This year, when you reread the nativity story in Matthew or Luke, think about the extraordinary husband of Mary: Joseph, the righteous man.
Mary and Joseph were from the small village of Nazareth (population 200-400) and were betrothed. Before they married, before they were intimate, Mary was found to be pregnant.
Disaster! Joseph knew that he and Mary had not been intimate. But someone must have been. Legally, he could have had her stoned. But… The righteous Joseph was merciful.
Joseph her husband, being a righteous man and not wanting to disgrace her, planned to send her away secretly. (Matthew 1:19)
Then the Lord told Joseph the truth.
But when he had considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. She will bear a Son; and you [singular, i.e. Joseph] shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:20–21)
Joseph awoke and obeyed.
And Joseph awoke from his sleep and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took Mary as his wife, but kept her a virgin until she gave birth to a Son; and he called His name Jesus. (Matthew 1:24–25)
How hard was it for Joseph to take pregnant Mary as his wife? In a small town who knew Mary became pregnant when she wasn’t married? How hard was it to obey God for a number of months, keeping Mary as a virgin?
Off to Bethlehem
Joseph and pregnant Mary traveled to Bethlehem (70-80 miles), where she gave birth to Jesus. (Luke 2:4–7)
Joseph obeyed the Lord in naming the baby, Jesus.
And when eight days had passed, before His circumcision, His name was then called Jesus, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb. (Luke 2:21)
Then Joseph obeyed by bringing Mary and Jesus to Jerusalem (about 6 miles).
And when the days for their purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought Him up to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord. (Luke 2:22)
Off to Egypt
After Jesus’ birth, wise men came seeking Him. After the wise men left, Joseph had another dream and obeyed the Lord immediately.
Now when they [the wise men] had gone, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Get up! Take the Child and His mother and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is going to search for the Child to destroy Him.” So Joseph got up and took the Child and His mother while it was still night, and left for Egypt. He remained there until the death of Herod. (Matthew 2:13–15)
Immediately, while it was still night, Joseph wakened Mary and Jesus, got them ready to travel and left Bethlehem for Egypt. No debate. No delay. Obedience.
Off to Israel
While Joseph, Mary, and Jesus were in Egypt, Joseph had another dream, and again obeyed.
But when Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, and said, “Get up, take the Child and His mother, and go into the land of Israel; for those who sought the Child’s life are dead.” So Joseph got up, took the Child and His mother, and came into the land of Israel. (Matthew 2:19–21)
And off to Nazareth
When they arrived in Israel, Joseph had another dream.
But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. Then after being warned by God in a dream, he left for the regions of Galilee, and came and lived in a city called Nazareth. This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophets: “He shall be called a Nazarene.” (Matthew 2:22–23)
Was it hard to go back to their home town where everyone knew about Mary’s pregnancy before marriage? There were rumors Jesus was illegitimate (See John 8:41)
And to Jerusalem
Mary and Joseph, devoted Jews, went to Jerusalem every year for Passover (about 60 miles). When Jesus was twelve, Jesus stayed behind, and after three days, Mary and Joseph found Him in the temple. They went home and Jesus continued in subjection to Mary and Joseph. (Luke 2:41-51)
This is the last we hear of Joseph. He must have died. Everything we read about him shows him to be a true believer in God, devote, following the law, and obeying God immediately (even when it must have been hard). He was remarkable.
Praise God for the righteous Joseph.
