Joseph (Matthew 1:18-25)
Joseph (Matthew
1:18-25)
In
the Cherry Tree Carol, the legend says that Mary and Joseph, while traveling to
Bethlehem, came to a cherry tree grove ripe with fruit. Thinking about her
child and her own body’s need, Mary asked Joseph to pick her some cherries.
Joseph, however, angrily snapped at Mary, “Let the father of the child get you
cherries!” It’s clear Joseph still was struggling with his role in God’s plan.
Did he doubt the angel who warned him in a dream? Did he doubt himself? Was his
dream simply wishful thinking, trying to let Mary off the hook for infidelity?
As much as we want to make him a Bible hero, Joseph was human after all.
Joseph and Mary in the Cherry Tree Carol
Like
with Mary, there’s very little the scripture tells us about the man who raised
Jesus. He isn’t mentioned at all in Mark’s gospel account.
In
John, Jesus is called the son of Joseph twice. In the same manner, Luke
mentions Joseph only as a parent of Jesus. Joseph doesn’t speak in any New Testament
passage.
Matthew’s
telling of Jesus’ birth comes from Joseph’s experience, not Mary’s. We learn
three things about Joseph in these 8 verses. Joseph was righteous, merciful,
and obedient.
Joseph
was righteous. To be known as righteous in Judaism, one must show a consistent
observance of the law of Moses. His moral life was unquestionably good. His
religious life was marked by faithful attendance to synagogue, paying his tithe
to the temple, and making pilgrimage to Jerusalem’s annual festivals.
According
to the Jewish Virtual Library, RIGHTEOUSNESS is the fulfillment of all legal
and moral obligations. Righteousness is not an abstract notion but rather
consists in doing what is just and right in all relationships; "…keeping
justice and doing right at all times." Righteous action results in social
stability and ultimately in peace: The work of righteousness shall be peace.
The
scriptures reveal that all humanity sins. All of us think and behave in ways
that are not right at moments in our lives. In anger, we sin. In grief, we
despair and isolate. We sometimes treat others with contempt. In fear, we fail
to do the good we know we should. All have sinned and fallen short of the glory
of God. (Romans 3:23). Ecclesiastes 7:20 says, “For there is not one
truly righteous person on the earth
who continually does good and never sins.”
So
how is Joseph righteous if everyone sins? The apostle Paul called himself
blameless. No one could point to any wrongdoing under the law of Moses. But
then, he met Jesus. Paul’s understanding of righteousness changed. True
righteousness comes from a transformed heart, set free by the grace of God.
Even the redeemed forget to rely on Christ and sin again. Therefore, no one is
declared righteous before God by the works of the law. (Rom 3:20; Psa 143:2)
None
of us can boast righteousness before God. Indeed, Jesus referred to his own
disciples as evil. “If you then, although you are evil, know how to give
good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good
gifts to those who ask him!” (Mat 7:11) These were god-fearing men
who left family and jobs to follow Jesus. Yet compared to the perfect goodness
of God, all humans are evil. Not criminal, but not righteous either. This is
why salvation through Jesus is the remedy to our human condition. It is His
righteousness that saves us. It is God’s mercy that sets us free from sin, and His
love transforms us.
But
Luke calls Joseph righteous. He consistently kept the law of Moses, but that
doesn’t mean he didn’t make mistakes for which he must atone. That doesn’t mean
he didn’t have moments when his feelings of betrayal got the better of him,
like in the story of the Cherry Tree Carol. Joseph was short with Mary and
refused to get her nourishment.
Joseph
was reminded of exactly who Mary was carrying in her womb. At the command of
Jesus within her womb, the cherry trees bowed low for Mary, and she picked
cherries to eat for herself and her child.
Joseph
was a god-fearing man who faithfully kept the law of Moses. He had a good
reputation among his fellow Jews. He was known as a righteous man you could
count on.
Joseph
was merciful.
He didn’t want to see Mary harmed. He had compassion for her, even though her
perceived betrayal hurt him. Everyone assumed Mary had been with another man. Mary
could have been stoned to death for her pregnancy. Joseph didn’t want revenge,
nor did he require Mary’s punishment. Instead, Joseph chose to divorce Mary
quietly.
Joseph
was merciful. He loved Mary. His love for her spoke louder than his pain.
Rather than pursue punishment, Joseph decided to free Mary from their betrothal.
When
I am wronged, mercy is far from my heart. I want to cut them off. I want to
lash out with angry words. Violent fantasies can fill my head. That is the
carnal sinner within me. Then the love of God softens my heart. I remember times
when I treated others badly. I failed to put the needs of others before my own.
I have failed to be a good friend. I have sinned. And God has forgiven me.
The
apostle wrote,
Bear
with one another and forgive one another… Just as the Lord has forgiven
you, so you also forgive others. (Col 3:13)
What
makes a person choose mercy? A good and faithful Jew like Joseph practices
mercy because the word of God compels them to be merciful. A key attribute of
God’s character is mercy.
The
Lord is gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love (Exodus 34:6).
The prophet Micah proclaimed, “You know what the Lord requires of you: Act
justly, love mercy, and walk humbly before your God (Micah 6:8). The psalmist
writes:
Defend
the cause of the poor and the fatherless.
Vindicate the oppressed and suffering.
Rescue the poor and needy.
Deliver them from the power of the wicked. (Psalm 82:3-4)
Joseph
was a descendant of King David. David’s own story showed him to be a valiant
warrior. But David could show mercy. David could have killed King Saul. Even
though God had chosen David as king, he continued to honor Saul as the Lord’s
anointed. Saul tried to kill David, but David refused to harm Saul. He showed
incredible mercy.
On
the run from King Saul, David and his men lived in caves. They sought food from
a wealthy rancher. He refused them. David was angered and rallied 400 men with
swords to kill the rancher. But Abigail, the rancher’s wife, interceded. She
brought food and supplies to David, without her husband’s approval, and begged
for mercy. Moved by her kind gesture, David promised not to harm the man. (1st
Samuel 25)
Growing
up as a descendant of David, Joseph surely took pride in his lineage. He knew David’s
example of mercy. Before he knew that Mary carried God’s son, Joseph showed her
mercy.
During
a dream, an angel urged Joseph to take Mary as his wife, for the child she
carried was from the Holy Spirit. He was to name the child, Jesus. For Jesus
will save His people from their sins.
Joseph
was obedient.
He trusted that his dream was from the Lord and did what the angel told him to
do. He took Mary as his wife. He welcomed her and her unborn son as his own and
named him Jesus, which means, “The Lord (YHWH) saves.”
Obedience
sounds like slavery. Taking orders from someone who has power over you, like an
employer, or a parent, feels like a robbery of freedom. Instead of doing as you
wish, you must do as they demand. If you don’t do as you are told, there will
be consequences.
But
the Bible has a very different attitude toward obedience. It is the way of
blessing. Moses wrote in Exodus 28:1-2,
“If
you indeed obey the Lord your God and are careful to observe all
his commandments I am giving you today, the Lord your God will
elevate you above all the nations of the earth. All these blessings will
come to you in abundance if you obey the Lord your God:
Blessings
in the city and the field, blessed in all that you do. Blessed with children,
blessed with abundant harvest, fertile flocks and herds, blessed with victory
against enemies, and protection from all threats, blessed as God’s holy people,
respected by all others. The Lord will make you the head, not the tail, the top
and not the bottom if you are careful to obey all the Lord commands you. (Dt
28:1-13)
Stephen
Nielson of studyingprayer.com wrote:
“Obedience
to God gives us entry into all that He has for us. It opens the door of
His blessings to us and keeps us in His will. By obedience we stay in tune
with God. By obedience, we put ourselves in the middle of His love and there we
see His glory.”
Obedience
builds friendship with God. The more you practice pleasing God, the more you
know God’s love and approval. Obedience means your life will bear good fruit
for God. Obedience is godliness.
The
brother of Jesus, and head of the Church in Jerusalem wrote:
The
prayer of a righteous person has great effectiveness. (James 5:16) And who
is righteous, but the obedient? The prayer of the obedient person moves God to
action.
Joseph
obeyed God. Even though he was hurt by Mary’s pregnancy, he did as God
instructed. He embraced Mary as his wife. He raised Jesus with love,
righteousness, mercy, and godliness.
I’ve
always loved Skip Ewing’s Christmas song about Joseph,
It
Wasn’t His Child.
And
like a father he was strong and kind and good
And
I believe he did his best
It
wasn't easy for him but he did all he could
His
son was different from the rest
It
wasn't his child
And
when the boy became a man, He took His Father’s hand
And
soon the world would all know why
it
wasn’t his child…
He
grew up with his hands in wood
And
he died with his hands in wood
He
was God's child
God’s
child was nurtured by a righteous man.
May
Joseph’s story inspire us to live lives pleasing to God, blessing others with
righteousness, mercy, and, above all, the love of God.
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