“Unwilling to expose her to public disgrace”

Matthew 1:18-25



Pastor Tom Johnson, December 22, 2013

Mary and Joseph. They are on Christmas cards with Mary on a donkey and Joseph leading her to Bethlehem. In the manger scene, they look adoringly at their infant King. We sing nostalgically about the baby Jesus and his two-parent home. This morning we hear in our Gospel and we confess that Jesus was “conceived by the Holy Spirit.” and “born of the virgin Mary.” We remember that Mary was a young, unmarried woman at this time. She was engaged to Joseph. They still lived with their families. They were both saving themselves for marriage.

When God called Mary to be the mother of our Lord, he was calling her to walk by faith not by sight. But He was also calling her to bear a huge burden—to bear potential shame—and possible rejection—of her family, friends, and future husband. For a woman to be pregnant and unmarried was scandalous in the first century. It would have brought shame to her, her family, and her fiancé. Imagine how much more shame it would bring if her fiancé was not the father. The fact that Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary is miraculous; but it also complicates things. Somehow Joseph finds out that Mary is pregnant. Maybe she tried to tell him the story of how the angel came to her. But it may have been too far-fetched of a story for him to believe. Nothing like that has ever happened before. No one just gets pregnant like that. I imagine Joseph thought that Mary was either coming up with an elaborate lie to cover herself or that she was not well mentally.

Our text says that Joseph was “resolved to dismiss her quietly.” There was really no alternative but to call off the engagement. He could not marry someone who seems to have so badly betrayed him. We know the rest of the story. But Joseph does not at this point. He only knows that his fiancé is pregnant and that he is not the father. But here is the amazing thing about Joseph: Joseph still loves Mary.  Despite the fact that it appears that Mary has allegedly broken her promise, he does not want her to suffer public disgrace or the wrath of those who would call upon Mosaic Law—this surely would be the death of her.

Joseph gives us a foretaste of this unborn Child who will one day show the strength of mercy over the letter of the Law. He shows us how grace surpasses judgment. “He is unwilling to expose her to public disgrace—unwilling put her to shame.” He wants her reputation to be untarnished. He will go quietly into the night and not make a fuss. He will protect her honor as well as his own. Joseph’s love for Mary is astounding. We know that because our text says that continued to think about her day to day even while laid there falling asleep with his head on his pillow. Because, our Scripture says, “as he considered these things…an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream.” The angel tells Joseph to not fear. “Do not fear.” “Don’t break it off with Mary. She is not pregnant by another man. She is pregnant by the Holy Spirit.” Joseph is encouraged to go through the marriage and adopt her infant Son as his own. And that is exactly what Joseph does. He overcomes his fear. He takes courage. He returns to Mary’s house. And probably to her amazement, and to the amazement of her parents, Joseph will take her as his bride.

Not only is Joseph an amazing example of a husband in this story, he himself exemplifies and illustrates the love of God—the love that God has for us in His Son, Jesus Christ, this infant child who is our Bridegroom—our Betrothed—our Husband. We are the Bride of Christ. We hope and long for our Husband who comes and prepares the Marriage Supper of the Lamb in his Kingdom which will have no end. Our wedding day is draws near. And like Mary, there is cause to put us to public disgrace and open shame. But unlike Mary, we are guilty of unfaithfulness. We deserve to be put to open shame. We deserve for God to go quietly into eternity and leave us behind in our brokenness and guilt. But like Joseph, God is unwilling to put us to public disgrace. He still loves us. He knows we are guilty. But he loves us all the same. That is why Jesus was born—so that God would be with us, save us from our sin, betroth us, and marry us.

It is that same Babe born in a manger to Joseph and Mary who comes for us. He not inclined to abandon us even though we have broken our promises. He is unwilling to expose us to public disgrace. Instead, he claims us as his own. He takes us as his Bride. And one day, he will carry us across the threshold to our heavenly home. And so we pray, “Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.”