The Journey: 2. Joseph of Bethlehem – Mercy

by Pastor Steve Purdy

[Preached December 4, 2011; Based on Matthew 1:18-25]

 

“Relationships don’t thrive because the guilty are punished but because the innocent are merciful.” (Max Lucado, Just Like Jesus, 22)

 

Have you ever stood speechless with a dazed look in your eyes, knees trembling as you listened to someone you love tell you something you can’t believe, something you never imagined would happen, something that plunges your soul into a dark night?  Joseph did just that.  Joseph, a simple man, a carpenter by trade is engaged to a young girl named Mary.  And he learns, presumably from Mary herself, that his bride-to-be is already pregnant and Joseph knows for sure… that he is not the father, but in the span of a few days Joseph will journey to accept his role as the earthly father of Jesus. 

 

Last week we talked about Mary of Nazareth and her willingness to accept the role that God asked her to play and today we consider her fiancé, Joseph. Bethlehem appears to be Joseph’s home town and it was a little larger, though not much, than Nazareth.

           

Joseph must have doubted Mary’s explanation or else he wouldn’t have been looking for a way to break off the engagement.  The logical explanation pointed toward infidelity.

 

Consider this: Scripture tells us very little about Joseph. We have absolutely no words spoken by him – none! His name is mentioned only a few times, but one thing does stand out, his compassion.  He has concern for Mary’s life and the child she is carrying. 

• He realized that if he told others what he knew, she would die because the law required unfaithful women be put to death. 
• He may have been in shock; he may have been crushed, but Joseph did not want to see Mary die.  So he began to develop a plan to break off the engagement formally and legally, without offering a public reason why. 

 

However, have you ever considered that if Joseph had followed through with this plan, Mary would have been spared, but the shame would have been his? 

• People would naturally assume that Joseph was the father and that he had slept with her before breaking off the engagement. 
• Mary’s family would keep the dowry.  He would have to provide for the child as Jesus grew. 
• And if Mary’s father insisted, he would then be required to take her as his wife.

But all Joseph had to do was say one word and all of it would be off his back.  However, Mary would die in order for him to get on with his life.  But – that didn’t happen.  Why?  What made the difference?

 

Have you ever had the feeling that God was speaking to you in a dream?  Have you ever had a dream that seemed so real; a dream that caused you to change directions and follow a new path?  Well, it happened to Joseph.  God spoke to Joseph in his dreams.  He let Joseph know that Mary’s story, though unbelievable, was true.  Joseph spent the rest of his years devoting himself to his family, protecting and mentoring Jesus. 

 

Joseph said yes to his call because he was a “righteous man.” His righteousness came not from his seeking to follow the letter of the law – which was clear – but it was Joseph’s compassion and mercy that led Matthew to call him righteous.  Compassion and mercy; those are two qualities we could all embrace.  Compassion and mercy; those are qualities our world needs desperately. 

 

Perhaps our journey this Advent season is to travel from arrogance to humility, from being judgmental to being merciful. All of us know there are many opportunities in this very week’s news for us to demonstrate judgment or mercy.

 

I invite you during this Season of Advent to continue your journey as you listen closely for God’s voice and respond.  We see in Joseph qualities that God desires: humility, compassion and mercy.  God is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow.  God continues to desire that his people walk humbly.    

 

Thus far, we appreciate Mary’s willingness to say “yes” to God and Joseph’s humble and merciful spirit… as we ask, “What is God calling us to do on our journey? What is God calling me to do today?”