Matthew 2:13-15
13 Now when they had departed, behold, 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.”
Luke 2
39 And when they had performed everything according to the Law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. 40 And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom.
And the favor of God was upon him.
We were asked to consider why Joseph dreamed and Mary was Privileged to speak with Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God Almighty Most High, Father of Jesus Christ our Lord.
Add to the fact of Joseph not Speaking to the Archangel - Joseph passed on when Jesus began His Ministry.
Was Joseph needed? The Sadducean Council records Mary was daughter of Heli, found to be a descendant of David in Luke 3. It's probable that Joseph was descended of David through Solomon and Mary descended of David through Nathan. C'mon. Jesus told us He could raise up descendents of Abraham from mere rocks. Imagine with me the delight of Jesus to wonder with the crowd at the Messiah being a descendant of David. God does not need the DNA He created like a human does, God is the Father and Creator of the Universe by His Word.
Who was Joseph? He was called in a unique set of circumstance. Matthew 1:19 points out Joseph was just, faithful and righteous and dealt a hand of apparent mess.
Joseph is clearly identified in Matthew 2 during the presentation of a first born male in the Temple of God.
33 The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him.
God didn't call Joseph Step-Father. Joseph is credited twice, Matthew 13:55 and Mark 6:3, as seamlessly blending Jesus into Joseph's family and called Joseph's Son.
So why is Mary more privileged to be there for the mystery, the angels, and proclaimed today as the Mother of God?
1 Timothy 3:16
Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness:
He was manifested in the flesh,
vindicated by the Spirit,
seen by angels,
proclaimed among the nations,
believed on in the world, taken up in glory.
Well. God planned for Mary to be the one who tried to rescue Jesus from the Trouble brewing and the one to stay until He was going to Heaven. Mary was sent on by Jesus.
However, Joseph still counts. How could a man stand to see His Son die? I think there would have been scenes of Joseph rushing in. You have to be God to give up Your Son. This family is biblically recorded as being tender love.
1 Thessalonians 4
13 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope.
For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. 15 For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep.
For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.
Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.
We are told Joseph is old. Because in the Acts of the Apostles - there is a Biblical quote - the old will dream dreams. However this was speaking of the end of days. A young Daniel dealt with dreams and so did a young Joseph, son of Jacob/Israel - Vizier of Egypt. We always thought their dreams were good!
Let's consider Spiritual Gifts:
1 Corinthians 12
4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; 5 and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; 6 and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. 7 To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. 8 For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.
11 All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.
Why did God will Mary to see angels and Joseph merely dreamed? Because of God - they Loved. Maybe Joseph was not made to appreciate angels. Maybe Mary would have ignored a dream.
1 Corinthians 12:21
The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.”
God is Love. His Gifts manifest His Love.
Where I volunteer - PACN; Recently, I spoke to a man who fell in love. He was divorced and his loved woman was working on a divorce. Her first husband had abused her and was unwilling to sign divorce papers. She had been in the court system for three years. And had just found out - she was pregnant. He was telling me that he didn't care if the biological age of the human bean was found to make the child another man's child. He was looking forward to a spring wedding. In fact, his fiancee found out her ex-husband signed the papers - the day the next wedding was being planned, this very man and the woman, were talking to us - she found she could obtain a divorce. The first husband changed his mind. When I saw this woman later, at the sonogram, her fiance got very quiet and said he already had three children and he was not about to raise another man's baby. He left. She was crying. However, the father of the baby was thrilled to be having a child.
Joseph was thrilled to be betrothed. He was building a house. And news came, she was unfaithful. End of the dream. As righteousness would allow, Joseph could divorce her. Instead, Joseph was going to be merciful and his dreams began again. Very inconveniently. 80 miles with a donkey and a pregnant woman. His first baby. No hospital, not a clean bedroom available. No hospitality. Lots of men might have run out just for that. Joseph was going to have to take this child right into the Lion's Den to present the Child to the Temple. And then more dreams about leaving his home, his country, his livelihood. His family. His city. Joseph was like Abraham - willing to argue mercy for someone else.
Joseph was like Timothy, Luke and Mark. Willing to be there in the end.
2 Timothy 4
9 Do your best to come to me soon. Luke alone is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is very useful to me for ministry.
Why did Joseph dream Dreams? Joseph Loved.
1 John 4:16
And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.
This photo is for Anne Cable. She always wanted the Angel we saw on Lake Texhoma to have the words from 1 Timothy 3 on the photo.
Father God, Willing God, help the Beloved to stay on the Path. Give us love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control and remind us to bless. Greater is He in us. We ask in Jesus. Amen.
♔ Lord Jesus Saves †
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