THE PEOPLE GOD CHOSE TO BE PART OF

THE GREATEST STORY EVER TOLD

JOSEPH AND MARY - THE HUMAN PARENTS OF JESUS

Servants in the hands of God.

 

Introduction:

One of the seeming oddities of Scripture is the noticeable lack of information about the human parents of Jesus. Very little is really known about their lives.

The purpose of both genealogies is to show that the royal line to the throne of David had not been sacrificed nor desecrated. Both of these people fit the qualifications to be used of God in the birth of the Messiah. This was extremely vital to the Jews.

Yet, very little is known about them. I speculate that God intended Biblical silence and limitation for the same reason that, in my judgement, He intended the absence of information about the childhood of Jesus.

A casual review of history will show the rapidity with which people venerate personalities, objects, and/or events. Religious history is replete with saints, images, icons, venerations, apparitions, holy temples, holy mountains, holy men and holy women and, yes reflecting on ancient Jewish history and modern India, HOLY COWS !!

 

The Bible gives no elevation to Joseph and although the angel told Mary she was highly favored "among" women (NOT OVER WOMEN) Jesus later ignored two separate opportunities to elevate her to a place of special veneration and worship.

(Mat 12:46 NKJV) "While He was still talking to the multitudes, behold, His mother and brothers stood outside, seeking to speak with Him."

(Mat 12:47 NKJV) "Then one said to Him, "Look, Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, seeking to speak with You.""

(Mat 12:48 NKJV) "But He answered and said to the one who told Him, "Who is My mother and who are My brothers?""

(Mat 12:49 NKJV) "And He stretched out His hand toward His disciples and said, "Here are My mother and My brothers!"

(Mat 12:50 NKJV) ""For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother.""

And then, from the cross, He again avoids the opportunity when He instructs John to take care of Mary.

(John 19:25 NKJV) "Now there stood by the cross of Jesus His mother, and His mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene."

(John 19:26 NKJV) "When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, "Woman, behold your son!""

(John 19:27 NKJV) "Then He said to the disciple, "Behold your mother!" And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home."

 

Now, I am not pointing this out to argue, debate, and most certainly not to degrade Joseph and Mary. I am simply saying that God intended that the focus of worship, adoration, honor and obedience be unto His Son, Jesus, and not the various other personalities around Him.

In fact, you have as much audience before God as they or any other human being. He has put His Holy Spirit in you and has called you His son or His daughter. No gifting or calling could be higher than that!

Having made that point - I do want us to look at the character and devotion of this couple and see if we can learn what it was that got God's attention concerning them. What caused God to chose them from all the other couples in Israel?

Let's first look at Joseph.

Good lineage.

  1. He was a man of honor who paid attention to the sensitive nature of the wedding vow.
    1. The scripture states that he and Mary were betrothed. Now, that meant more than our common custom of "going steady" or even engagement.
    2. The Jewish arrangement for marriage was: First, the engagement - usually made by the parents when the couple were yet children. Second, was the betrothal, which when entered into, was binding and lasted for a year. Last, was the wedding proper which took place at the end of the betrothal.
    3. Joseph and Mary were in the betrothal stage.

(Mat 1:18 NKJV) "Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit."

(Mat 1:19 NKJV) "Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly."

  1. He was a man who was attentive to spiritual realities.

(Mat 1:20 NKJV) "But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit."

(Mat 1:21 NKJV) ""And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins.""

(Mat 1:22 NKJV) "So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying:"

(Mat 1:23 NKJV) ""Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel," which is translated, "God with us.""

(Mat 1:24 NKJV) "Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife,"

 

 

 

(Mat 1:25 NKJV) "and did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son. And he called His name JESUS."

    1. He maintained his right attitude for the entire time of Mary's pregnancy.
    2. His religion and faith in God was more than just a mouthy expression. He obeyed the angel of the Lord and did what he was instructed to do.
    3. He was a man who protected his family. This took great faith, personal sacrifice, and unselfish effort.

(Mat 2:13 NKJV) "Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, "Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word; for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him.""

(Mat 2:14 NKJV) "When he arose, he took the young Child and His mother by night and departed for Egypt,"

(Mat 2:15 NKJV) "and was there until the death of Herod, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, "Out of Egypt I called My Son.""

(Mat 2:16 NKJV) "Then Herod, when he saw that he was deceived by the wise men, was exceedingly angry; and he sent forth and put to death all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its districts, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the wise men."

(Mat 2:17 NKJV) "Then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying:"

(Mat 2:18 NKJV) ""A voice was heard in Ramah, Lamentation, weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, Refusing to be comforted, Because they are no more.""

(Mat 2:19 NKJV) "But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt,"

(Mat 2:20 NKJV) "saying, "Arise, take the young Child and His mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the young Child's life are dead.""

(Mat 2:21 NKJV) "Then he arose, took the young Child and His mother, and came into the land of Israel."

(Mat 2:22 NKJV) "But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea instead of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. And being warned by God in a dream, he turned aside into the region of Galilee."

(Mat 2:23 NKJV) "And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, "He shall be called a Nazarene.""

 

 

Now, let's look at Mary.

Good lineage.

  1. She was a young woman of innocence and virtue. A true virgin in sexual purity and cleanliness.
    1. Unlike the woman I counseled with in one church who claimed to be "The Madonna."
    2. Most assuredly unlike the pop music star Madonna - who has mocked the virtue and purity of Mary's life with her sensual and sexually wicked behavior.
    3. Mary was a young woman whom God could use.

(Luke 1:26 NKJV) "Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth,"

(Luke 1:27 NKJV) "to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary."

(Luke 1:28 NKJV) "And having come in, the angel said to her, "Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!""

  1. She was a young woman who knew how to listen to God.
    1. Although the angel's appearance troubled her, she did not reject the angel's counsel.

      2. (Luke 1:29 NKJV) "But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was."

      (Luke 1:30 NKJV) "Then the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God."

      (Luke 1:31 NKJV) ""And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS."

      (Luke 1:32 NKJV) ""He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David."

      (Luke 1:33 NKJV) ""And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.""

      (Luke 1:34 NKJV) "Then Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I do not know a man?""

      (Luke 1:35 NKJV) "And the angel answered and said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God."

      (Luke 1:36 NKJV) ""Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren."

      (Luke 1:37 NKJV) ""For with God nothing will be impossible.""

      (Luke 1:38 NKJV) "Then Mary said, "Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her."

    2. She did not allow human fear of rejection or mockery to diminish what the Lord spoke by His angel.

      3. LISTEN TO HER BEAUTIFUL SONG OF REJOICING AS SHE SHARES THE NEWS WITH HER ELDER COUSIN ELIZABETH.

      (Luke 1:46 NKJV) "And Mary said: "My soul magnifies the Lord,"

      (Luke 1:47 NKJV) "And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior."

      (Luke 1:48 NKJV) "For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant; For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed."

      (Luke 1:49 NKJV) "For He who is mighty has done great things for me, And holy is His name."

      (Luke 1:50 NKJV) "And His mercy is on those who fear Him From generation to generation."

      (Luke 1:51 NKJV) "He has shown strength with His arm; He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts."

      (Luke 1:52 NKJV) "He has put down the mighty from their thrones, And exalted the lowly."

      (Luke 1:53 NKJV) "He has filled the hungry with good things, And the rich He has sent away empty."

    3. She was co-operative with her husband even though she was to be the mother of the Son of God.
    4. She quietly suffered the indignities of forced travel in her most uncomfortable state.
    5. She apparently gave no complaint about the place where her little boy was to be born. Poverty was not an issue. She carried the treasure of heaven.

 

In closing,

We must be thankful and appreciative to Mary and Joseph for the part they faithfully played in the birth of Jesus. As human beings, they did not forfeit their humanity to be used of God; they surrendered their humanity to God.

Likewise, we are afforded the same opportunity. Assuredly, not to give birth to the Savior but, rather, to be surrendered humans to the plans and purposes of God.

He will use our humanity (our common abilities and virtues) up to a point. Then He must fill us with His Holy Spirit to take us beyond our human capabilities. In other words, if we, like Joseph and Mary, will be surrendered to Him, He will anoint us to do and be more than we could do and be in our natural life.

The Apostle Paul says it this way:

(Phil 2:5 NKJV) "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,"

(Phil 2:6 NKJV) "who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God,"

(Phil 2:7 NKJV) "but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men."

(Phil 2:8 NKJV) "And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross."

AND

(2 Cor 4:8 NKJV) "We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;"

(2 Cor 4:9 NKJV) "persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed;"

(2 Cor 4:10 NKJV) "always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body."

(2 Cor 4:11 NKJV) "For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus' sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh."