Matthew 1:18-20,24-25

24 When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, 25 but he knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.

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Imagine choosing someone else to raise your child. What characteristics would you look for? What type of person would you want to be responsible for your child? Would you want someone who was financially well off or perhaps someone with connections who could help your child get ahead in life? Would you want them to be kind and compassionate? What would be the defining characteristic you would look for?

Thankfully, the majority of us have not faced such a decision but God did when He chose earthly parents for His Son. There is not much information given to us about Joseph but these short verses give us a glimpse into the earthly Father of Jesus.

Joseph was a man who did what was right. When presented with the news that his betrothed was with child — a child who was not his, Joseph did not seek to publicly shame Mary or to have her stoned, which was allowed by the law. Instead Joseph made plans to privately break the engagement. Joseph was most likely heart broken but he did not seek revenge. He continued to show love and care for Mary, even when it appeared she had not treated him with the same. He still put her interests above his own. Can that be said of us? Are we the type of individual that when faced with hard decisions seeks the right answer for everyone or do we seek our own welfare?

Of course we know that God intervened, yet Joseph still had a choice to make. He did not have to accept this course. He could still divorce Mary and walk away from this messy situation. Again, Joseph proved to be a man of character as he readily accepted this news and chose to be a part of God’s plan. The passage ends by telling us that Joseph named his son Jesus. Do not miss the significance of this. Joseph named his son “God Saves”. We may ask in song if Mary knew but here I think Joseph did. He understood that God’s plan was bigger than him, bigger than Mary and he agreed to be part of that plan. Do we mirror this commitment to God’s plan?

– Mrs. Eliza Sanders