Day 18, Read Matt. 1:18-25

To a large extent Joseph is known simply as "the husband of Mary", a limited reputation that robs us of greater knowledge of a wonderful man.  His hometown was Nazareth (Lk. 2:4-5) where he worked as a carpenter (Mt. 13:55), a trade he apparently passed along to the "firstborn" Jesus (Mk. 6:3).  He was a devoted husband (Matt. 1:18-25) as well as father.  In addition to Jesus, whom Joseph must have adopted, or at least treated as a son (Mary herself referred to Joseph as Jesus' father, Lk. 2:48), Joseph had 4 other sons as well as an unspecified number of daughters (Mark 6:3).  He was the recipient of messages from God by dreams on 4 occasions (Matt. 1:20-21; 2:13,19-20,22-23).  He likely died before Jesus' earthly ministry began since he was absent at the marriage of Cana (Jn. 2) and at the cross Jesus performed the duties of the eldest son (Jn. 19:25-27).  What does the Bible tell us about this man chosen of God to be the earthly “father” of Jesus.

·        He was a just man, v19.  Just means righteous, fair or upright. (Cf. Psalm 112:4-5 for a description of this type of man.)  Similar terms describe others of those involved in the birth of Christ such as Zacharias and Elizabeth (Lk. 1:6), Simeon (Lk. 2:25) and John the Baptist (Mk. 6:20).  This specific term for Joseph indicates why he thought something must be done about his espoused wife who had been found with child.

·        He was a compassionate man.  Even in his just response, Joseph was going to put Mary away quietly.  That’s compassion.  When God revealed the reason Mary was with child, he bore with Mary the shame of the unmarried mother.

·        He was a thinking man, v19.  The passage says he was “minded” to put her away.  It tells us he was not impulsive, obsessive or compulsive.  Rather he was open to the amazing reality when God revealed it to him.

·        He was a submissive man.  In all 4 of the times God spoke to Joseph by a dream there was instant obedience.  It is because this man who was Mary’s head was submissive to his own head, to God.  He obeyed even though the Child was not his, even though it might have resulted in a bad reputation, even though he was made a secondary figure in the story.

·        He was a patient man, v25.  Being submissive to God he could patiently wait until the birth of Christ for what was his right in the marriage relationship.  He was not driven by passionate lust but by love for God and Mary.

·        He was a sinner and a man of faith!  We know the first thought because it is true of all men, save for the virgin-born Savior.  We know the latter thought because of what we see in Joseph.  He needed a Savior.  It is evident that by faith he trusted the Savior.

God calls us to submit to Him as well (Rom. 12:1).  And that submission begins by answering the call to faith in Jesus Christ alone as your personal Savior.  Joseph was truly a man’s man.  He knew his need.  He accepted God’s provision for his sin.