What do we fear? What things hit us for a six? What things become major
disruptions?
What can we do about this?
When Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together,
she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit (v.18).
For us now this is a marvellous statement. We might at times wonder
about the nature of this birth, but in the cool light of day we realise that
this was Creator God’s way of coming into the world in a personal way. This was
the ultimate way for God to bring salvation to a lost people. Where rebellion
from God’s ways had continued from generation to generation, this would be the
way through which there could be real change. There would be a personal Saviour
who would bring a permanent knowledge of God’s presence. The Son of God,
conceived of the Holy Spirit, taking up residence in the world, would
ultimately save God’s people from their sins (v.21). This Jesus would also be
known as Emmanuel, because in Jesus, God is with us. So, we are happy to
read that Mary was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit (v.18).
However, without the background knowledge we have, this came as a shock
to people of the time, and especially to Joseph. Put yourself in his shoes!
Joseph was in a huge predicament! His world had been turned upside down. Mary,
the woman he was going to marry was pregnant, and he Joseph was not the father!
Joseph previously was no doubt envisaging a fairly normal marriage and family
life with Mary. Mary was ‘betrothed’ to Joseph … a marriage-in-waiting, just
the formalities to go through. He loved Mary so much – but now she was pregnant
… and Joseph knew that he had had nothing to do with this baby’s conception.
The sense of betrayal, the pain, the confusion!
What would Joseph do? This is a question we often face in the
midst of fearful circumstances. What would Joseph do? The easy thing or the
right thing? Joseph could publicly reject Mary and leave her to endure public
disgrace or worse. That would have been perhaps what Joseph’s mates were
advising him to do. Cut and run! Is this what Joseph would do? The easy thing …
recommended by ‘common wisdom’? What a dilemma! If Joseph publically denounced
Mary, then it would be assumed that she had committed adultery – bringing Mary
untold suffering. But Joseph loved Mary! Yet, how could she have done this to
him. Still, he loved Mary … but to take on the responsibility for this child as
if it was his – this would open him up to a lifelong stigma … that he himself
had acted in an immoral manner.
Joseph resolved to do the best he could for Mary in the circumstances
(refer verse 19). This showed great character, and shows us why God had placed
Joseph in this situation in the first place – he could handle it! Those of us
who have shown that we can handle challenges like this, are likely to be the
ones used by God in situations of great import. Are we able to respond
appropriately when we are faced with persecution or opposition, or do we just
strike back? Joseph would not seek revenge or even vindication … Joseph
would just “dismiss Mary quietly”, seeking to spare her the worst of the public
humiliation and shame. This is how Matthew’s Gospel can describe Joseph as a
“righteous man” (v.19) – a man after God’s own heart … one who would do the
right and generous thing. Despite the hurt and disappointment he felt, he
wasn’t going to take Mary down for no good reason.
The fact that Joseph had good character, to the extent of being
described as a “righteous man”, also meant that he was the type of person who
was ready to listen to God! Joseph was prepared to listen to God … even when
what he was going to hear would be almost impossible to deal with … almost
impossible to even believe: Joseph, do not be afraid to take Mary as your
wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit (v.20). And
this is not a birth that would allow Joseph and Mary to fade into the
background – this child would be God’s Salvation. Joseph was able to hear and
process that this special child Jesus would save humankind from their sins
(v.21). God speaks to those who are ready to hear and respond! Joseph was ready
to respond to what must have seemed amazing, but what was truly and undoubtedly
from God.
This still could not have been easy for Joseph, and would’ve taken a lot
of courage. What Joseph undoubtedly feared the most, was exactly what God was
going to ask him to do. In going ahead with his marriage to Mary, Joseph was as
good as admitting to the general public (even though it wasn’t true) that he
was the father of this child. As mentioned earlier, this would mean for Joseph
– a lifelong stigma. Would his reputation ever recover? And then those that
thought that Joseph could not really have been the father, would have called
Joseph a complete idiot for taking the sort of extraordinary action he did. Yet
Joseph rose above all of this, seeing it all as secondary, to the primary role
of fulfilling God’s will.
Joseph rose above all his fears and doubts in the service of Jesus.
Joseph would endure the criticism of the crowd, in the joy of knowing he was
doing the right thing. Joseph’s courage began when he heard God say, Joseph,
do not be afraid (v.20). It was as Joseph got on top of his fear,
that God’s plans went forward. What a remarkable response … “When Joseph awoke
from sleep, he [simply and faithfully] did as the angel of the Lord commanded
him …” (v.24)! Given his character and availability, Joseph had been chosen for
this role, and he didn’t let God down.
Courage can be shown in the face of fear, e.g. police and emergency
service personnel in Sydney this week, and the hostages themselves; and in the “I’ll
ride with you” response … people finding courage to support others to maintain
their courage.
The fear that Joseph could have suffered from, was the fear of what
others might think. Such a fear could have made Joseph withdraw from his
calling and retreat from being involved. Such a fear could have made Joseph
neglect Mary’s needs. Such a fear as worrying about what others think, could
have completely diverted Joseph from being the person God had made him to be.
“Fear” is when the anxieties and feelings of alarm within us stop us doing what
we know we should be doing. Fear stops us taking adventurous risks; thus fear
tends to disrupt the discovery of all God has for us in life. For example, if
Joseph had let his fear control him, being too worried about what others would
think, then Mary, at the very least, would have been left destitute and
vulnerable. And, if Joseph was at risk of caving in to the potential sneers of
his community, this would have lost Joseph his very important role in history.
When Joseph heard the “angel of the Lord” say to him, “do not be
afraid”, he found the faith within him to comply completely with God’s will.
Joseph went on to adopt and affirm his role as human father to Jesus by giving
him his name … “he named him Jesus” (v.25). There was probably unbelieving
whispers around Joseph for the rest of his life, but Joseph knew that he had
done the right thing … the God thing! Often missed in this text is how
courageously and heroically Joseph acted (given the circumstances of his day).
So, where did all this courage and faith come from? God spoke … and
Joseph listened! Basic trust!! God is speaking to us today, especially when we
suffer fear. God speaks to us through his Word. God speaks to us when we pray.
God speaks to us daily of his reality in his creation, and in his acts of
re-creation. God speaks to us through other people, in particular events, and
various circumstances. Sometimes we become fearful – however are we listening
to the words “do not be afraid”, just like Joseph was? This might relate to who
we are prepared to say Jesus is this Christmas. My Saviour! God with me!
Emmanuel!
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