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Joseph Did You Know?
By Skip Heitzig
Matthew 1:18-25

At Christmastime, Mary gets most of the press after Jesus. It's understandable, since she was the only virgin to give birth. But Joseph is rather sidelined. So today we'll try to see the announcement of Jesus' birth through his eyes. His range of emotions follows a stressful gamut. But his example is helpful to any who receive hard-to-hear news.

From the teaching series Jesus: Celebrating All That He Is

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Matthew 1 (NKJV™)
18	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.
19	Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly.
20	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.
21	"And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins."
22	So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying:
23	"Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel," which is translated, "God with us."
24	Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife,
25	and did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son. And he called His name JESUS.

New King James Version®, Copyright © 1982, Thomas Nelson, Inc. All rights reserved.

<p><strong>Joseph Did You Know? - Matthew 1:18-25</strong><br /> From the series: Jesus: Celebrating All That He Is<br /> <em>By Skip Heitzig </em><p></p> <p><strong>MESSAGE SUMMARY</strong></p> <p>At Christmastime, Mary gets most of the press after Jesus. It's understandable, since she was the only virgin to give birth. But Joseph is rather sidelined. So today we'll try to see the announcement of Jesus' birth through his eyes. His range of emotions follows a stressful gamut. But his example is helpful to any who receive hard-to-hear news.</p> <p><strong>OUTLINE</strong></p> <p><ol> <li>Excitement "Mary was betrothed to Joseph" (v. 18a)</li><br /> <li>Shock "Mary...was found with child" (v. 18b)</li><br /> <li>Bewilderment "Not wanting to make her a public example" (v. 19)</li><br /> <li>Fear "Do not be afraid" (v. 20)</li><br /> <li>Resolve "Joseph...did as the angel of the Lord commanded" (v. 24)</li></ol></p> <p><strong>DETAILED NOTES </strong></p> <p><ol type="I"><li>Introduction <ol type="A"> <li>The culture <ol> <li>Patriarchal, male-dominated</li> <li>Women important, but not celebrated as men were</li> <li>Today, equality is more common</li> </ol> </li> <li>Besides Jesus, Mary the center of the Christmas story <ol> <li>Virgin who birthed the Savior</li> <li>Christmas Carols <ol type="a"> <li>"Mary, did you know that your Baby Boy would one day walk on water?" <em>Mary, Did you Know?</em> by Mark Lowry</li> <li>"What Child is this, who laid to rest on Mary's lap is sleeping?"  <em>What Child Is This?</em> by William Chatterton Dix</li> <li>"Silent night, holy night all is calm, all is bright Round yon Virgin Mother and Child" <em>Silent Night</em> by Joseph Mohr</li> <li>"I have traveled many moonless nights, cold and weary with a babe inside. And I wonder what I've done Holy Father you have come and chosen me now to carry Your Son." <em>Breath of Heaven (Mary's Song) </em>by Amy Grant</li> <li>"Gentle Mary laid her Child, lowly in a manger; There He lay, the undefiled, to the world a Stranger." <em>Gentle Mary Laid Her Child </em>by Joseph Simpson Cook</li> <li>"Joseph: The Face in the Background" by John Schmidt</li> </ol> </li> </ol> </li> <li>Matthew presents Joseph's unique perspective <ol> <li>Genealogical record of Joseph: The legal qualifications for Jesus as Messiah</li> <li>Luke presents the genealogical record of Mary</li> </ol> </li> <li>The problem <ol> <li>We are familiar with the story</li> <li>We fail to see it uniquely from a different perspective</li> </ol> </li> <li>Background <ol> <li>Joseph and Mary were young people <ol type="a"> <li>Probably not even 20 years old</li> <li>Girls engaged by 12 or 13</li> <li>Girls Married by 13 or 14</li> <li>Married at home and started having children</li> <li>Boys were a bit older, some cases much older</li> </ol> </li> </ol> </li> </ol></li><li>Excitement <em>“Mary was betrothed to Joseph” </em>(v. 18a) <ol type="A"> <li>Joseph in love with Mary <ol> <li>Mary a common name: after Miriam, Moses' sister</li> <li>She loved him</li> <li>Exciting time of life</li> </ol> </li> <li>Betrothed <ol> <li>Two stages <ol type="a"> <li><em>Kiddushin</em> - betrothal</li> <li><em>Chuppah </em>- marriage ceremony</li> </ol> </li> <li>Arranged marriage <ol type="a"> <li>When the children were young</li> <li>Parents signed a contract</li> </ol> </li> <li>Groom's parents paid a dowry <ol type="a"> <li>Defray the cost of the wedding</li> <li>Insurance in case the couple split up</li> </ol> </li> <li>Betrothal ceremony <ol type="a"> <li>About one year prior to the marriage ceremony</li> <li>At the synagogue; name and date recorded</li> <li>Called husband and wife</li> <li>Legally married</li> <li>No physical contact whatsoever (consummate after the wedding)</li> <li>The couple gets to know each other, build a foundation</li> <li>Divorce the only way out</li> <li>Formal commitment, like marriage</li> </ol> </li> <li>Marriage followed betrothal; about one year later</li> <li>Joseph thinking about the honeymoon</li> </ol> </li> <li>Joseph a carpenter <ol> <li>"Is this not the carpenter, the Son of Mary?" (<span class='verse'>Mark 6:3</span>)</li> <li>Τέκτων; tekton - craftsman </li> <li>Worked in stone, metal, and wood</li> <li>Probably a stone mason who also worked with wood</li> </ol> </li> </ol></li><li>Shock <em>“Mary…was found with child” </em>(v. 18b) <ol type="A"> <li>Before they came together <ol> <li>Joseph had never touched her</li> <li>No physical relationship at all</li> </ol> </li> <li>Joseph: a just man <ol> <li>A man of integrity</li> <li>Sexual purity held in high regard</li> </ol> </li> <li>Mary's shock <ol> <li>"Then Mary said to the angel, 'How can this be, since I do not know a man?'" (<span class='verse'>Luke 1:34</span>)</li> <li>She was told she was going to be pregnant</li> <li>"Now Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste, to a city of Judah, and entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth." (<span class='verse'>Luke 1:39-40</span>) <ol type="a"> <li>Mary goes to see Elizabeth</li> <li>No mention of her parents (perhaps they had died)</li> <li>Because conception was impossible for Elizabeth, she would understand</li> </ol> </li> <li>Mary had three months to process the news: "And Mary remained with her about three months, and returned to her house." (<span class='verse'>Luke 1:56</span>)</li> </ol> </li> <li>Joseph had no time to process <ol> <li>He dreams of the future</li> <li>Mary (probably) tells him the news</li> <li>From that moment, trust and intimacy compromised</li> </ol> </li> <li>Carpenters a practical group of people; challenge for Joseph</li> </ol></li><li>Bewilderment “<em>Not wanting to make her a public example</em>” (v. 19) <ol type="A"> <li>Joseph a just man; a man of integrity</li> <li>Joseph's three choices <ol> <li>Publicly shame her <ol type="a"> <li>Bring her before the synagogue</li> <li>Marked</li> <li>Old Testament: stoned</li> <li>New Testament: Roman rule; Jews no longer had the right of capital punishment</li> </ol> </li> <li>Divorce privately <ol type="a"> <li>Produce a document</li> <li>Signature of two witnesses</li> </ol> </li> <li>Get married</li> <li>Today there would be another option: abortion <ol type="a"> <li>Not in Jewish society at that time</li> <li>Life viewed as holy; a gift from God</li> </ol> </li> </ol> </li> <li>Joseph decided to divorce her privately <ol> <li>He loves Mary</li> <li>He is just and merciful</li> <li>To preserve his own righteous, he doesn't move forward initially</li> </ol> </li> </ol></li><li>Fear <em>“Do not be afraid” </em>(v. 20) <ol type="A"> <li>Wrestling with thoughts, weary, fell asleep</li> <li>Dreams <ol> <li>Dream every night <ol type="a"> <li>Some remember dreams</li> <li>Some do not</li> </ol> </li> <li>We deal with thoughts differently when we are awake</li> <li>Common dreams <ol type="a"> <li>Falling: feel anxiety; fear of losing control</li> <li>Being chased: feel threatened; in danger</li> <li>Shackled, unable to move: feel we lack freedom</li> </ol> </li> </ol> </li> <li>Joseph's dream <ol> <li>Different sort of dream</li> <li>Probably the angel Gabriel</li> <li>"Do not be afraid" (v. 20) <ol type="a"> <li>In Greek, stop an action already going on</li> <li>Better translation: "Stop your fearfulness"</li> </ol> </li> </ol> </li> <li>Joseph's fears <ol> <li>What would people say?</li> <li>What would relatives say?</li> <li>What would become of Mary?</li> </ol> </li> <li>The angel gave Joseph essentially the same message given to Mary</li> </ol></li><li>Resolve <em>“Joseph…did as the angel of the Lord commanded” </em>(v. 24) <ol type="A"> <li>Courage and Commitment: He is going through with the marriage <ol> <li>Woke up</li> <li>Obeyed</li> <li>Got married as soon as possible</li> </ol> </li> <li>He made a lifelong commitment</li> <li>"And did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son. And he called His name Jesus." (v. 25) <ol type="a"> <li>No physical sexual relationship with Mary until after the birth</li> <li>Never let it be said he had anything to do with what God was doing in Mary's womb</li> </ol> </li> <li>He took her to Bethlehem <ol> <li>Herod was killing babies</li> <li>Risked his own life and his family's lives</li> </ol> </li> <li>Flees to Egypt for two years <ol> <li>Gives up his career and life in Nazareth</li> <li>Lives as a fugitive</li> </ol> </li> <li>Returns to Nazareth to start again <ol> <li>Gossip never ended <ol type="a"> <li>"We were not born of fornication;" (<span class='verse'>John 8:41</span>) (intimating Jesus was)</li> <li>"We have one Father—God" <ol type="i"> <li>We know who our Father is</li> <li>Implied Jesus did not know who His father was</li> </ol> </li> </ol> </li> </ol> </li> </ol></li><li>Application <ol type="A"> <li>Families work best when Jesus is at the center</li> <li>The best decisions are often the hardest</li> <li>The world needs more men of integrity</li> <li>What does your life revolve around? Jesus or self?</li> </ol></li></ol><p><strong>Hebrew terms</strong>: Kiddushin - the betrothal; Chuppah - the marriage ceremony<br /> <strong> Greek terms</strong>: Τέκτων; tekton - craftsman <br /> <strong>Publications referenced</strong>: <em>Mary, Did you Know?</em> by Mark Lowry;  <em>What Child Is This?</em> by William Chatterton Dix; <em>Silent Night</em> by Joseph Mohr; <em>Breath of Heaven (Mary's Song)</em> by Amy Grant; <em>Gentle Mary Laid Her Child</em> by Joseph Simpson Cook; "Joseph: The Face in the Background" by John Schmidt<br /> <strong>Cross References</strong>: <span class='verse'>Luke 1:34</span>; <span class='verse'>Luke 1:39-40</span>; <span class='verse'>Luke 1:56</span>; <span class='verse'>Mark 6:3</span></p></p> <p> </p>

Who We Are:

We pursue the God who is passionately pursuing a lost world; we do this with one another, through worship, by the Word, to the world.

What We Do:

Upreach
We express our adoration of Jesus through dynamic worship and uncompromised obedience.

Inreach
We explain the relevance of the Bible to empower and transform lives for service.

Outreach
We extend hope to a hurting world by proclaiming the gospel and demonstrating Christ's love.

Our Beliefs

We Believe that there is one living and true GOD, eternally existing in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, equal in power and glory; this triune God created all, upholds all, and governs all.

We Believe that the scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the Word of God, fully inspired, without error in the original manuscripts, and the infallible rule of faith and practice.

We Believe in God the Father, an infinite, personal Spirit, perfect in Holiness, wisdom, power, and love; that He concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of men; that He hears and answers prayer; and that He saves from sin and death all who come to Him through faith in Jesus Christ.

We Believe in Jesus Christ, God's only begotten Son, conceived by the Holy Spirit.

We Believe in His virgin birth, sinless life, miracles, and teaching, His substitutionary atoning death, bodily resurrection, ascension into heaven, perpetual intercession for His people, and personal, visible return to earth.

We Believe in the Holy Spirit, who came forth from the Father and Son to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment; and to regenerate, sanctify and empower all that believe in Jesus Christ for ministry.

We Believe that the Holy Spirit indwells every believer in Jesus Christ and that He is an abiding Helper, Teacher, and Guide.

We Believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit and in the exercise of all the Biblical gifts of the Holy Spirit.

We Believe that all people are sinners by nature and choice and, therefore, are under condemnation; that God regenerates by the Holy Spirit, those who repent of their sins and confess Jesus Christ as Lord.

We Believe that Jesus Christ baptizes the seeking believer with the Holy Spirit and empowers the believers for service, often subsequent to regeneration.

We Believe in the universal church, the living spiritual body, of which Christ is the head, and all regenerated persons are members.

We Believe that Jesus committed two ordinances to the church: 1) Baptism and, 2) the Lord's Supper. We believe in baptism by immersion and communion open to all believers.

We Believe also in the laying on of hands for baptism of the Holy Spirit, for ordination of pastors, elders, and deacons, and receiving from the Holy Spirit through the believer the gift of healing.

We Believe in the personal, visible return of Christ to the earth and the establishing of His Kingdom, in the resurrection of the body, the final judgment and eternal blessing of the righteous, and the endless suffering of the wicked.

We Believe in what is termed the Apostles Creed as embodying the fundamental facts of Christian faith.

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Joseph Did You Know?
By Skip Heitzig
Matthew 1:18-25

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From the Series:
Jesus: Celebrating All That He Is

In this special series, Pastor Skip Heitzig offers a fresh look at the familiar story of Jesus' birth. As we consider Christmas from various vantage points, we receive a valuable reminder that He should be the center of not only our celebrations, but of our lives.

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