Joseph

A Posting From December 2009

Matthew 1:10

Then Joseph her husband, being a just man and not wanting to

make her a public example, was minded to

put here away secretly...

In all the rush and haste of the Christmas season, one name and one name alone stands over in the corner aside from everything else. A forgotten man.....A man of great character.....as the verse tells us....a just man.

Joseph.....

Earthly father of Jesus.

We focus on Mary and the wonderful gift that she gave God. A body in which to come and be born into this old world. Here He would live among his creation. Taking on the form of one of us, His  body would become the payment for the sin of the world.

Mary gave her reputation, her future, her very self to God in order for the Holy Spirit to conceive a baby within her womb.

But always near by was Joseph.

Joseph wanted to put her away upon learning of the pregnancy. Put her away is a polite term for ending the marriage arrangement. He would do so according to the law because.....that was just who Joseph was. A man of integrity and of his word. It wasn't his shame that concerned Joseph, it was Mary's heart and  the cruel, hurtful things she would here among the people she came in contact with every day.

God considered such a move on Joseph's part and sent an angel to warn him in a dream that everything that was happening was because God had deemed it to.

Don't you think that Joseph may have wished that the real events he found himself caught up in was a dream?

Joseph took Mary with him to Bethlehem.

Searching for a place for them to stay, finding none, he settled for a stall. Not really the kind of place you'd want for your wife who was expecting. But then again, beauty and splendor are sometimes seen in the unseen.

Joseph delivered the baby into Mary's arms.

He took care of the needs of his wife and his adopted son.

I think, as Jesus grew, he developed a love for Joseph. Here was a man who was unselfish and went about the business of husband and father with much love and integrity.

Joseph....he is a forgotten man.

But doesn't the Bible say something about the last shall be first?
Joseph took the lower place in this great plan that was played out in the midst of harshest times.

Joseph sought no honor for himself.

We don't read much of Joseph after Jesus' twelfth birthday.
As unannounced as his entry into Scripture, so was his departure.

He took on the task given to him and he saw it to completion.
I think we need more men like Joseph.

Merry Christmas

mbb