Characters of Christmas – A Profile of Character – 12/16/07
Date: 12/09/07
Sermon Series: Characters of Christmas
Sermon Title: A Profile of Character – Joseph
Text: Matt. 1:18-25
“Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit: And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us). When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.” (ESV)
Theme: Joseph displayed strength of character that far surpasses the amount of press that he gets in most Christmas stories. A study of Joseph can teach us about doing all that we can do and trusting God for the rest. We will also learn that our life investment can far outlive our existence.
Introduction: A Scene from “The Nativity Story” – Where Joseph tells Mary that an angel has appeared to him and he believe her.
Transition: Last week we began a look at the Nativity story that focuses on some of the people that are a part of the greatest narrative ever told. Today as the curtain opens on our drama we are going to examine the story through the eyes of someone who is not given a lot of press. He is definitely not the lead character. Some might even say that he is only a bit player in the drama of Jesus’ birth. The Gospel narratives give us very scant information about Joseph, Jesus’ stepfather, but as we take a look at this man today I believe that we will find that God did not choose this man haphazardly, I think that Joseph is a part of this story because he was exactly the kind of man that was needed.
Imagine being chosen to be the man who would be known as the earthly father of the Creator of heaven and earth. It kind of blows the mind doesn’t it?
I believe that we will find that God chose Joseph to fill this role because he was a man of Character.
I. Confronted with Controversy
a. Discovery of the pregnancy
i. I have wondered how it was that Joseph got the word that Mary was pregnant.
1. Only a few possibilities. – He simply found out because it was evident by her condition. The wording of this passage leaves this possibility open. “She was found to be pregnant.”
2. Someone who knew, probably a family member, could go and tell him.
3. Mary came and told him. I kind of lean toward this third possibility mainly because there is nothing in any of the passages about this event that seem to show that Mary was trying to keep this pregnancy quiet in any way.
4. For Joseph this news must have come as quite a shock – Here was a man who had the pattern of his life laid in front of him in a comfortable pattern. He had a profession, a supportive community and a partner to share his life with and raise the next generation. This pattern must have come crashing apart when he got this news.
b. Considering the alternatives
i. Joseph had a couple of alternatives in handling this situation.
1. The most usual way that something like this was handled was by a public decree of the bride’s guilt. The point of this was to demonstrate the husband’s upright dealings and show that he was not responsible for breaking his vows. The result of this would have meant a public trial for Mary and probably a stoning if she failed to convince the town elders that she was indeed pregnant as a result of the Lord.
2. He could also quietly go and ask for a bill of divorce without a clear reason as to why. He simply had to acknowledge to the elders that she no longer pleased him. They would give him a bill of divorce and he simply had to present it to Mary.
c. A display of compassion
II. Calm Assurance of God’s control
a. Joseph was asked to do some incredibly hard things.
i. Taking on a pregnant bride – In a culture where he would have worn the shame of Mary’s sin, even though he knew that what she said was true everyone in their community would not have believed it.
ii. Taking care of God’s son – can you imagine the awesome task that was assigned to Joseph as the man who was going to raise God in flesh in his home. Just think for a few minutes about all of the mistakes that you have made as a parent. I would find it hard to believe that there is not one parent in the room that didn’t make an accusation that wasn’t true, or didn’t do something or say something that was needed to be said at some particular time. Now imagine that you are given the responsibility of raising God’s only begotten.
iii. Not to mention the fact that you are poor and that the king of the land where you live has painted a big bulls eye on the child you are now responsible for.
iv. Going where God commands – taking off for Egypt had to be another big step of faith for Joseph.
b. But through all of these circumstances it seems that Joseph maintained a calm assurance of God’s control.
c. Pressures and stress in our lives can have a serious effect.
d. Story of a piano –
Steinway Pianos is one of the makers of the world’s finest pianos. Each piano has always been made from scratch; it takes over a year to make one Steinway. If you were to take a tour of the manufacturing plant, you would see an out of the way corner where the soundboard is stretched to its maximum tolerance and allowed to sit for an extended period until it remains in the curved design. If the wood were alive, it would be crying out for mercy.
After an extended time of stretching, the wood will never spring back to its original state. It is permanently changed. The piano is becoming a fine-tuned instrument. After this process takes place, the next step requires another point of stress. It takes 11 tons of pressure on a piano to tune it. Each step in the process moves the piano closer to a finished product that will ultimately be played by the world’s finest musicians. These musicians desire a particular sound that only a piano like this can make.
e. God looks at each of us as a fine-tuned instrument. However, we begin as rough wood that He desires to transform into gold. Tuning us requires certain experiences that will stretch our faith, our frame, and our very life. Sainthood springs out of suffering. If we can stand the strain of this intense process, we will come forth as gold-as a sweet-smelling offering to our Maker. When we are in the midst of these times, it feels like fire. It is painful to be stretched beyond our perceived limits, but the Lord knows this is necessary for us to become an instrument that can play a beautiful song that others will seek after.
Continuing influence
f. Father’s influence
i. Almost all Bible scholars believe that Joseph died pretty early on in Jesus’ life. While that may be true it is clear that he was around for several years. He was there when Jesus was 12 and they took Him to the Temple. And he and Mary had a whole passel of kids together.
1. Matt. 13:55
ii. For all of us I think that one of the critical things that we need to keep in mind as we walk our daily Christian walk is – what kind of long term influence might I have on others?
iii. Titus 2
