Joseph’s Legal Role
An angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. Matthew 1:20
We don’t know when Mary told Joseph she was pregnant, but we know his reaction: he was afraid to marry her. Even if she’d told him how it had happened to her, he wouldn’t have believed it. He only knew this child wasn’t his. He was a strict observer of the law and couldn’t marry an unfaithful woman. He didn’t want her to be publicly disgraced, or worse, for the penalty of having a child out of wedlock was death (Deuteronomy 22:23, 24). He decided to divorce her quietly because they were legally married even though only betrothed.
God understood Joseph’s reluctance and sent an angel to reassure him. Note how specifically the angel addresses him: “Joseph son of David.” The angel not only knew Joseph’s name, but he also knew he would have a significant role to play in God’s plan. A prophecy had been given to King David for a son who’d rule forever” (2 Samuel 7:12-13). Joseph was a legal descendant of David. When Joseph took Mary as his wife, the baby born to her would have a legal father. And not just a legal father, a son (descendant) of David.
Joseph fulfilled the law in relation to circumcision (Luke 2:21) and named the baby “Jesus” as the angel had instructed. He took the baby and Mary to Jerusalem for the purification rites and heard the blessing and prophecies of Simeon and Anna (Luke 2:22-38).
Joseph took his family to Jerusalem to observe the festivals. When Jesus was twelve, he got separated from his parents as they returned home from Jerusalem. When they found him in the temple, he asked, “Why were you searching for me? Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?” (Luke 2:41-52). Jesus had submitted to them and returned home with Mary and Joseph for a time.
But then the record of Joseph disappears. He’d played an important role in Mary’s and Jesus’s life, but now Jesus’s heavenly Father would have preeminence.
Do you feel insignificant? God knows you by name and has a significant, specific role for you to play.
Trust God’s plan for your life.
DIG DEEPER
Read Matthew 1:1-17, 2 Samuel 7:12-13, Genesis 12:3, and Genesis 22:18. How does Matthew’s genealogy establish this baby as the Christ, the Messiah who would bless the world as Son of Abraham and rule as the forever king as Son of David?
Compare Joseph’s concern for Mary and Judah’s response when he heard Tamar was pregnant Genesis. 38:24. How might Joseph’s speedy action in taking her as his wife have saved Mary from disgrace?
Read Matthew 2:13-15. How did Joseph later protect the young mother and child after being warned of danger in another dream?
Nancy J. Baker
This devotion is part of our “Do Not Be Afraid” series.