Who was Joseph?

If I were to ask you, “Who was Joseph in Matthew 1 & 2?” What would you say? How would you describe him?

•Would you say he was engaged to Mary?

•Would you say he was a descendant of David?

•What about a disappointed fiancè?

•How about a just or righteous man?

He was all of those things. He came from a pedigreed line of ancestors—sinners, all of them. But it was the Who’s Who of Israel!

What makes Joseph stand out? Righteousness and obedience. This righteous and just man didn’t want to humiliate Mary when he found out she was pregnant—so he was going to dissolve their engagement quietly. Until…an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and explained Mary was pregnant with God’s Son and he shouldn’t be afraid to marry her. In fact, he was told to name the baby Jesus—for He would save His people from their sin. Remember that long line of pedigreed ancestors? They needed saving! But so did he and Mary. So do we. 

What did Joseph do? He obeyed instantly. He took Mary as his wife—but he didn’t have sex with her until after Jesus was born. I’m sure God instructed him to abstain from sex so there would be no question of whose Son this was! But then again…maybe Joseph just had that kind of integrity to guard what was God’s. Did you know sex was a huge stumbling block among his ancestors? Maybe Joseph purposed in his heart to be different; he chose to honor God. 

If I were to ask a group of those who know us best, who would they say we are? Have we overcome a familiar family sin? Are we humble and selfless?  Obedient? Righteous? Wise?

Mary & Joseph weren’t perfect. But their heart was after God. And when He asked them to be a part of His story? They said, “YES!” He’s asking us the same question, “Will you be a part of My story?”

What would you say?