The Dilemma of Joseph

 

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 eImmanuel” (which means, God with us). When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus. (Matthew 1:18-25 ESV).

 

Matthew makes clear that David is centrally important in the family line of Jesus. But with Joseph there is a disconnect. He is a son (descendant) of David, but Joseph is not the biological father of Jesus. If the birth of Jesus puzzles you, think how puzzling it was to Joseph. Joseph was engaged to Mary, and they had dreams of raising a family together. Before the wedding, however, she came to him with the news that she was pregnant; and, it was by “the Spirit of God.” One might try to picture what that conversation looked like, but I rather doubt any of us could possibly imagine the depth of hurt and betrayal Joseph felt.

 

Try to picture Joseph as he wrestled with his dilemma. He wanted to live God’s way. The law of God said he had the right to have her stoned to death. But Joseph was also gracious and did not want to disgrace Mary. Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, to explain what God was doing. The angel began by saying, “Do not be afraid…” and then assured Joseph that the child conceived in Mary was from the Holy Spirit and would be the long-promised Savior. This child was to be named Jesus, because he would “save his people from their sins.”

 

Doing what is right and good while being just as graceful as Jesus always places us in a dilemma. We want to apply the law and justice; however, we must also apply the same grace as we have been given. We can because in Jesus, God is with us. And his promise at the end of Matthew still stands today: “I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:20).