My number two all time favorite Christmas song is: Joseph's Song by Michael Card. The song comes from Joseph's point of view after he accepts that he is to parent the Son of God. An unimaginable responsibility. I think that Joseph gets overlooked when we talk about the Christmas story. We recognize that Joseph did the right thing by honoring his commitment to Mary. And we like to tell the part about the angel who had to convince him to do the right thing. But have you really thought about him? What made him God's Choice to be the husband of Mary and the earthly father of Jesus?
Matthew tells us that Joseph was a righteous man. Righteous meaning morally upright, virtuous, a godly person. He was also a man of integrity and compassion. When he learned that Mary was pregnant, not by him, he thought he would put her away privately. He was unwilling to make a public spectacle of her. Granted her supposed shame didn't reflect favorably on himself either. He could very well have been laughed at or lost status in the community, but he was concerned about her.
He was a spiritual man. While he was trying to figure out what was the best way to handle Mary's pregnancy an angel of the Lord comes to him in a dream. The angel reassures him that Mary has done nothing wrong, and that her pregnancy is of the Holy Spirit. The angel even tells him what he should name the child. Even telling him that the child would be a son. (No ultrasound needed here!) Joseph was so sensitive to spiritual things that the angel came two more times to speak to him in his dreams. Once to tell him to take his son and wife to Egypt to escape Herod and again to come back to Israel after Herod's death.
He was obedient to the laws and customs of the land. He took Mary and went to be counted on the census roles of his ancestral hometown. After Jesus was born he took him to the Temple to be presented to the Lord.
Joseph took Mary and Jesus home. For twelve years he was father to the Son of God. Luke tells us that "the child grew and waxed strong (in spirit) filled with wisdom and God's grace was upon him". Joseph and Mary went yearly to Jerusalem for the feast of Passover. A shadow of things to come. We don't hear anything more about Joseph after Jesus turns twelve. The last mention is when they had gone to Jerusalem for Passover and Jesus stays in the Temple, teaching and conversing with the men there. His parents travel a full day thinking he is with friends or family, not knowing he has stayed behind. They realize he is missing and look for him among their family and friends. Not finding him there they go back to the last place the knew him to be.They search for three days. As a last resort they go to the Temple. There he is. Teaching, discussing, explaining with wisdom beyond his years. I can only imagine how frantic Joseph was. He was responsible for this heavenly child! Mary had to be beside herself with worry. Three days they have looked for him! Finally, with relief they all return home. And that is the last time we hear about Joseph directly in connection with Jesus.
We know that Joseph and Mary had children of their own. Matthew 13:53 confirms this. This is also where we learn that Joseph was a carpenter, that Jesus had brothers and sisters.
What a man Joseph must have been to be God's Choice. To be the earthly father of the One who would restore mankind to fellowship with God. I've often thought that when our young women are looking for the man who will be their life's companion, they should use Joseph as the measuring stick to hold any potential young men up against.
What a man Joseph was. What a husband. What a father. God's Choice!
Matthew tells us that Joseph was a righteous man. Righteous meaning morally upright, virtuous, a godly person. He was also a man of integrity and compassion. When he learned that Mary was pregnant, not by him, he thought he would put her away privately. He was unwilling to make a public spectacle of her. Granted her supposed shame didn't reflect favorably on himself either. He could very well have been laughed at or lost status in the community, but he was concerned about her.
He was a spiritual man. While he was trying to figure out what was the best way to handle Mary's pregnancy an angel of the Lord comes to him in a dream. The angel reassures him that Mary has done nothing wrong, and that her pregnancy is of the Holy Spirit. The angel even tells him what he should name the child. Even telling him that the child would be a son. (No ultrasound needed here!) Joseph was so sensitive to spiritual things that the angel came two more times to speak to him in his dreams. Once to tell him to take his son and wife to Egypt to escape Herod and again to come back to Israel after Herod's death.
He was obedient to the laws and customs of the land. He took Mary and went to be counted on the census roles of his ancestral hometown. After Jesus was born he took him to the Temple to be presented to the Lord.
Joseph took Mary and Jesus home. For twelve years he was father to the Son of God. Luke tells us that "the child grew and waxed strong (in spirit) filled with wisdom and God's grace was upon him". Joseph and Mary went yearly to Jerusalem for the feast of Passover. A shadow of things to come. We don't hear anything more about Joseph after Jesus turns twelve. The last mention is when they had gone to Jerusalem for Passover and Jesus stays in the Temple, teaching and conversing with the men there. His parents travel a full day thinking he is with friends or family, not knowing he has stayed behind. They realize he is missing and look for him among their family and friends. Not finding him there they go back to the last place the knew him to be.They search for three days. As a last resort they go to the Temple. There he is. Teaching, discussing, explaining with wisdom beyond his years. I can only imagine how frantic Joseph was. He was responsible for this heavenly child! Mary had to be beside herself with worry. Three days they have looked for him! Finally, with relief they all return home. And that is the last time we hear about Joseph directly in connection with Jesus.
We know that Joseph and Mary had children of their own. Matthew 13:53 confirms this. This is also where we learn that Joseph was a carpenter, that Jesus had brothers and sisters.
What a man Joseph must have been to be God's Choice. To be the earthly father of the One who would restore mankind to fellowship with God. I've often thought that when our young women are looking for the man who will be their life's companion, they should use Joseph as the measuring stick to hold any potential young men up against.
What a man Joseph was. What a husband. What a father. God's Choice!
No comments:
Post a Comment