Shalom Aleichem...
Reflections is a weekly Christian Teaching Ministry. Each week we will talk about the Bible and lessons we can put to use in our daily life. We will try to, on a weekly basis, provide to you stories, thoughts, and just easy ways to live your life on a straight path.
THIS WEEK'S TEACHING....November 28, 2022
Aloha Family, I pray your Thanksgiving was enjoyable and filled with love, family and friends.
We continue this week with our Advent series.
Joseph, serving as Jesus’ earthly father figure, was an exemplary father. He was not only an excellent role model for his son, but within Joseph lies a certain character trait, which just happens to be Jesus’ strongest attribute.The Christian singer Michael Card wrote a piece entitled Joseph’s Song. To begin this weeks teaching, I’m going to ask you to read a few lines from this song. As you read, look closely, and from what you know about Joseph from the Bible, think about whether or not these words could’ve come from Joseph’s own heart:
Lord I know He’s not my own.
Not of my flesh, not of my bone.
Still Father, let this baby be,
The Son of my love.
Father show me where I fit into this plan of Yours.
How can a man be father to the Son of God?
Lord, for all my life I’ve been a simple carpenter.
How can I raise a King?
How can I raise a King?
Matthew 1:19 says that Joseph was a “just” man. He was concerned about living a life of holiness before God. Now, it’s true that the lyrics of the song I just read are fictitious and not recorded in the Bible; however, they express Joseph’s concern for God’s will in his life, and I think Joseph was concerned about pleasing the Lord.
The reason why Michael Card wrote this song is that there’s not really much said concerning how Joseph felt about the birth of Jesus. In the book of Luke, there’s a great deal said about Mary’s feelings; but the only thing we see in Luke’s gospel about Joseph is that he marveled when Simeon said that Jesus was the Christ (Luke 2:25-33). In Matthew, all that’s mentioned is how Joseph was a “just” man; and we also read about his fear of Mary being accused of adultery.
In the account that we’ll examine this morning, we’ll see something significant to understanding a very crucial character trait of Joseph. Joseph, serving as Jesus’ earthly father figure, was an exemplary father. He was not only an excellent role model for his son, but he contains a certain character trait, which just happens to be Jesus’ strongest trait. “What is that trait?” you may ask. Well, let’s find out!
Fear of Adultery (vv. 18-20)
18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. 19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly. 20 But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.”
Look at verse 18. We’re told here that Mary was betrothed to Joseph. Betrothal was a lot more formal than our engagement period is today. It was a kind of pre-marriage relationship. The rabbi would perform a ceremony for the betrothal. During this period, abstinence was to be maintained until after the official marriage ceremony, and the betrothal lasted about a year.
During that period, if a woman became pregnant with child it was viewed as adultery. Under the strictest interpretation of the Old Testament law, it was punishable by death for both parties.(2)
In verse 19, we see that Joseph was a just man. He did not want to make Mary a public example. If it had been any other man who had been betrothed to a woman, and found his wife with child, there’s a high possibility that he would have had her made a public example and had her stoned to death. But Joseph didn’t do this to Mary. Right here, Joseph demonstrated his love for Mary. He had compassion on her, and decided to put her away, or break off the betrothal in secret.
Verse 20 begins by saying that Joseph “thought about these things.” He was considering how to put away his wife. While he was thinking, an angel came to him in a vision. “The angel addressed him as a ‘son of David.’ That suggests that he is of royal descent of the house of David. It also reminded him that he [was] a godly man . . . The only other person in the New Testament who is called a ‘son of David’ is the Lord Jesus himself, and yet that is how the angel addressed Joseph.”(3) This information about Joseph being addressed as a “son of David” should be kept in mind, for it’s important in understanding the message contained in this text.
The Name of Jesus (vv. 21-23)
21 “And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” 22 So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: 23 “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.”
Back in verse 20, we read that the child within Mary would be born of the Holy Spirit. Here in verse 21, the angel told Joseph that Mary would bring forth a Son named “Jesus,” “for He will save His people from their sins.” Jesus’ name is derived from the Old Testament Hebrew names “Joshua,”(4) and “Hosea,” which both mean “salvation.” Verse 23 tells us that Jesus is also to be called “Immanuel,” which means “God with us.” This is also an important statement, but I won’t focus on the name “Immanuel,” as much as the name “Jesus.” The name of Jesus bears great significance to the account here. Let’s look at verses 24-25, and then I’ll explain the significance.
Salvation Exemplified (vv. 24-25)
24 Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife, 25 and did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son. And he called His name Jesus.
Isn’t this amazing! Joseph thought that Mary possibly committed adultery, but he heeded the advice from the angel, and he kept Mary and took her to be his wife. Keep in mind that the angel came to him in a dream. He could’ve thought it was just a dream or an illusion and nothing more. He also risked being questioned about Mary’s pregnancy, and he had faith in the unbelievable, which was a divine conception. Here’s where Joseph’s true character shines forth.
In the book of Hosea, there’s an account somewhat similar to this one. We see from Matthew chapter 1 that Joseph was asked to take to wife a woman whom he thought possibly committed adultery.
The prophet Hosea was asked to take to wife a verified adulteress. Hosea 1:2 says:
“When the Lord began to speak by Hosea, the Lord said to Hosea: ‘Go, take yourself a wife of harlotry and children of harlotry, for the land has committed great harlotry by departing from the Lord’.” The Lord asked Hosea to take to wife an adulteress, which represented the Lord taking Israel to wed. Israel continually strayed from God and committed spiritual adultery, but the Lord loved Israel enough to take her back time and again. Every time that Hosea’s wife, Gomer, strayed from him, he loved her enough to take her back into his arms.
Remember how we just learned that Jesus’ name is derived from the Old Testament name Hosea? Both the name Jesus and Hosea mean “salvation.” Our understanding of salvation from Hosea is of unconditional love. God doesn’t approve of our sin, however He will love us no matter what sins we have committed, and He will allow us to approach Him for forgiveness. In fact, Jesus died for us while we were still living in sin. Romans 5:8 says, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Whatever you’ve done, and whatever sins you have committed, none is too great for God to forgive.
Joseph demonstrated “salvation” when he took Mary to be his wife, although he possibly suspected foul play. Joseph loved Mary unconditionally; and in doing this, he was demonstrating an example of the type of character that Jesus would be born with. Keep in mind that Jesus would not only show unconditional love, but He would “be” unconditional love and salvation. The Lord was using Joseph to reveal the coming nature of His Son, Jesus Christ.
If you’ll remember how Joseph was called the “son of David,” then you’ll also remember how I noted that he was the only other person in the New Testament called this besides Jesus. The Lord is revealing to us through this passage of Scripture that Joseph was modeling the person and character of Christ. The Lord wants us to realize that through Jesus, we have forgiveness. Through God’s Son we will receive unconditional love and be pardoned of any sins that we’ve committed.
Time of Reflection...
What do you think about Joseph’s display of love? Have you ever experienced unconditional love from anyone before in your life? How would you feel if you were Mary, and people thought you had committed adultery, an act that you could be killed for? Then, how would you feel if someone stepped in and rescued you from being stoned to death? You would probably feel a sense of love that you had never experienced before in your entire life. What would you say if I told you that you could experience this type of love today?
Romans 6:23 says, “the wages of sin is death,” and Romans 3:23 says, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” All people are in a situation like Mary, for we’re all sinners and condemned to death without salvation. However, there is Someone who will step in and save us from being killed. There is Someone who will love us unconditionally, and His name is Jesus.
Jesus stepped in and took our place on the cross, and died for our sins. He was crucified, dead and buried, but what happened on the third day? He rose again! He conquered sin and death on our behalf and for each of us, that we might have eternal life in Him. Jesus is “salvation.” I want to encourage you to accept Him as your Savior this day, and you’ll escape death, and enter into His love and eternal life forever in heaven.