Sunday, September 6 · Calvary Church
Joseph is a fitting end to our Abundant Lives series because in many ways the whole series is about some of the lesser k
Joseph, the adoptive father of Jesus, is a righteous man who obeys God in obscurity, and his hidden faithfulness is what makes the whole story of Jesus possible.
The passages
Jacob became the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, from whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.
Matthew 1:16
Now the birth of Jesus Christ was like this: After his mother, Mary, was engaged to Joseph, before they came together, she was found pregnant by the Holy Spirit. Joseph, her husband, being a righteous man, and not willing to make her a public example, intended to put her away secretly. But when he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, don’t be afraid to take to yourself Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. She shall give birth to a son. You shall name him Jesus, for it is he who shall save his people from their sins.” Now all this has happened that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and shall give birth to a son. They shall call his name Immanuel,” which is, being interpreted, “God with us.” Joseph arose from his sleep, and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took his wife to himself; and didn’t know her sexually until she had given birth to her firstborn son. He named him Jesus.
Matthew 1:18–25
Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Arise and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and stay there until I tell you, for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.” He arose and took the young child and his mother by night and departed into Egypt, and was there until the death of Herod, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, “Out of Egypt I called my son.”
Matthew 2:13–15
But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying, “Arise and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel, for those who sought the young child’s life are dead.” He arose and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in the place of his father, Herod, he was afraid to go there. Being warned in a dream, he withdrew into the region of Galilee, and came and lived in a city called Nazareth; that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through the prophets that he will be called a Nazarene.
Matthew 2:19–23
Go deeper
Does anyone actually notice the good I do when no one is watching?
Joseph is named in the story mostly as the man who takes the child and his mother, never as the point of the scene. God knew exactly what he was doing in the quiet, and the whole line of Jesus ran through it.
Joseph, her husband, being a righteous man, and not willing to make her a public example, intended to put her away secretly.
Matthew 1:19
But when you do merciful deeds, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand does,…
Matthew 6:3
For God is not unrighteous, so as to forget your work and the labor of love which you showed toward his name, in that you served the saints, and still do serve them.
Hebrews 6:10
Boaz answered her, “I have been told all about what you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband, and how you have left your father, your mother, and the land of your birth, and have come to a people that you didn’t know before. May Yahweh repay your work, and a full reward be given to you from Yahweh, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge.”
Ruth 2:11–12
How do I keep doing right by someone who has hurt me?
Joseph believes Mary has betrayed him, and his first instinct is still to protect her from shame. Judah, by contrast, wanted Tamar burned when he thought she had wronged him.
Joseph, her husband, being a righteous man, and not willing to make her a public example, intended to put her away secretly.
Matthew 1:19
About three months later, Judah was told, “Tamar, your daughter-in-law, has played the prostitute. Moreover, behold, she is with child by prostitution.” Judah said, “Bring her out, and let her be burned.”
Genesis 38:24
Repay no one evil for evil. Respect what is honorable in the sight of all men.
Romans 12:17
For you were called to this, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving you an example, that you should follow his steps,…
1 Peter 2:21