Mensa Otabil - Joseph, A Just Man
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Well, welcome to our study as we continue our lessons around Christmas. Next week, as you know, is our Christmas week. From today till Sunday, I’ll be focusing my teaching on Joseph, Jesus’s foster father, the man that God entrusted with His Son. We start with Matthew 1, verses 18 to 19.
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. Then Joseph, her husband, being a just man and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly.So, what do you do when someone you truly love does something you truly hate? That’s what happened to Joseph. The woman he loved was found with child, and it was a traumatic experience for him. It’s obvious that Joseph was in love with Mary; they had gone through the process leading to marriage. This is the betrothal process, which is in between engagement and marriage. At this point, they are more husband and wife, but they haven’t come together completely as husband and wife.
Now Joseph discovers the shock of his life: the woman he loves and intends to spend the rest of his life with is pregnant. He has no way of knowing what we understand later in the story-that this is the work of the Holy Spirit. He just knows he has been betrayed.
How would you have acted if you were in Joseph’s situation? How do you act when somebody you love and care for, and think so highly of, does something you think so lowly of? They do something that really wounds your soul, and that’s what we learn from Joseph. Normally, when people feel hurt, they react with vengeance; they seek revenge, and sometimes they want to inflict pain on the person who caused their heartache. Other people go to the extreme-they withdraw, wanting nothing to do with the person, and they quietly nurse their pain.
Joseph did not do any of these; he didn’t seek vengeance, nor did he avoid the problem. He decided he was going to deal with the issue, but deal with it in the right manner. He had two options: first, he could report Mary to the Jewish council in the synagogue, and then she would be judged. Most likely, she would be stoned to death. That’s one way, and that would be a just punishment. Joseph would probably feel this is what happens to people who betray him.
Then he had the other option, which was also permitted: to handle this quietly. So, he decided to address the matter discreetly. He would annul the marriage, but he would not disgrace the woman. That’s what he decided: I will annul the marriage; I will not disgrace the woman.
The interesting thing is how the Bible describes Joseph as a just man. His character and compassion were clear, and I believe that God knew who Joseph was, which is why He chose him for this very delicate situation. In the process of bringing us the Messiah, Joseph had the right spiritual, mental, and emotional approach to handle this delicate matter.
We learn from Joseph that sometimes you can be legally right; you can have your case right, but you can still act with mercy, compassion, and grace. For each of us who think we have a case, who feel offended and want a pound of flesh, who want to exact maximum pain on the person who inflicted pain on us, just look at Joseph. He had the right to do it, but he decided, I’m going to do what the law says, but I’m going to do it with mercy and grace. May the Lord help us, as we reflect on this Christmas period, to be like this just man. We can be right and still do the right thing, but we must do it with mercy and grace.
Let’s pray. Say with me: Heavenly Father, show me what to do when I’m deeply hurt. Give me the strength to act virtuously when I feel offended. In Jesus' name, amen.
May we all be called just men and women in our relationships with one another. I’ll catch you again tomorrow. I’m Pastor Mensa Otabil. Shalom, peace, and life to you