Try Standing in Joseph’s Sandals

In this message, Chuck Swindoll shifts the traditional Christmas focus from Mary to the often-overlooked figure of Joseph. While modern weddings focus almost entirely on the bride, Matthew’s account of the Nativity centers squarely on the groom, inviting us to imagine the “topsy-turvy world” Joseph entered when his betrothed revealed she was pregnant [5–7]. Swindoll asks listeners to “stand in Joseph’s sandals” to feel the weight of the silence he endured during Mary’s three-month visit to Elizabeth and the crushing dilemma he faced upon her return [7–8].

To understand Joseph’s struggle, Swindoll unpacks the first-century Jewish customs of engagement (arranged by fathers) and betrothal (a legally binding contract broken only by divorce). Joseph faced three legal options regarding Mary’s pregnancy: subject her to public shame and potential stoning, divorce her quietly, or extend grace and marry her despite the social stigma [10–12].

Joseph’s character shines through his obedience to the angel’s command in a dream. He not only married Mary but acted as her advocate—a protector who shielded her from a scandal that followed Jesus all the way to His adult ministry. Swindoll concludes with a moving true story of a pastor who married a woman with a secret past as a call girl, illustrating the redemptive power of a spouse who chooses grace over judgment [28–31]. The message challenges believers to make “life-altering decisions” to do the right thing, even when it invites criticism [25–26].

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:
  1. Public Disgrace: Expose Mary as an adulteress, potentially leading to stoning.
  2. Quiet Divorce: Break the betrothal privately to spare her life.
  3. 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.

Message Speaker:

Pastor Chuck Swindoll