Advent III Willing to Obey
Matthew 1:18-25
Awkward. That's what it was. Mary, his betrothed, was pregnant.... and he wasn't the father. What was Joseph suppose to do? "Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly." (Matt. 1:19)
But Joseph doesn't go through with his plan. Instead he takes Mary home as his wife (Matt. 1:24) because the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and told him to. He also told him the good news that Mary's child is "from the Holy Spirit" and that Joseph is to name Him "Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins" (Matt. 1:20-21).
What an challenging position Joseph was in! He seemed to be a gentle sort of man since he was thinking about a quiet divorce instead of publically disgracing (or stoning???) Mary. But his desire to avoid public attention doesn't keep him from be willing to obey the messenger of God despite the difficult circumstances. Yes, it was Mary whose belly would be growing, but it was Joseph's house she now lived in and once Jesus was born, it would be pretty easy for everyone to figure out that she was pregnant before they got married. What did Joseph endure for the sake of God? Nothing is said in the Bible about what the neighbours in Nazareth were thinking. In fact, Joseph ended up going through much more than a little public humilitation because of obeying God. He witnessed Jesus's birth in a manger because there was no where to stay in Bethlehem (Luke 2:7), he encountered wise men from the east and their expensive gifts (Matt. 2:11), he had to flee to Mary and Jesus to Egypt to escape wrathful King Herod (Matt. 2:13-5), and finally he was able to come back to Nazareth to settle down (Matt. 2:19-23).
Obeying God can be complicated at times. It can be unpopular, maybe socially awkward, stressful and even dangerous. Joseph is an example to us of someone who was righteous and lived that out regardless of what the possible outcomes of his obedience were. This Advent season, may Joseph be an inspiration to all of us to be willing to obey God in all circumstances.
Awkward. That's what it was. Mary, his betrothed, was pregnant.... and he wasn't the father. What was Joseph suppose to do? "Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly." (Matt. 1:19)
But Joseph doesn't go through with his plan. Instead he takes Mary home as his wife (Matt. 1:24) because the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and told him to. He also told him the good news that Mary's child is "from the Holy Spirit" and that Joseph is to name Him "Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins" (Matt. 1:20-21).
What an challenging position Joseph was in! He seemed to be a gentle sort of man since he was thinking about a quiet divorce instead of publically disgracing (or stoning???) Mary. But his desire to avoid public attention doesn't keep him from be willing to obey the messenger of God despite the difficult circumstances. Yes, it was Mary whose belly would be growing, but it was Joseph's house she now lived in and once Jesus was born, it would be pretty easy for everyone to figure out that she was pregnant before they got married. What did Joseph endure for the sake of God? Nothing is said in the Bible about what the neighbours in Nazareth were thinking. In fact, Joseph ended up going through much more than a little public humilitation because of obeying God. He witnessed Jesus's birth in a manger because there was no where to stay in Bethlehem (Luke 2:7), he encountered wise men from the east and their expensive gifts (Matt. 2:11), he had to flee to Mary and Jesus to Egypt to escape wrathful King Herod (Matt. 2:13-5), and finally he was able to come back to Nazareth to settle down (Matt. 2:19-23).
Obeying God can be complicated at times. It can be unpopular, maybe socially awkward, stressful and even dangerous. Joseph is an example to us of someone who was righteous and lived that out regardless of what the possible outcomes of his obedience were. This Advent season, may Joseph be an inspiration to all of us to be willing to obey God in all circumstances.
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