Joe the Hero - Part Two
“Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily.” - Matthew 1:19 (KJV)
In last week’s blog, we began a seasonally themed series in order to prepare our hearts for the Christmas season. While it is easy to fixate on Mary and Jesus Christ, we are going to place a spotlight on Joseph, or as I like to call him, “Joe the Hero.”
From the scriptures we see that Joseph was the kind of guy that parents pray that their daughter will bring over for dinner. He is identified as a just man. A just man is a man that is: righteous, observing divine laws. In a wide sense, he was upright, virtuous, and faithful in keeping the commands of God. The scriptures declare that those that are justified by God are those that place their faith in God. Joseph was this kind of man.
“Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.” - Habakkuk 2:4 (KJV)
“Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” - Romans 5:1 (KJV)
While we can conclude from scripture that Joseph was a God fearing man, he and Mary were about to be tested by a tremendous fire. Their trust is thrust into a trial. Joseph’s wife-to-be, Mary, went away for three months to spend some time with her cousin, Elizabeth, and came back pregnant! It is natural to project that Joseph had an incredible time trying to process Mary’s explanation as to why she was expecting a baby! It is possible that he thought that Mary was trying him with a tremendous tale. He must have asked himself how a woman could conceive outside conventional means. How could she ask him to not only believe an angel's announcement but also suppress the scandal? Joseph, the virtuous man, found himself in the vice of fear, shame, confusion and a sense of being dumped and dumbfounded. I can hear him calling into question Mary’s account of the events that contributed to her condition. He might have been thinking: Come on Mary! I may have been born at night but not last night! Rock city was a stone throw away! Meaning that his Mary’s actions had attached her to a stoning!
These circumstances have placed Joseph in a precarious position. He has a tough decision to make in regards to his response to this situation. Next week we will discuss Joseph’s biblical and godly response that reflects a heart surrendered to the will of God.
Not a Sermon But a Thought,
PBKSR