Overview:
From just a brief appearance in a few verses that cover the beginning of Jesus’ life, we learn a great deal about the man, Joseph, who would raise heaven’s Son as his own. Joseph exuded humility and faith as he fully obeyed God’s leading even though he never fully understood it. Develop a new appreciation for Mary’s husband, her greatest advocate, and learn how to follow God in difficult circumstances.
Message Summary:
Message Key Facts:
- The Groom Takes Center Stage: Swindoll notes that while no one at a wedding says, "Isn't the groom lovely?", Matthew 1 is unique because it focuses entirely on Joseph’s perspective rather than Mary's [5–6].
- Betrothal vs. Engagement: Unlike modern engagement, a first-century Jewish betrothal was legally binding. The couple was called "husband and wife" before living together, and ending the arrangement required a formal divorce [10–11].
- Joseph’s Three Options: Under Mosaic law, Joseph had three choices:
- Public Disgrace: Expose Mary as an adulteress, potentially leading to stoning.
- Quiet Divorce: Break the betrothal privately to spare her life.
- Grace: Marry her and accept the child as his own.
- The "Stradivarius" Analogy: Swindoll jokes that giving a granddaughter away in marriage feels like "giving a Stradivarius violin to a gorilla," emphasizing the protective nature of families—something Joseph had to navigate with Mary.
- The Lingering Scandal: Swindoll points to John 8:41, where religious leaders tell Jesus, "We aren't illegitimate children," implying that thirty years later, the rumor of Mary’s "scandalous" pregnancy still followed Jesus. This highlights the courage it took for Joseph to remain His earthly father [21–23].
- Joseph as Advocate: Swindoll defines an advocate as "one who pleads in another's behalf." Joseph didn't just provide a home; he stood as a legal and social shield for Mary and Jesus against a culture of shame.
- A Modern Parable of Grace: The sermon concludes with a story of a couple Swindoll knew. The wife had been a call girl in Las Vegas before her conversion. Her husband, like Joseph, knew her secret, married her, and became a pastor, modeling the love of God who forgives the unlovely [29–31].
Message References:
- Matthew 1:18–25: The primary text detailing Joseph’s dilemma, the angelic dream, and the birth of Jesus.
- Luke 1:39–56: The account of Mary visiting Elizabeth for three months, leaving Joseph in silence.
- Deuteronomy 22 & 24: (Implied) The Mosaic laws regarding betrothal, adultery, and divorce.
- Isaiah 7:14: The prophecy fulfilled in Matthew: "The virgin will conceive a child... and they will call him Emmanuel."
- John 8:37–44: The confrontation between Jesus and the Pharisees where they insult His parentage ("We aren't illegitimate children"), and Jesus identifies their father as the devil.