Poor Joseph.
Of all the characters of Christmas, nobody really pays attention to Joseph.
Mary is the one everybody always focuses on – sometimes even more than Jesus. People usually remember the shepherds keeping watch over their flocks at night. They know about Gabriel and the other angels who announced his birth. Of course, we
can’t forget the Wise Men from the East who gave Jesus gifts of gold, incense, and myrrh.
But Joseph usually disappears into the background. When the children perform their Christmas plays about the Christmas story, Joseph usually doesn’t even have a speaking part. And that’s too bad because Joseph played an integral role in the life of our Savior Jesus.
Joseph was most likely named after the Joseph of the Old Testament, who was sold into slavery by his jealous brothers. The Joseph of the Old Testament was a dreamer – literally. God revealed Joseph’s future to him in dreams. He allowed Joseph to interpret the
dreams of others, including the dreams of the Pharoah, who eventually put Joseph in charge of all of Egypt.
The Joseph of the New Testament didn’t seem to entertain such lofty ambitions. Though, like his fiancé Mary, Joseph was a distant descendant of King David, he seemed content to live the simple life of a carpenter.
That all changed the day he found out Mary was pregnant. Matthew tells us that Joseph was a “righteous man.” Joseph was a good guy. He knew that he hadn’t slept with Mary. So, he decided to break off their engagement privately, to not bring her any additional shame.
But then, like his namesake from the Old
Testament, Joseph had a dream.
In the dream, an angel explained to Joseph that the pregnancy was a miracle and that he shouldn’t be afraid to take Mary home as his wife. The baby she was carrying was special. He was to be named Jesus because he would save his people from their sins (Matthew 1:18-24).
Being the good guy that he was, Joseph took Mary home as his wife. When the Roman Emperor Caesar Agustus issued his decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world, Joseph took Mary to Bethlehem to be counted.
While there, Joseph made sure his small family had a warm, safe place
to stay – even if it was a simple stable. He strongly and lovingly provided for and protected Mary and baby Jesus in the days and the weeks that followed.
After the visit of the Wise Men, God once again appeared to Joseph in a dream, warning him to take Mary and Jesus away from the violent intentions of wicked King Herod. So, Joseph got up and immediately took Mary and young Jesus to the old stomping grounds of the Joseph of the Old Testament.
He took them to Egypt. There Joseph kept them safe until King Herod’s death. Then he took his tiny family back to Nazareth where he raised Jesus as his own. He taught him. He cared for him. He
loved him as a son.
Joseph probably never dreamed God would use him in such a way. He probably never dreamed his son would one day be the Savior of the world – his Savior. But when God called on him, Joseph stepped up. He trusted God. He was truly a good guy – a righteous man.
And for that, Joseph definitely deserves a speaking part in the Children’s
Christmas play.
Pastor Andrew Schroer has been a pastor for over 25 years and is currently serving at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Edna, Texas. You can find his latest books, “364 Days of Thanksgiving” and “364 Days of Devotion,” on Amazon.
Andrew Schroer Pastor at Redeemer Lutheran Church
