JOSEPH OF BETHLEHEM

Sermon Summary from Dec 6, “Joseph of Bethlehem”

We began the series with Mary in Nazareth.  Mary, betrothed in an arrangement with Joseph of Bethlehem.  Poor, humble Mary, a fifth class water carrier in a Podunk, no-count village.  Mary, who more than likely lived in a home that was a cave.  The story of Mary and Nazareth tells us much about the nature of God and whom he favors. 

Today, our topic is Joseph.  Joseph who has no lines in the Bible.  At least Bethlehem has a Christmas carol named for it.  What can we learn about Joseph that will help us better understand Christmas, Jesus, God, ourselves?  And Bethlehem?

Ancient Bethlehem, in existence as Ephrathah when Abraham entered Canaan 1800 years before the birth of Christ.   It was Ephrathah that the Rachel died giving birth to the last born Benjamin and was buried in Ephrathah.  It was Bethlehem that was the central location of the book of Ruth, faithful widowed daughter-in-law of Naomi who became the great grandmother of David, the shepherd king thus making Bethlehem the city of David.  “Out of you of Bethlehem of Ephrathah...out of you shall come forth for me one who is to rule Israel.” (Micah 5:2)

That brings us to Joseph, in the line and lineage of David.  Joseph as Matthew puts it, “the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus is born, who is to be called the Messiah.” (Christ in Greek.) 

This gets us ready for the Christmas story.  Mary was in Nazareth.  The engagement was arranged.  Although we assume they were both there, there is no reason to believe that Joseph was not in his own town of Bethlehem 80 miles to the south. Somehow he finds that Mary is pregnant and being a righteous, fair man, decides to put her away quietly; but an angel comes to him in a dream and tells him, ““Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. ²¹ She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” (Mt 1:20-21)

Joseph, you’ll play the Dad and name him.  And Joseph did.  He became a great father. Jesus became a carpenter like Jesus, made sure of his spiritual training, and from the stories Jesus told (Calling his heavenly father “Abba,” talking of a father who had two sons who was merciful and forgiving, teaching us the pray, “Our Father…”)  He had a great relationship with his father.

Last week we learned that God favored the humble and lowly and this week that He selected maybe the humblest (a laborer, a working class man) of the descendents of David to guide his Son into manhood, to become part of our story, to prepare us for Christmas.