The Joy Of Joseph
Matt. 1:16-25

Joseph had joy in his FAMILY
As Joseph wasn’t wealthy nor had religious or political aspirations, his life was probably very normal. In seeking marriage, after their fathers had agreed upon the terms, Joseph and Mary entered into a betrothal. This was a time where they were legally married but not cohabitating or sexually active. Mary would prepare herself as a homemaker and Joseph would prepare their dwelling. Joseph had joy in looking forward to their life together. The greatest joys in life come from doing life with like-minded people! A betrothal could only be broken by divorce. The punishment for adultery or sexual promiscuity was death (Deut. 22:13-27). Once Joseph found out Mary was unfaithful (and before he heard from the angel) he didn’t want her stoned but wanted to quietly divorce her to not shame her. Living in God’s joy does what is best for the other person! Joseph disappears from the biblical record after Jesus is 12 years old. But in Jesus’ formative, adolescent years, Joseph led his family in godliness. Jesus likely developed a love for his heavenly Father from seeing the example of his earthly one. Joy is contagious. The greatest legacy a man can leave is his joy from serving God!

Joseph had joy in his GOD
Joseph was a physical Israelite but also had spiritual lineage of those who loved God. He was a ‘just’ (Gr. dikaios, ‘righteous’) man, meaning all he did was affected by a desire to do right in God’s eyes (Deut. 6:5; Micah 6:8). Once the angel revealed Mary was still a virgin and pregnant, he chose to take the public shame himself as people would assume he lacked self-control. The joy of serving God will be your strength when you make choices no one understands or appreciates until later (John 15:11). Amazingly, he didn’t have intercourse with his new wife for six months, showing self-discipline to honor God—maybe the real reason he was chosen! For those who love God, God’s will supersedes personal, professional, public, or private desires (Matt. 1:25)! Joseph obediently named Jesus as the angel told him. He followed Jewish law and presented his Son at the Temple. He modeled the importance of worship by leading his family to worship God and protected them when people wanted to kill his son (Matt. 2:14, 21; Luke 2:22, 41). The joy of the Lord in believers is shown by the obedience of believers to the Lord!