Like Father Like Son

[Matthew 1:18-25]

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. And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. 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. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins." All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:

"Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
and they shall call his name Immanuel"

{Rev. Dwight Yoo}

When the angel of God told Joseph to take Mary as his wife. God was asking for Joseph's reputation and status. for life. People then could not just move away. They grew up and died in the same village/city. There were only two possible reputations that Mary and Joseph would have. First would be that they were fornicators. Joseph and Mary had sex before marriage, which was unheard of in those days among those people. Secondly, Mary had sex with another man while she was betrothed to Joseph and Joseph was a fool to marry her. When God called Joseph to throw away his life, it was no small thing. Even into the adult years of Jesus' life, this reputation would still hang over the whole family. People would come up to Jesus and accuse him of being a bastard.

This is the same call that God makes to every Christian. We are called to follow God at the cost of our lives. Our reputations. our goals/dreams/desires. To pick up our cross and follow God. This is not a call only for missionaries. Or only for pastors. When Joseph was told to marry Mary, verse 25 tells us how he reacted: "When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded..." He quietly and faithfully obeyed. No complaints are voiced. Just quiet obedience. Joseph is foreshadowing for Jesus. Jesus also went to the cross at the cost of his life. Like a lamb before her shearers.

Joseph is called a "just man." What does being just mean? Before the visit of the angel, Joseph was resolved to quietly divorce Mary. Why? He had just found out that Mary obviously had been unfaithful. But consider that he could have had Mary stoned to death for adultery. He could have divorced her publicly to shame her. Consider that justice is different here. It is not the form of justice we see often. It is not retribution. It is not an eye for an eye. It is not a stiff application of law. The same punishment for all. But rather it is compassion for the weak and broken.

"He will not quarrel or cry aloud,
nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets;
a bruised reed he will not break,
and a smoldering wick he will not quench,
until he brings justice to victory;
and in his name the Gentiles will hope." - Matthew 12:19-21

This is the heart of Joseph. Not justice in terms of only punishing those who have done wrong. But avoiding shaming and causing additional suffering for those who have sinned against us. It is justice that is compassionate as well. It covers over our shame. We are called to be gracious even when we have been sinned against.

Application

We are called to sacrifice anything and everything, if God calls us to it.
If we are honest, this is impossible without God.

We are called to pay the cost of sin... there will be costs to our family, our finances, and our time and energy. Honestly, this is also impossible w/o God.

What then?

This only points us again to our constant need for the Gospel in our lives. We are continually seek the presence of God, the God who is with us. We are called to die to ourselves. To remember our immediate and immense need for Christ. The one who has already come and who dwells with us.