Mary and Joseph – Penuel Baptist Chapel, Roch

Matthew 1:18-25, 2:13-23: Looking at the role of Joseph

Joseph is often overlooked, yet he played such a distinctive role in the birth of Jesus and the raising of Jesus. He was quite a remarkable individual. Matthew begins with a list of seemingly unpronounceable names, of broken lives. Then one appears – name above all names – one who will be born like no other. He is the only mediator between God and man.

Joseph is tested by God.

Joseph is severely tested by way of relationships. There are many tests and trials of life. The hardest of all is relationships. For Joseph, there is a close relationship with a beautiful woman who has a depth of beauty of spirit. Mary and Joseph would have been pledged to each other at a very young age. Their relationship would have developed over many years. Then there was the act of betrothal, a legally binding act. Following this, there would have been the anticipation of the wedding day, a time of great joy.

One can well imagine Joseph counting the days to be married to the love of his life. He would have been the happiest carpenter in Nazareth. As children count the sleeps to Christmas, so Joseph may have been counting the sleeps, the days when they would be one. Imagine his devastation when Mary takes him aside, struggling with words. Then out it comes, ‘I’m going to have a baby!’ He would have thought she’d has been unfaithful, betrayed him.

We can easily sweep over these things. Then, wait for it. She says, ’I’m going to give birth to the Son of God.’ What is Joseph going to do? He didn’t act rashly. He agonises in what is the right thing to do. He loves Mary far too much to publicly divorce her. It would have brought endless shame and disgrace for her. So, he doesn’t want any fuss and seeks to put her away secretly. What a severe test for Joseph.

Tests do come when God expects of us. These often what seems so unfair, unexpected, unreasonable, when we say, ‘Lord, why this? Why now?’ Tests come when our dreams are shattered, when our lives are turned upside down. But it is that quiet stillness in Joseph, as he deliberates what is the way forward, that shows his character. He has a spirit of surrender to God, to His unfailing love and care. We have to say, ‘Your will be done.’ When God tests us, He does so to bring out the best in us. When God tests us, it is to reveal and remove the dross, and to reveal the real us. This was a dark time for Joseph.

In that stillness and quietness Jospeh was visited by God.

In verse 20 onwards an angel of the Lord appears to Joseph. Joseph is addressed as the Son of David – a high-sounding title. That is all important – how we are seen and known in heaven. Joseph is told not to be fearful for God is working out something wonderful. How often our fears have been totally unfounded. God has everything in control. God says there is no need to fear. For Joseph, God is going to do something wonderful. He is given the task of naming the Son of God. He shall be called Jesus, one who will save the people from their sin. “But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.” (Hebrews 9:26). This is the wonder of Christmas. The Son of God, man of sorrows. What a name! What a Saviour!

There is also another name here, Immanuel, God with us. He is one who is fully God. God manifest, revealed in the flesh. Here is the true image of the invisible God in Christ. Here is the unveiling of the true heart of God in Jesus, God with us. This is the new covenant in all its glory. A personal saviour. We have a reference to Jesus, to the Lord’s work and what He will do. He is Emmanuel. He will be with us. He will be for us. On the cross, He would be instead of us. Holy angels stood confounded to behold their maker thus. It was all for us.

Joseph is directed by God (2:13 onwards).

When the wise men had left, the Lord appears to Joseph again in a dream. The Lord directs his path. Joseph went to Bethlehem because of the census. It was providential. Now he is directed to Egypt. God knows our needs and goes before us,

“Your eyes saw my unformed substance;
in your book were written, every one of them,
the days that were formed for me,
when as yet there was none of them.”

(Psalm 139:16).

Amazing! Days of trial, days of heartache, days of blessing, God goes before us. Search your Bible and you will never find the word ‘guidance,’ but you will find ‘guide.’ It is personal. God leads us, God directs us, lovingly through all things. Yes, we make our mistakes. Looking back on life we see God graciously rules overall.

Angels come and explain all to Joseph. God knows all our limitations and weaknesses. He will overrule and work out his purposes in our life. All the way my saviour leads me. Not some of the way.

All the way my Saviour leads me
What have I to ask beside?
Can I doubt His tender mercy,
Who through life has been my guide?
Heav’nly peace, divinest comfort,
Here by faith in Him to dwell!
For I know, whate’er befall me,
Jesus doeth all things well;
For I know, whate’er befall me,
Jesus doeth all things well.

Fanny Crosby.

Joseph could look back on this journey and see God protected him. The slaughter of infants is in-keeping with the character of Herod. In the midst of rage, anger and spite of Herod, God protected Joseph, Mary and Jesus. God directs Joseph to Nazareth, a despised region. Yet, this is the place where God will have His Son raised. God is our fortress, our high tower, our refuge. We shelter in God’s awesome tender love and grace. He is always the same. We can count on Him. He is true to Himself, unchanging. We shelter in all the glorious promises in scripture. We shelter in His providential care, “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28).

We shelter in God. Isn’t it wonderful to be safe, to be secure in God?

A Sovereign Protector I have,
unseen, yet for ever at hand,
unchangeably faithful to save,
almighty to rule and command.
He smiles, and my comforts abound;
his grace as the dew shall descend;
and walls of salvation surround
the soul he delights to defend.

Augustus Toplady

It is a wonderful thing to be at peace in God.

Norman Rees-Sept 17 We have all had days when we have been downcast and troubled. But one man in the Bible who had probably a few days of concern, anxiety and sleepless nights was Joseph. Joseph was a godly man who was engaged to Mary. They both lived in Nazareth. He was a carpenter. He loved Mary deeply. In those days engagement was something akin to marriage. It was a promise that could not be broken. But then Joseph had news; his fiancée was pregnant.

Mary was spoken to by an angel of God. Mary, a virgin, one who feared and loved God, was terrified when she first heard the news. The angel told her not to be afraid, he brought a blessing from God. He told her she would have a child. She was confused. Here was purity; two godly people who loved each other would now be the talk of the town. It knocked her sideways. She asked how it could be, “And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God.” (Luke 1:35)

She was overwhelmed. It is not recorded in Scripture if she went and told Joseph but she did go to visit her aged cousin Elizabeth, who was pregnant. Elizabeth hid herself for five months. She was old and barren but now pregnant. It was a wonderful miracle of grace. Mary spent three months with her. Then Mary went back home to Nazareth, to Joseph. He could see she was pregnant. The first thing that came into his mind must have been ‘What has happened?’ Had she been unfaithful? He couldn’t marry her. He thought of ‘divorcing’ her but did not want to embarrass her, so planned to do it privately, before a couple of witnesses.

One night Joseph went to sleep and there God spoke to him through an angel in a dream, “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” (Matthew 1:20). Well, what a revelation! What a shock! His expectant wife was expecting the Son of God. Being a man of God, he would have known the prophecy from Isaiah. She must be the one spoken of by Isaiah. He woke and immediately, without doubting God’s word, he went to Mary, took her in his arms and they rejoiced together. They married but did not have a relationship until after Jesus was born. Joseph cared for her, looked after her and her most precious gift growing in her womb. People around would have tutted and mocked. They did not know what God had revealed to Mary and Joseph. But Mary and Joseph did not care what the world had to say.

The glory of heaven, the Father sent Jesus to earth for 33 years. God the Son was in the eternal plan to save mankind, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life,” (John 3:16). Here is the gift of God before us, looked after and cared for by Mary and Joseph. He, who could control all the elements, was subject to His mother Mary and step-father Joseph. Such humility! This is the Christ we worship. He was in Mary, then with Mary and Joseph, with His disciples and all those who were called. He helped them, encouraged them and loved them deeply. Immanuel, God with us! They had God walking by their side, God in the flesh – Jesus Christ. Some people hated Him for this. They thought He was blaspheming.

All that happened 2,000 years ago. When Jesus went back to heaven He sent His Holy Spirit. So within us, as believers, is Jesus Christ, the Spirit. They are not to be divided. Here is one who is with them, with us. Immanuel! 2,000 years ago people could see Him, hear Him. When He went back to heaven His disciples were fearful. But when the Holy Spirit came they were bold and could rejoice. And that same Holy Spirit is with us now in Penuel.

We go through situations, problems, difficulties, sadness and deaths. Sometimes we feel God is not with us but He is always with us. He will never change. It is no good relying on feelings. God is with us in every situation. He is with us all the time. Whatever the future hold, Immanuel is with us. Never forget this, “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. (Isaiah 41:10). This verse is a great comfort in times of trial. When there is nowhere else to go, God’s presence will comfort us. If we have confessed our sins and repented, then this promise is for us. God says He will never leave us or forsake us. Immanuel, God with us. This is easy to say in good time! Believe it! As health changes, our situation changes, government changes, here is one who never changes.

Tag: Mary and Joseph

November 26th 2023: Andrew Bowden

December 15th 2019: Norman Rees