Joseph’s 4 Signs
Pastor Shane takes 4 scenes from the life of Joseph in teaching men to lead their family well. Click here for the recording of this 12/15 Service, and you can fast-forward to 22:13 to get to the start of the sermon.
Our text comes from Matthew 1 and 2
Matthew 1.20-24:
Mt 1.20But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: 23 “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us).
24When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him…
Matthew 2.13-15:
Mt 2.13 …an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.”
14 And he rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed to Egypt
15 and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, “Out of Egypt I called my son.”
Matthew 2.19-23:
Mt 2.19 behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, 20 saying, “Rise, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the child’s life are dead.”
21And he rose and took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel.
22 But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in place of his father Herod, He was afraid to go there, and being warned in a dream he withdrew to the district of Galilee.
23 And he went and lived in a city called Nazareth, so that what was spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled, that he would be called a Nazarene.
Introduction…
I know of no important calling for a man than for him to be the spiritual leader of his home - leading his home in prayer, setting a Christian tone, insisting on Christian behavior, modeling that behavior, and a love for the Bible.
It has been my experience, that many men are not - the woman is, by default; she must, because he won’t.
There is only so much a wife and mother can do which will overcome what a spiritually lazy or apathetic husband and father will not do.
Worse yet, some women lead the home, in almost every way; she calls the shots, and he falls in line- this is a dysfunctional home, which leads to dysfunctional families, for multiple generations
Girls learn how to be wives from their mothers; boys learn how to be husbands, from their fathers
Show me a strong, godly, masculine, gentle, sensitive, industrious, articulate man, and for the most part, I’ll show you a healthy home
Show me the reverse, I’ll show you ill-health
Joseph, was priest of his home, from its inception, in 4 ways
Sign 1
Mary is with child, a child Joseph knows is not his
He is a just (dikaios- upright, equitable, fair) man, and he loves her, but he perceives her to have been unfaithful; he will divorce her quietly
As he considers these things (enthumeomai- ponder, reflect thoroughly), an angel intervened
Joseph obeyed the angel’s direction; he married her; he abstained from sexual relations with her; and he named the Christ-child
Questions…
What abuse did he take from friends and relatives for marrying Mary?
What would have happened had he divorced Mary, or had her stoned?
How would this have changed the entire story?
What might God have done to work around this to set up the messiah-ship of Jesus?
How might this have changed the entire course of history?
Sign 2
An angel tells Joseph to take the Child and Mary and go to Egypt
Stay there ”until I tell you”
Herod is about to search for the Child, to kill Him
Joseph leaves that very night, and remains in Egypt until Herod dies
Questions…
What did Joseph tell Mary about their leaving Bethlehem?
Why didn’t he warn fellow parents about Herod’s plan to kill the little boys, or did he even know about this?
What is Mary thinking?
By this time, Jesus is likely a toddler- what is going through His mind?
Who will they stay with in Egypt?
How will they support themselves?
Sign 3
Again, an angel appears to Joseph in his sleep and tells him to return to Israel
“those who sought the Child’s life are dead”
He was headed back to Judea
Questions…
Does Mary ever doubt Joseph, and his dreams?
Does Joseph ever doubt himself?
When Joseph looks at the Christ child, what does he think? Does he believe there is something unique about Jesus?
Did he hear about the Herod’s infanticide, and if so, did he feel any guilt over this?
Sign 4
Again, Joseph is headed to Judea, but is warned off in a dream
Herod’s son is now in charge of the area around Judea
He goes 90 miles north to Nazareth
Questions…
Does Mary wonder why they pass on by Bethlehem and Jerusalem and go way north to Nazareth?
Does she have other children to care for by now?
Do they have a support system in Nazareth, or are they starting fresh, yet again?
How a real man leads his home
He loves his wife as Christ loves the Church
He leads his home, on his knees, in prayer, daily
He leads with compassion, and with confidence in his ability to hear the voice of Christ
His consistent Christian behavior has earned him influence within his family
He has the moral courage to confront his family members (including his wife) when they are wrong
He prays into his family’s future
He leaves a lasting legacy, long after he is gone
