“Joseph And Jesus”
(Matthew 1:18-25)
I. Introduction.
A. In the most important of events, as God Himself came into
the world, one of the least-considered, yet most significant,
of characters is Joseph, the earthly father of Jesus. What
we know of him is limited. But, his part in the coming of
God into the world is great. His character is summed up in
three words: “. . . a just [upright] man.” (verse 19).
B. As Mary “. . . found favor with God” (Luke 1:30), so, too,
did Joseph. As Mary accepted what God called upon her to
do, so, too, did Joseph. And, it was no little thing that each
of them was being asked to do.
1. In Jewish marriage, there were three steps:
a. First, there was the engagement. Often,
made when couple was very young – even
children. Usually, engagements were
arranged by parents, or through a
professional matchmaker, and, often, with
couple involved never having seen one
another. The idea was that marriage was far
too serious a matter to be left to whims of
human passion or human heart.
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b. The second step was betrothal, or
ratification of the engagement. At this
point, engagement could be broken, if
girl was unwilling to go on with it. But
once betrothed, couple was absolutely
bound to one another. Betrothal stage lasted
one year, and couple were known as
husband and wife, but did not have the
rights of husband and wife. The only way to
terminate the betrothal was by divorce. The
scripture text reflects these Jewish laws and
customs. Mary and Joseph were in their
binding, betrothal stage of relationship.
c. The last step was marriage itself, at end of
betrothal year. That’s what we find
reflected in verse 24: Joseph “. . . took
to him his wife.”
2. In the small village of Nazareth – in the hill country
of northern Palestine, called Galilee – a betrothed
girl is found to be “. . . with child. . .” This gave her
husband every right to divorce her – and disgrace
her. He had been wronged; she would bear the
burden of public humiliation. She should be made
to suffer the consequences of what she’d done.
C. The truth of Mary’s condition was made known to Joseph –
verses 20 and 21 (RE-READ).
1. The child Mary carried was the very Son of God.
His name was to be, in the Hebrew, “Joshua”,
meaning “Jehovah is salvation.”
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2. Long before, the Psalmist wrote, for God, “O Israel,
hope in the Lord; For with the Lord there is mercy.
And with Him is abundant redemption. And He
shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities
(Psalm 130:8). Now, Joseph is told the child Mary
carries will “. . . save His people from their sins.”
3. Long before, prophet Isaiah spoke, for God, (READ
Isaiah 7:13-14). Now, that prophecy was being
fulfilled in the child Mary and Joseph were to raise
to manhood.
D. God, in His wisdom, had chosen two people who could carry such a great responsibility, and
complete such a great destiny. They were chosen to nurture the Son of God, the
Savior of the world, the King of kings and Lord of lords.
E. Of these two people, Joseph remains the more obscure.
But, he’s very much a part of the story of Jesus’ birth and
His childhood.
II. Facts About Joseph.
A. What else do we know of Joseph, besides his
“uprightness?”
B. We know he lived at the place called “Nazareth” in Galilee.
When the Roman census was taken, and Joseph and Mary
were required to journey southward to Bethlehem, they
“. . . went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into
Judea. . .” (Luke 2:4).
C. We know, also, he “. . . was of the house and lineage of
David,” (Luke 2:4).
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1. This, too, fulfilled prophecy regarding the
Messiah – the “anointed one” – who would come
into the world as Savior and King. This One would
be of the seed of Abraham (Genesis 12:3); of the
tribe of Judah (Genesis 49:10); of the family of
David (Psalm 132:17; Luke 1:69).
2. On one occasion, when the boy had become a man,
when He’d left the home in Nazareth to complete
His purpose for entering the world, He returned
home and affirmed His authority as Messiah;
(READ Luke 4:16-21).
D. Third, we know that Joseph was a carpenter. After Jesus
had taught in the synagogue, at Nazareth, some said: “Is
this not the carpenter’s son?. . .” (Matthew 13:55).
E. Fourth, we know that Joseph was still living when Jesus
was a boy of about 12; the family went to Jerusalem, to
the Feast of the Passover. Joseph and Mary had to return to
the city to look for Jesus, who’d stayed behind when they’d
left to go back to Nazareth. (Luke 2:41-45).
F. We also know Joseph taught Jesus the trade of carpentry.
Again, when He came back to Nazareth, and worshipped in
the synagogue there, whose who heard His words were
“astonished,” and said: “Is this not the carpenter, the Son
Mary, and brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? And
are not His sisters here with us?. . .” (Mark 6:2-3).
1. It was a common thing for sons to follow the trade
of their fathers; to learn it and work at it, and to
carry on the “family business.”
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2. But, as a boy, Jesus had directed His thoughts
toward the purpose for which He’d come to the
world: when Joseph and Mary found their boy
“. . . in the temple, sitting in the midst of the
teachers, both listening to them and asking them
questions” (Luke 2:46), Jesus said: ‘”Why did
you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be
about My Father’s business?’” (Luke 2:49).
3. His true “Father’s business” was not in the small
carpenter’s shop in Nazareth, but throughout
Palestine – and the world.
G. Finally, we know that Joseph and Mary had other children,
after Jesus was born.
1. Matthew 1:25 says Joseph “did not know her
[Mary] till she had brought forth her firstborn Son.”
2. Along with a reference in Mark 6 to brothers and
sisters, are other mentions of Jesus’ earthly family
in scriptures, e.g. Mark 3:31: “Then His brothers
and His Mother came, and standing outside they
sent to Him, calling Him.”
H. We believe Joseph died before Jesus began His active
ministry. No further scriptural reference is made to him
after Jesus’ childhood. We see much of Mary over the last
years of Jesus’ life, but nothing of Joseph. That has, no
doubt, contributed to the lack of attention Joseph receives.
But, God chose Joseph for an important responsibility and
he fulfilled that responsibility well. His character is what
stands out about him, from the time we meet him in
Matthew 1.
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1. Not only did he take Mary as his wife, he waited
patiently until Jesus was born, and continued his
marriage relationship with her over years to come.
He provided a home for his family and worked to
support that family.
2. He was sensitive about Mary’s feelings and did not
want to see her publicly disgraced. He showed real
love for her under the circumstances where others
might have been inclined to abandon her and resent
what had happened.
I. Joseph’s character instructs us about love in that he showed
both the trust and forgiveness that accompanies it. Without
a clear understanding of what was happening, and why it
was happening, Joseph accepted the circumstances and
attempted to do what was right for the one he loved. When
the truth of the situation was revealed to him, Joseph’s
reaction showed that knowledge can overcome fear.
III. Leaving The Carpenter Shop.
A. The child was born at Bethlehem, in a stable “. . .because there was no room for them in
the inn” (Luke 2:7), grew into a boy and then into a young man. The father who had taught Him to work
with His hands, who had showed Him love and given Him care over the years, was gone now.
1. As is true for all of us, there came the day when
Jesus left home and went to do the work of His life.
2. As is true for all of us, at sometime, He stepped out
of the security of the past and into the uncertainty
of the future, with the difference that He knew the
future as well as He knew the past.
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B. The heavy door to the empty carpenter shop creaked on
rusty, stiff hinges as He pushed it open. He crossed the
darkened space and opened the wooden shutters to let
light into the room, and to take a last look around.
1. Here He stood, silently, in the refuge of the room –
a room that housed sweet memories. He picked up
a wooden mallet and held it once more in His hand.
He ran His fingers over the worn teeth of a saw.
He’d come to say good-bye.
2. It was time to go – to leave that peaceful home in a
peaceful village. To leave the security of obscurity
and fulfill His purpose for being here.
C. Here was the floor He’d played on, as a toddler, while His
father, Joseph, worked. Here was where Joseph had taught
Him to use the carpenter’s tools. Here was the rough-hewn
workbench where He’d built His first chair.
1. Memory brought voices from the past:
a. “Good job, Jesus.”
b. “Don’t worry, sir, we’ll get it finished on
time. Jesus will help me.”
c. “Joseph, Jesus – come and eat!”
2. Memory brought the sounds of the carpenter’s
work: the “clunk” of the hammer on wood, the
“whistle” of the plane as it shaved the wood
smooth; the “rasp” of the saw.
D. Why not stay here? Life as a carpenter wasn’t bad.
Business had been good. He had friends here as well as
family. He had a choice.
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1. But, His heart wouldn’t let Him stay. If his
humanity hesitated, His divinity overcame the
hesitation with compassion.
2. His divinity heard voices too: the hopeless cries
of the poor, the bitterness of the forsaken, the
despair of a world drowning in sin.
E. He left the carpenter shop and went about His “Father’s
business” because He heard me, and you. He thought of
me, and you. And, He had the example of His own earthly
father, Joseph, as well – who had obeyed God, even when it
wasn’t convenient and wasn’t the way he’d have liked it
to be.
IV. Conclusion.
A. The Savior of the world understands us, because He lived
among us. He came as “Immanuel” – “God With Us.”
B. The Savior of the world sympathizes with us, because He,
too, struggled with choices and “. . . learned obedience. . .”
(Hebrews 5:8).
C. The Savior of the world died for us, because He loved
humanity so much. That’s why He left the carpenter shop
and went to a cross.