Joseph - Not Forgotten (Message 1)

Two Lessons for Focus:

God has a plan and purpose for EVERY life.
Rom. 12:2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Although we may sometimes FEEL insignificant, God SEES and REMEMBERS our work and love forever.
Heb. 6:10 God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.

What Do We Know About Joseph?

Joseph was from a very NOBLE line and could have been the KING of Israel (had Israel been a self-governing NATION.)
Matt. 1:1 This is the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah the son of David, the son of Abraham:2 Abraham was the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers, 3 Judah the father of Perez and Zerah, whose mother was Tamar, Perez the father of Hezron, Hezron the father of Ram, 4 Ram the father of Amminadab, Amminadab the father of Nahshon, Nahshon the father of Salmon, 5 Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab, Boaz the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth, Obed the father of Jesse, 6 and Jesse the father of King David. David was the father of Solomon, whose mother had been Uriah’s wife, 7 Solomon the father of Rehoboam, Rehoboam the father of Abijah, Abijah the father of Asa, 8 Asa the father of Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat the father of Jehoram, Jehoram the father of Uzziah, 9 Uzziah the father of Jotham, Jotham the father of Ahaz, Ahaz the father of Hezekiah, 10 Hezekiah the father of Manasseh, Manasseh the father of Amon, Amon the father of Josiah, 11 and Josiah the father of Jeconiah and his brothers at the time of the exile to Babylon.
Matt. 1:12 After the exile to Babylon: Jeconiah was the father of Shealtiel, Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel, 13 Zerubbabel the father of Abihud, Abihud the father of Eliakim, Eliakim the father of Azor, 14 Azor the father of Zadok, Zadok the father of Akim, Akim the father of Elihud, 15 Elihud the father of Eleazar, Eleazar the father of Matthan, Matthan the father of Jacob, 16 and Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, and Mary was the mother of Jesus who is called the Messiah.17 Thus there were fourteen generations in all from Abraham to David, fourteen from David to the exile to Babylon, and fourteen from the exile to the Messiah.

— Five golden KINGS — King David, Solomon, Asa, Hezekiah, Josiah

— Four QUESTIONABLE women — this genealogy is INCLUSIVE just as the Messiah and His salvation afterwards.

— Tamar, a PROSTITUTE

— Rehab, a PROSTITUTE

— Ruth, a GENTILE

— Bathsheba (Uriah’s wife), an ADULTERESS

— Three separate ERAS — with 14 generations in each (the eras of the PATRIARCHS; the KINGS; and MESSIAH)

— Two necessary FATHERS — Abraham proves a JEWISH line and David provides the KINGLY line.
Matt. 1:1 This is the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah the son of David, the son of Abraham:

— One amazing LINEAGE (genealogy) — to show that the Messiah has the BLOODLINE to be king.
Matt. 1:1 This is the genealogy (γένεσις genesis) of Jesus the Messiah the son of David, the son of Abraham:

Joseph was the HUSBAND of Mary. Some suggest that he was much OLDER than Mary, but there is no Scriptural evidence to SUPPORT this. There are lots of legends!
Matt. 1:16 and Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, . . .

Joseph was NOT the BIOLOGICAL father of Jesus.
Matt. 1:16 and Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, and Mary was the mother of Jesus who is called the Messiah.
Luke 3:23   Now Jesus himself was about thirty years old when he began his ministry. He was the son, so it was thought, of Joseph,
Luke 2:48 When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.” 49 “Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?”

Some held that Jesus was conceived by JOSEPH (or another man) BEFORE Mary and Joseph were married.
Matt. 1:18 This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. 19 Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.
John 8:41 You are doing the works of your own father.” “We are not illegitimate children,” they protested. “The only Father we have is God himself.”

Joseph fathered at least SIX children (four boys, and at least 2 girls) with Mary AFTER Jesus was born.
Matt. 13:55 “Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother’s name Mary, and aren’t his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas? 56 Aren’t all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?”

Joseph was possibly a carpenter, but definitely a CRAFTSMAN. Joseph was probably a STONE MASON.
Matt. 13:55 Is not this the carpenter’s (τέκτων tektōn) son? Is not his mother called Mary? And are not his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Judas?

Joseph is not SEEN in the Biblical account AFTER the story of 12-year-old Jesus at the temple (Luke 2). There is good evidence that Joseph DIED before Jesus began His ministry.
Matt. 12:46 While Jesus was still talking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside, wanting to speak to him. 47 Someone told him, “Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you.”
John 19:25 Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, “Woman, here is your son,” 27 and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.

Not Forgotten

It is EASY to think that we are LEAST important in any given setting, but God promises that we are NOT forgotten.

Accept the ROLE that God has given you and be JOYFUL where God has placed you.

Walk The Talk

What did you learn about Joseph or Mary in this study?

What was insightful concerning the genealogy presented in Matthew?

If Joseph was truly a stone mason, and Jesus, his son, also followed in that occupation, what Scriptures take on new meaning to you and why?

In what settings have you felt insignificant and why?

What did you learn today that would be most helpful if you apply it faithfully to your life?