The story of Christmas is a microcosm of the story of the church. Jesus is the main character, but there are lots of supporting characters.

• Over the next three weeks, we are going to take a brief look at the characters of Christmas, specifically the Christmas family: Joseph, Mary, and Jesus.
• Our goal is to consider their story, their role, and to consider how that informs us to look at our role in in the theater of God’s glory.
• Got questions? Ask them by clicking here.
• Let’s begin today with a question: Would God ever lead you to stay in a messy situation? Would God ever lead you to do anything in following Him that would sacrifice your reputation or lead to some kind of suffering?

Matthew 1:18-25

18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. 19 And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly.
• The first stage of marriage in Jewish culture, usually lasting for a

before the wedding night, more legal than an engagement. During that year, the groom would prepare a home for his bride and they may not see each other during this season.
• When Mary returns pregnant, Joseph had three options:

// Option #1:

Reveal Answer

her unfaithfulness and let her receive the penalty of that transgression, which was death. It would have resulted in her death and the death of the baby. Matthew notes that Joseph was a “just” or “righteous” man and “unwilling to put her to shame.”
// Option #2:

Reveal Answer

her quietly and let her simply live as a social outcast with the child.
// Unexpected Option #3:

Reveal Answer

with her?

•Rather than responding in anger, Joseph, according to v. 20, takes some time to

.

20 But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: 23 “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us). 24 When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, 25 but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.
• “an angel of the Lord appeared to him” >> Why now? Why did God wait? Why didn’t He tell Joseph right after He told Mary?
• Because, out of His

for Joseph, God wanted to influence him when he was teachable. Joseph was seeking God’s will and he thought he knew it. He thought the path of mercy and a quiet divorce was God’s will, but God met him in a dream to change his mind.
• Because the Bible

Reveal Answer

with itself. Matthew is writing from the perspective of a Jewish man, knowledgable of the OT, drawing arcs from OT figures to what is happening in the life of Jesus. He is writing his account of Jesus’ life to Jewish people to show them that Jesus is the Jewish Messiah.
• This reminds us that Jesus’ birth is not just a set of random events happening in history. God is at work in His sovereign timing to bring about His

Reveal Answer

and His plan in the lives of His people >> Galatians 4:4-5 | But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.
• So, the angel appears to him and says, “Joseph, son of David.” Because, as one of Jesus’ earthly family connections, Joseph was in the direct lineage of King

Reveal Answer

(see 2 Chronicles 17:11-14).
• Why would God give Jesus an earthly, adoptive father?

// To fulfill

Reveal Answer

that Jesus was in the line of David. But also, God gave Jesus an earthly father
// To

Reveal Answer

Mary (on the road to Bethlehem)
// To care for and

Reveal Answer

Jesus (Luke 2:52)

• Daniel Darling >> And so this is Joseph’s legacy. Barely mentioned in Scripture, forgotten mostly in church history, but remembered by God as a faithful servant. And for most of us this can be our legacy as well if we are willing, like Joseph, to say yes to God.

Proverbs 16:9 | The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps.