More Than the Right Name

Coming through the line of the House of David, Jesus was prophesied He would be from David’s throne and family.

Enter Joseph of Nazareth.

There isn’t a lot told about Joseph. His family came from Bethlehem, so it was there that he needed to register.  He was returning because of his family line.  Apparently his family connections weren’t remembered or regarded to save him a room.

Joseph didn’t say words that were recorded. 

But, his actions spoke louder than words.

Who is this man that had the right lineage, but was also the right choice for God to call as an adoptive father for his Son?  What is it about him?  As God chose a father for His own Son, wouldn’t He want a father that would have similar characteristics as Him?

Matthew 1 begins reading that Mary was pledged to marry Joseph, but before they married, she was found to be with child.

Matthew 1:19 Because 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.

Righteous is defined as following divine law.  It is also defined as “holy in heart.” Joseph did not want to follow the laws of the people that included public disgrace and the judgment of a stoning death for an unwed woman who was carrying a child who  happened to be the woman he was betrothed to.  Joseph, “holy in heart” did not want to shame her or disgrace her, but would spare her life and offer her grace. 

Joseph began to consider quietly divorcing her, but after he had thought that thought an angel of the Lord came to him and told him that the child  in Mary was conceived by the Holy Spirit.  The angel told him that she will give birth to a son and that His name is to be Jesus, which in Hebrew is Yeshua -YHVH Saves/delivers. The angel tells him that His name is this because he will save his people from their sins.

When Joseph woke up from the visitation of the angel he DID what the angel commanded him and took Mary to be his wife.  It reads that he had no union with her until she gave birth.  He had self-control and he honored her, God and the child.  When Christ was born, he gave him the name Jesus.

 Joseph lives Spiritually; responding to the Spirit.

He is obedient.

He is filled with grace.

He is merciful.

He is patient.

He honors.

He listens.

He adopts with the heart of a father as the Father has for us.

He is holy in heart.

After Jesus was born and they were in Bethlehem for a time, King Herod became threatened at the word of a new King that was born.  An angel appears again to Joseph and tells him to take Mary and the child and escape to Egypt and to stay there until Joseph is told to leave, because Herod is in search of the child and wants to kill him.

Matthew 2:14  So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt.

Joseph immediately delivered the baby from death; moving during the darkness of night to provide safety and security.

He is a protector.

A deliverer.

A provider of safety and security even amidst darkness.

After Herod had died and the threat had passed, the angel appeared to Joseph again in a dream and told him to “Get up and take the child and his mother” and go to the land of Israel.  Again, Joseph got up and went, but when he heard that Archelaus, son of Herod was reigning in Judea in place of Herod from a warning in another dream.  Still as a man, it says he was afraid and he withdrew as he was warned and went to the district of Galilee and lived in a town called Nazareth.  So fulfilling what the prophets said, “He will be called a Nazarene.”

Joseph is responsive.

He is flexible.

He is mindful of their well-being.

This is the man Joseph, whom God called to be the adoptive father of Jesus.

In Joseph, we see the beautiful attributes of God’s own heart. 

Righteous is Joseph, holy in heart.