Matthew 1 - Joseph

I've been thinking about Joseph ever since I got into this first chapter. Matthew's rendition of the birth of Jesus really focuses on Joseph rather than Mary. Here's the passage I've been thinking about ...

18This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. 19Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.
20But 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. 21She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus,[c] because he will save his people from their sins."

22All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23"The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel"[d]—which means, "God with us."

24When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. 25But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.


What a nightmare he found himself a part of! His fiance with child - and not even his child - which would have been disgraceful but without the infidelity attached to it. Imagine how he felt ... anger, hurt, disgust, confusion. And yet he decides to not punish Mary but show her mercy. That's interesting isn't it? Before he's even been shown the mercy of God through Christ, Joseph is prepared to show Mary mercy.

But then he has a dream ... an angelic encounter. I wonder what he thought when he awoke? Distress? More confusion? Uncertainty (was that really an angel or was it just my psychological upset causing me to feel/see something so out of the ordinary)? It seems whatever feelings Joseph had when he woke up he put aside and did what was asked of him - he obeyed. He followed the instructions of God ... taking Mary as his wife, delaying consumating his marriage, naming his first born son Jesus.

Matthew says Joseph was a righteous man. It would appear that Joseph's actions live up to that description. And I find myself inspired to live like that too. How about you?

-------------

Within the last two years I've read a couple of fictional books on the life of Mary & Joseph & Jesus. I wouldn't recommend all the books these two authors have written but the following are good and give an interesting glimpse into the culture and times of Jesus' birth.

Anne Rice, "Christ the Lord: The Road to Cana"

Elizabeth Berg, "The Handmaid and the Carpenter" 2006

Both can be found in the public library system. :)