Joseph’s Legacy
Stanley Samuel
As we read the story of Christmas we hear about the baby Jesus, Mary, the wise men, the shepherds, the barn animals and the angels. However, in midst of this story we seem to forget the role played by one man, Joseph, who was betrothed to Mary, the mother of Jesus.
Reading from Matthew 1:18-25, we see that it was only after Joseph was betrothed to Mary did she conceive from the Holy Spirit. In the Jewish custom when a man is betrothed to a woman he is legally married to her. It is not like the common day engagement or being promised to marry. So if a person wants to separate they would need to file divorce rather than simply saying that they have called off the marriage. So when Joseph comes to know of Mary’s pregnancy he wants to quietly divorce her without making a public spectacle of her. However, the angel of Lord comes to him in a dream and tells him that this is of the Lord and he was to take Mary as his wife. Without questioning he obeys God. Matthew 2 tells us that the angel of the Lord comes again to guide Joseph to take Jesus and Mary from Bethlehem to Egypt, since there was danger from King Herod. Once the danger passes, the angel of the Lord guides him again to take them back to Israel. After that we see no more reference to Joseph, the only reference we see is when Jesus is being referred as the carpenter’s son.
Joseph was not a popular person or someone great. However, this story helps us see that he was very popular in God’s eyes, through his obedience to the Word of God as he did without complaining or questioning. He took Mary for his wife, even though he knew that the child in her womb was not his. His obedience to God’s Word would give him the privilege to name the baby boy, “Jesus.” The name by which every man and woman on this earth will be saved. Joseph played his role well as he took care and provided for the mother of Jesus, so that Jesus could be born in this world. His continued obedience showed faith in God as he takes Mary and the baby Jesus to Egypt and then later to Nazareth.
What if Joseph had said No? I am sure the Lord would have raised up another person to do His work. However, Joseph’s faithfulness in his role truly exemplified the life of a faithful Christian. Had Joseph not taken this role, he would have missed being part of the powerful Judaic Christian prophesies about Jesus - that the Messiah was to be born in Bethlehem, was to come out of Egypt and was to be from Nazareth.
Joseph knew God’s will in his life and he obeyed God diligently. This story motivates me to recognize that God is not looking for someone popular or famous, but someone who is a faithful steward of His Will and His Word in their life. Even though a stage will come when we will be no more in this life, but those who have run the race of their life, God will hold them with high regard. They will be remembered forever. Your work for Christ will become a legacy for years to come and this is nothing because of what you do for yourself, but for everything that you do Christ.
Joseph’s legacy left us with this day of Christmas. What about you?
Merry Christmas!!
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With love and Prayers
Stanley Samuel
1 John 3:23 And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love another, as he gave us commandment