Joseph — Husband of Mary

By Royce Frederick

The Bible tells us much more about Mary than about her husband, Joseph. However, there are a few very interesting facts given about Joseph.

Joseph was a CHOSEN man. Mary was already espoused (promised) to Joseph before the angel made the announcement to Mary that she would conceive of the Holy Spirit (Lk. 1:27-35). So, in choosing Mary to be the physical mother of Jesus, God did not choose Mary alone. He also chose the man who would serve as head of the home into which Jesus would be born.

Joseph was a TROUBLED man when we first read about him. It must have been a crushing blow to the heart of Joseph when he learned that Mary had conceived (Matt. 1:18). He knew that he was not responsible for her conception. Therefore, it seemed certain that she had been unfaithful.

Joseph was a RIGHTEOUS man. “Being a just [righteous] man” (Matt. 1:19), he considered how to properly dissolve his marriage agreement. This indicates that he believed in moral purity. He had apparently kept himself pure, and he expected the same purity from the one who would be his wife.

Joseph was a MERCIFUL man. Although he did not intend to consummate his marriage to Mary, neither did he intend to retaliate and hurt her. Instead of disgracing her publicly, he intended to dissolve his marriage agreement privately (Matt. 1:19).

Joseph was an OBEDIENT man. “But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, ‘Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins’” (Matt. 1:21). Joseph obeyed this command and all the other commands which he later received from God.

No person will ever face the exact same dilemma which Joseph faced, but we all face many other troubling situations in life which require decisions and action. Like Joseph, may our decisions demonstrate righteousness, mercy, and obedience to God’s word.