gifts.
We can learn humility from Joseph and Mary. At the circumcision of Jesus — God’s very Son — Mary and Joseph didn’t offer a lamb, but the lesser offering of a pair of doves or pigeons, because they couldn’t afford a lamb.
Leviticus 12:6-8 (HCSB)6 “When her days of purification are complete, whether for a son or daughter, she is to bring to the priest at the entrance to the tent of meeting a year-old male lamb for a burnt offering, and a young pigeon or a turtledove for a sin offering.7 He will present them before the LORD and make atonement on her behalf; she will be clean from her discharge of blood. This is the law for a woman giving birth, whether to a male or female.8 But if she doesn’t have sufficient means for a sheep, she may take two turtledoves or two young pigeons, one for a burnt offering and the other for a sin offering. Then the priest will make atonement on her behalf, and she will be clean.”
When we’re tempted to react, feel sorry for ourselves, delay obedience, or overindulge this season, may Joseph’s example bolster our faith to live courageously and in step with our Savior.
RSS Feed