December 23, 2014
Today’s reading from Encounter with God

"King" Joseph's Obedience

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Opening Prayer

Lord, Your ways are higher than my ways. Your thoughts higher than my thoughts. In this Christmas season, I marvel at Your workings.

Read Matthew 1:18-25

[18] This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. [19] Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. [20] But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. [21] She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” [22] All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: [23] “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”). [24] When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. [25] But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.

Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Reflect

Joseph participated magnificently with God in the fullness of time because he was compassionate, open and decisive. May we be inspired by God through the example of Joseph.

As we approach Christmas, we reflect on one of the greatest of all moments, when God, in his Son, acted in history by entering the messiness of human life to bring his salvation. Matthew moves from Jesus’ genealogy to pick up the story of the royal Joseph, his wife to be, and Israel’s final and true king, the Messiah.  

Our Christmas story begins with controversy, for unmarried Mary is pregnant and must face her fiancé and family–and in a culture that had little time for women in such disgrace. Matthew quickly lets us know, however, that this baby is unique, conceived of the Spirit. Unlike Luke, whose interest is in Mary, Matthew focuses on Joseph. Joseph acts as a true descendant of David and Abraham should. First, as a “righteous man” (19, TNIV) he resolves to do the right thing and break the engagement quietly, to bring Mary no shame. However, God reveals to him the miracle of Mary’s Spirit-conception and Jesus’ identity, and directs him to marry her. Joseph, as a good “son of David” (20) should, obeys God. Despite the potential of public shame, Joseph is prepared to adopt the true King, the final and ultimate Davidic King.

Matthew then recalls Isaiah 7:14, chosen from the Greek Septuagint version, which makes clear that the young woman with child in Isaiah’s prophecy is virgin (Greek, parthenos). His glorious future as humanity’s deity in the three-fold Godhead is intimated. Not only is he the final Davidic King, he is Immanuel, “God with us.” Joseph was faithful in self-sacrificially taking in Mary and Jesus in obedience to God. We, God’s people in Christ, the final and ultimate descendants of Abraham, are to walk in the footsteps of Joseph (Rom. 4:12).

Apply

Joseph is an underrated character. Consider his life–what can we learn? As we come to Christmas, ponder the miracle of incarnation–what does it mean?

Closing prayer

Loving God, I thank You for the example of Joseph. The way he handled, what appeared to be shattered dreams, is a model for me. I pray for grace to live like that.

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