Relying on the Spirit
First Congregational Church of Evanston
December 23, 2007 (Fourth Sunday of Advent) Matthew 1:18-25
Romans 1:1-7
Rev. James E. Roghair, Interim Minister
Being Joseph
I remember well, the year that it was my turn to play Joseph in the annual Christmas Eve Pageant. I got instructions from my Aunt Grace: I had to stand still! It seems that I was never able to really stand still, or to sit still, as far as that goes. Her son, my older cousin, Richard, could always be still. Richard would have made a tremendous Joseph – but he was probably Joseph the year before. So with my instructions I was determined to try.
Now, in those days we had an old Dutchman as our minister. And sometimes what he had to say seemed a bit long to me. But determined to stand quietly as Joseph, as I had been instructed to do, I locked my knees while the minister read on and on. I thought he was going to read the whole Gospel of Luke! I kept staring at my cousin Alice who was Mary. At least she got to sit down with a doll on her lap representing the baby Jesus. But I was standing doing nothing.
As the Christmas story droned on and on, things started to blur. Luckily Aunt Grace saw that something was wrong, drew the curtains, and got me out into the cool night air. I revived and there was no permanent damage – as far as I know.
But the experience of being Joseph that night reminds me of how we know Joseph in the biblical story. He is there. He has to be there! But his role is pretty minor in the story. Joseph has no lines in the Bible, and he rarely has any lines in the Christmas pageants. He’s more of a a walk-on character. He is not the center of attention in the Creches. But what do we know of the history that lies behind all of the pageants and the creches? What is the rest of the story?
Back Side of the Christmas Story
In a way this short passage from Matthew that we read this morning is the back side of the Christmas story. This is Joseph’s story. In Luke’s account of Christmas, Joseph’s only responsibility is to stand around. But here in Matthew we find Joseph much involved. Joseph is a good, and ordinary man, struggling to do what is right. He is in a difficult situation, with just a few options.
The first option would have been to make a big stink. The law – i.e. the words of the scripture – gave him a way to deal with this situation. The law’s harshest interpretation would have required Mary, “being found to be with child,” to be put to death for adultery. We have no evidence that Joseph gave much attention to this option.
But Joseph hardly had the opportunity to just act as if this situation was normal. To act like the baby was his? He might have done that, but then Joseph would have been implicating himself in someone else’s mess. And he would have been taking on someone else’s ridicule. We have no evidence that Joseph strongly considered that option, either.
No, what we read in Matthew is that Joseph was a righteous man. He would not implicate himself in someone else’s troubles. But neither would he make it worse than it had to be. He would not live by the harshest letter of the law so, Joseph determined to put Mary away quietly – to avoid for both of them as much public humiliation as possible. Both of them would suffer disgrace, but they would keep their heads up.
Joseph would have to divorce Mary, since their marriage contract was complete – even though she hadn’t come to live with him yet. And that righteous and loving thing, he is ready to do for Mary. Joseph emerges as a man of deep character. I wonder who Joseph would have consulted with? Did he pray long? Did he confer with friends? With brothers or sisters? With cousins?
Mary and Joseph’s Relationship
Surely things must have been very strained between Joseph and Mary at that time. The Gospel of Luke tells that Mary took off on a long walk, by herself, to visit her cousin Elizabeth. The two women talked things over – became support to one another. The story from Luke seems so natural to fit in with what we read in Matthew about the terrible decision-making that Joseph was going through.
Through it all, Joseph seems to be a model man as he works through his decisions. He reached a righteous and logical conclusion. A man of deep strength who would stand tall no matter what – a man with the strength of iron and a character of gold. He did not take revenge. We can thank God for people like Joseph.
New Options for Joseph
But then, as well thought out as his plan was, as responsible and as faithful as he was, Joseph was challenged by and angel in a dream. He should not put Mary aside. Rather Joseph is called to a new level of trust, and a new sense of God’s presence. The angel said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”
Now given the small town life – and any small town would do! – and given the ancient sensibilities, the line the angel gave him would be quite something for Joseph! Imagine trying this explanation with all of his relatives and neighbors!
“From the Holy Spirit, you say, Joseph? From the Holy Spirit? ... Hmm?” Joseph could expect much ridicule. He must have wondered, himself, just what such a message would mean, let alone how others would understand it. If he got any more information than that, we haven’t heard it.
The author of Matthew didn’t think we needed much more information. The only other thing Matthew says is rather ambiguous: “All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet: ‘Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel,’ which means, ‘God is with us’.”
Generations of Christian theologians have made much of this quote from the Greek version of the Old Testament. But there is really very little said about the virgin birth in the New Testament. Perhaps you noted in the reading from Romans today, that for Paul, it was not the virgin birth, but the resurrection that is the sign that Jesus is the Son of God.
For Matthew there is much that is not said – either by the angel or by Matthew’s Gospel, itself. The story simply invites trust in the God – the God who is present – Immanuel. Joseph was invited to trust – to go along with the ridicule and the snide comments that would come, because it was God’s will. He would become a step father – and as any decent man would do, he would care for and protect his step child. The questions are still there. The situation is still messy, just as are the lives of many stepparents we know.
Mary and Joseph’s Trust
We might wonder about the communications that passed between Mary and Joseph in this initial phase and as the child grew? Was there perfect trust between them? Was there a need for reconciliation? Joseph and Mary had a rough way to go – and this was only beginning.
Both Joseph and Mary had to trust the goodness of God – to trust God’s presence. It is always a miracle that God is with us. The truth of that miracle is a shelter from the community’s skepticism and criticism.
But the truth that God is with us, was sufficient for Joseph to take on the ambiguous role of step-father to the Christ. This truth is sufficient for him to accept the promise that the future will make this present worth while. “The child is from the Holy Spirit,” said the angel, and that was that.
Perhaps Joseph gives encouragement to other step fathers and step mothers as well — “Trust in God.” Can not Joseph also be an encouragement to any and all of us?
There are many things in our lives that we are not certain about, there are times when the way is messy. Surely you can remember some such times – you hit a snag – your family or friends hit a snag. Sometimes we can justifiably proud of our response, and sometimes we need forgiveness. And it is not always easy to tell the difference when you are in the middle of a mess.
Acting in Righteousness
The characters of Joseph, and Mary, are people we can relate to. When situations come up for you, can you act with integrity and righteousness as Joseph did? Joseph’s decisions never brought him fame and fortune, and may not have even brought him the respect of his neighbors. And yet they were the right things to do.
What are the things of righteousness and integrity in our lives?
Are there issues of righteousness and integrity in the life of the church?
I wonder if there is a reason why this church is having a budget meeting after worship on the Sunday before Christmas? Is it to remind us that life does not always sail along without bumps? Is it to remind us that we live in a real world where there are always budgets? Is it to remind us that the truth that God is with us – always something that we need to hear? Is it to challenge us, even when we can’t see what will happen next, to listen to angels in dreams?
Perhaps the timing is one of those quirky things about how God works. And in the end we need to thank God for the opportunity to try to find our way with righteousness and integrity, even when the way ahead is not clear.
As Paul wrote to the Romans, so perhaps the Spirit speaks to you: “ through [Jesus Christ]we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith among all the [people of our community]for the sake of [Jesus’]name, including yourselves who are called to belong to Jesus Christ ...[you] are called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Amen.
Last Updated: Wednesday, February 6, 2008