Who Am I? A study of The Gospel according to Matthew Week 2

JOSEPH

This week we continue our study of Matthew by finishing chapter 1.  In this lesson we learn about Joseph, Jesus' earthly father.  There is little written but plenty to learn.  

READ:  Matthew 1: 18-19

Joseph Accepts Jesus as His Son

¹⁸ This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about^[d]: 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^[e] did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.

During this time an engagement was a binding commitment and to brake off an engagement required a divorce and was often a very shaming and public act.   Because of the binding commitment if Mary had sex during the engagement with another man than she could be said to have committed adultery which was punishable by death.  So Joseph, before he ever heard from the angel, just talking to Mary and decided to do the best he could think of to do which was to divorce her quietly.  Even though she had dishonored him, he was willing to honor her the best way he knew how.  

 

Being willing to do that shows his character.  I am sure it was devastating for him.  No matter what you believed it would be incredibly hard to believe Mary, to accept her story. 

READ: Matthew 1: 20-21

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,^[f] because he will save his people from their sins.”

After he had made his decision the angel of the Lord appeared to him.  It is interesting that the angel waited for him to make a decision, that the angel didn't come to him at the same time as Mary.  Why? It would have been easier for Mary if she didn't have to tell Joseph the story and that she was pregnant. This whole exchange wouldn't have had to take place.  So why the wait... and is that important.   

Perhaps this story once again shows people of faith stepping out and doing the right thing.  Mary had to have this potentially dangerous conversation with her fiance'. Can you imagine that conversation starter... "So Joseph we need to talk,  Um...  Um.. so I am pregnant. Wait wait... don't jump to the conclusion that I have been unfaithful.... I promise I'm still a virgin.  REally."  I mean just saying it she must have felt a bit like an idiot.  Seriously who is going to believe you are a virgin if you are pregnant.  It required great strength, and a willingness to have faith that God would walk her through.  Then Joseph, it would have been so understandable for him to come unglued.  He could have disgraced her, shamed her, yet he did the opposite.  Before the angel came to him, Joseph was loving, kind and considerate.  What a man!  After the angel came to him, he was willing to change his mind, to do as the angel asked and be her protector, to honor her and not to sleep with her until after Jesus was born.  

READ: Matthew 1: 22-23

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”^[g] (which means “God with us”).

Here Matthew starts the book by letting us know how this is connected to the prophesy of old.  Jesus was not just a good man who healed the sick, he was the son of God.  

READ: Matthew 1: 24-25

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.  

So what does this have for us.  Besides just a great story of faith, character, and action what is for us.  That is it. 

 

Faith- Are we willing to listen to and believe what God is calling us to do?  Do we hear Him?  Are we listening? 

 

Character- Do we have the character to put self aside and be kind and loving to those around us no matter what someone has done to us?  Are we willing to show grace even when we have the right to show justice?  

 

Action- When God asks a huge thing of us, are we willing?  When he asks the small things of us are we willing?  When it is potentially shaming, are we willing to move forward?  

 

Last week we if I had one word to describe the concept of the lesson it would "Belonging".  We no matter our background, our heritage, belong in the family of God! Belonging.  

 

This week... we add the action of belonging.  Belonging gives us the opportunity to take action, to fight for, to be apart of the adventure.  To have faith, to have character and to take action.  First we belong, then we believe, then we become like, then we act/fight with.  

 

Our children like most children spent much of their time bickering and fighting during there early elementary school years.  They seemed to find things to argue about.  Chris and I were often exasperated, exhausted, and sick of the fighting.  We kept saying, "you are Grissoms, we don't treat each other that way!"  "You are brothers and sisters, you need to stand up for each other, stick together, not fight!"  Like most parents we thought we were mostly talking to the wall instead of our precious three.  

 

One day after a few chores were completed our three asked to go and play at the neighbors house.  I agreed and was looking forward to an hour or so of peace and quiet without a fight to be heard.  Out the door they went and then within 10 minutes they were back.  I waited for the explanation as to why they were home so quickly but they said nothing and proceeded to play together so nicely in Andrews room. It was oddly kind and sweet and loving.  Finally my curiosity sent me to their room.  As I entered, they all looked up at me with smiles and perfect contentment.  "Why are you home so early?" I asked.

  

"David, didn't want to play with Sarah," pronounced Anna.  "So we told him if he wasn't going to be nice to our sister then we couldn't play with him either.  He still wouldn't be nice so we decided to just come home.  We are Grissoms we have to stick up for each other!"  Then as if this was a "duh" statement, they turned and continued playing with such joy and contentment.  

 

Somehow that day they realized they belonged.  Belonged to a family and being part of that family gave them the strength to believe what they had been told,  have character and then to use that character to take action.

 

Are you willing to really belong? 

To believe what Jesus is calling you to do?

To develop the character?

To be bold enough then to take action?