Seeds for 04-20-2023 - Matthew 1:18-25
Scripture: “18 This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. 19 Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.
20 But 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. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23 “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).
24 When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. 25 But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.” (Matthew 1:18-25)
Observation: Joseph is an intriguing figure. In the first two verses, we learn (1) that he is pledged to a woman who is found to be pregnant during the engagement/betrothal period before they are married, and (2) that he has figured out a plan in light of this situation.
Joseph’s plan wasn’t bad. A couple of factors are in play. He is “faithful to the law.” That’s a true statement, but it’s more than simply obedience to the rules, it’s also a way to describe his status as a righteous man in his synagogue and community. It’s about both what he does and who he is. We might use the term “upstanding” today, a role model. That upstanding image could come crashing down. But also he “did not want to expose her to public disgrace.” He needs to end the relationship, but he has no desire to do her harm in how he does it. He has a plan, and it’s not a bad one given the circumstances.
It’s just that God has a hard time leaving our “well enough” alone. God reveals more of the backstory and bigger picture to Joseph in a dream. Since we probably have Mary’s vantage point in our minds from Luke’s Gospel, we now imagine Joseph catching up with Mary’s knowledge about this child Jesus.
What I think impresses me most from Joseph is that he has the humility and surrender of heart to lay his plan aside for God’s plan. God’s plan is tougher but it is worthwhile. God’s plan may not quell rumors, but it will advance His saving plan for the world.
Joseph supports Mary’s calling from God to bear the Son of God into the world. And he lays down his plans in order to serve God’s plans.
Application:
When have you needed to lay aside your plans to follow God’s plans? What was that like?
What else might the Holy Spirit be speaking with you about in the text today?
Prayer: Lord, give me a humble heart to serve your plans above my own. Amen.
“But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.” (Matthew 13:23)
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