The Unsung Hero of Christmas

The Unsung Hero of Christmas
Mat. 1:18-23
Intro: Joseph is the one I call the unsung hero of Christmas. We don’t neglect him deliberately and we don’t disrespect him, we just don’t often Highlight him.
For the most part, Joseph is the silent man in the Christmas story. He never speaks in the Bible and he is not actually quoted anywhere in the Christmas story. We sometimes put words in his mouth in regard to his talk with Mary about the angel’s visit or in his conversation with the inn keeper trying to secure a room, but none of his actual words are recorded in the story.
Still, he is an Unsung Hero in this whole matter.


I. He is a Hero of Faith.
When Zacharias was told that he and Elizabeth were going to have a son in their old age, he doubted and was made to be deaf and dumb until the promise of God was fulfilled.
Even Mary struggled at first with the message of the Angel and questioned, “ how can this thing be?”
Yet, while Joseph was struggling with the news that Mary was expecting and while he was thinking that he would have to divorce her quietly so as not to create a scandal, an angel from God came to him in the night and told him to take Mary as his wife and that the child in her womb had been conceived by the Holy Ghost himself; and Joseph BELIEVED!
He did not question God; he did not demand further explanation; he did not Doubt the word God had sent. He is a Hero of Faith!
Oh, that we might believe God like that! That we would take God at his Word even when it seems Incredible and even if it seems Impossible. Remember, what is incredible to man is just another day’s work for our God and what is impossible for man is just routine for our God.
Do you Believe God? Will you Believe God?


II. He is a Hero of Obedience.
Again, Joseph shows his great character in the fact that when the angel told him about God’s plan and gave him instructions he Simply Obeyed.
Look at the story:
In vs 19 he was struggling with the news that Mary, his betrothed, has become expecting. He was wrestling with the best way to handle the situation so that she was not harmed.
In vs. 20 the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and told him not to be afraid of taking Mary as his wife. He was assured that she has not been unfaithful to him but that her pregnancy was the direct act of God.
In vs. 21 Joseph was told that the child would be named Jesus for “he will save his people from their sins.”
In vs. 22,23 Matthew inserts a parenthesis and remarks that these things were a fulfillment of the prophecy of Isaiah.
Matthew resumes his narrative in vs. 24 with these words: “THEN Joseph being raised from sleep, DID as the angel of the Lord had bidden (or commanded) him; and took unto him his wife.”
Now, how does that account read to you? Do you hear it like I hear it? As soon as the dream was completed; as soon as the angel departed after leaving his message; at that Very Point, Joseph got up out of bed, dressed, went out into the streets, made his way to the house of Mary, informed her about what had happened, and immediately started the process for Mary to officially become his wedded wife.
Joseph is a hero of obedience!
He obeyed even though he was initially afraid.
He obeyed even though he did not understand the whole situation.
He obeyed even when it was going to cause gossip and bring reproach on his reputation.
Oh, the Glory of Immediate Obedience!
Jesus asked this question to some who claimed to be his followers: Lk 6: 46- “and why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?”
John recorded three times that Jesus said, “If you love me you will Keep my commandments.”
Obedience! What a testimony of true love and devotion to the Lord.


III. He is a Hero of Faithfulness
Not only did Joseph have great faith to believe what God said and to take God at his Word; not only did he respond with immediate and whole hearted obedience; he also continued to obey God and fulfill the role God had ordained for his life.
It was NOT EASY!
He faced reproach from those around him; he restrained his natural desires for a physical relationship with Mary until after the baby Jesus was born; he made a difficult journey to Bethlehem because it was God’s will; he then made the long move to Egypt at the warning of Gabriel to protect the young child’s life; he put his own life and plans on HOLD for quite a while; he closed down his carpenter shop for at least two years and had to do whatever work he was able to find to take care of Mary and the child Jesus.
Joseph was a Faithful Man. He was reliable; he was dependable; he was steady and true. He cared for his wife and child through difficult circumstances in order to be pleasing to God and to do God’s will.
It’s great to hear from God; to feel God’s presence; to be blessed by God; to be given new life by the Blood of Jesus. But after the glory of salvation comes the task of living out your faith in this sinful world.
When life brings trouble, stay faithful to the Lord.
When life brings sickness & affliction, be faithful to the Lord.
When there is distress in your family, be faithful to the Lord.
When you feel perplexed and don’t understand why you are going through these circumstances, be faithful to the Lord.
This Christmas, Be a Hero of Faith, Obedience, and Faithfulness.