O Come Let Us Adore Him

The Faith of Joseph

Matthew 1:24 Then Joseph, being raised from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife, 25. And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son, and he called his name JESUS.

Introduction:

The Bible teaches us to live a life of faith. Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. Joseph was faced with a problem, and he chose to respond with faith in God. In the custom of the time, Joseph was espoused to Mary, somewhat akin to our engagement but requiring a divorce to break what was considered a marriage. The last phase of the marriage would be to take his wife into his home, after which they would live as man and wife. This they were preparing to do. But after Mary returned from visiting Elizabeth, it was apparent that she was with child. Shocked and broken, Joseph pondered his next step, and was thinking about a quiet divorce, when an angel of the Lord spoke to him. Matthew 1:20 But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying: Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost, 21. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS; for he shall save his people from his sins. 22. Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, 23. Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.?

Joseph’s great faith was required:

Joseph, of course, was aware that there would be all types of talk about his taking his wife when she was pregnant. They would suspect that she was immoral, or at best that they had not kept apart during the espousal period. Yet he was aware of the prophecy which Isaiah had made 700 years earlier: Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign: Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and his call his name Immanuel. So he exercised faith in God, and obeyed the message of the angel of the Lord.

?The faith of Joseph was reproached:

We can imagine some of the comments that followed both Joseph and Mary throughout their lifetime. People may have been aware of the prophecy of the virgin birth, but were not likely to believe that this was the explanation of Mary’s pregnancy. Not much is recorded about the rumors and comments throughout the Bible, but there was one reference made in John 8 to Jesus. Jesus had been speaking with the Pharisees about his relationship with His Father. They claimed to be children of their father (ancestor), Abraham. Then they spoke to Jesus: John 8:41 (Jesus speaking) Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him: We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God. Jesus was now over 30 years old, but the accusations of an immoral conception was made to him, the only perfect man who had never sinned.

Joseph’s faith was rewarded:

1.???? God gave Joseph a godly wife who loved the Lord. God Himself had chosen her to bear the Christ child. Her godliness was seen even as she praised the Lord during her pregnancy. Her faith was even greater than that of Joseph. She willingly yielded to the promise of the angel knowing that the punishment of adultery could even be death by public stoning. She was faithful to God throughout her life. She was beneath the cross at his crucifixion and in the upper room praying with the other believers at Pentecost.

2.???? God gave Joseph the incredible privilege and responsibility to raise a family with the Messiah, the Son of God as his oldest son. Only one man in all of history had such an opportunity.

3.???? God provided for his needs. Joseph was a poor man, as shown in his offering at the dedication of Jesus in the temple. When he was called on to escape to Egypt for several years, he had no resources saved up, but the very night that he had to escape, the wise men brought their gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh which would enable him to survive and care for his family.

As we approach this Christmas season, let us not only honor the faith of Joseph, but let us emulate it too. Remember that faith is required to please God. And God promises to reward our faith in Him, not only here on earth, but also with eternal life forever being with Him in heaven.

O come let us adore Him who died for us and died as us so that we who receive Him as savior, by placing our trust in His righteous offering and not in our self-righteousness. Let us accept God’s greatest gift this Christmas, that of Christ Himself, in whom all the fullness of the godhead dwells!

?