Do you ever wonder about Joseph, the man we see walking alongside a very pregnant woman on the way to Bethlehem? I’m often tempted to think of him as an unnecessary extra in the Christmas story. The Christ child is, of course, central, as is his mother, Mary. Meanwhile, the conception itself had happened without any help from Joseph. Then there are shepherds, sheep, wisemen, camels, donkeys, the Inn Keeper, and, with sinister intent, Herod – all of these stand out in my memory. Often, I simply see Joseph standing quietly on the sidelines, merely completing the tableau at the manger.
But not so. Matthew is the Gospel-writer who truly helps us appreciate the crucial role the Lord had for Joseph in the unfolding story. And so much of it occurred as he slept! The Lord used dreams to give him timely instruction, each time interrupting sleep with angelic messages.
Here’s part of the story, picking up after the departure of the Magi who had brought costly gifts for the Christ Child:
… an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up,” he said, “take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt …” So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt …
After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, “Get up, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel …” So he got up, took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel. (Matthew 2:13-14, 19-21)
Two visitations. Both following a similar pattern, using similar words. Did you notice? Each time the angel starts with the command, “Get up!” It’s a single word in the Greek text – abrupt, riveting, compelling. Since Joseph is sleeping at the time, the instruction is very mundane and simple: “Wake up! Rouse yourself from sleep! Get out of bed!” But interestingly, this same word is used in other places to do much heavier lifting. It is one of two words used in the New Testament to speak of rising from the dead – resurrection! That’s not the meaning here – it’s much more commonplace. Yet I can’t help but hear echoes of that larger meaning ringing in the background, for the child, central to these events, will years later give the same command (“Get up!”) to a lame man at the Pool of Bethesda, then immediately claim that he himself “raises the dead,” just like the Father (John 5:8, 21). The power of that word, used by the Son of God, echoes backward into Joseph’s dream. The word rings with new beginning, new possibilities, propelling Joseph into renewed life at the Lord’s command.
The angel’s directive, “Get up,” is followed by the further command, “Take.” Joseph is to “take” the child and his mother out of harm’s way, escaping into Egypt, and then later “take” them back home again into Galilee. It’s not enough to simply “wake up” – there’s action to be accomplished.
It’s at this juncture that we see Joseph’s significance in the story. Each time, he does exactly what he’s commanded. Each time Matthew, in his narrative, repeats the same words (so we don’t miss it), telling us “he got up” and “took.” Each time Joseph, through his obedience, is used by the Lord to keep the baby (“Immanuel,” “God-with-us”) safe.
It makes me pause. Am I as quickly responsive to the Lord’s commands? Do I “get up” and do the thing he’s calling me to? Am I obedient like that? Or do I hesitate, think it over, dig in my heals, or simply get distracted with other things? I immediately know the answer. I’ve got so much more to learn from Joseph.
There is, of course, also an earlier encounter with an angel in a dream. When Joseph, horrified by Mary’s pregnancy, decided to divorce her quietly, he fell asleep exhausted, and found himself visited by angelic presence, telling him to “take” Mary home as his wife, and name the baby, “Jesus.” As Matthew completes that narrative, he carefully uses the same “get up” word to tell us that Joseph awoke, and then did what the angel had commanded him – he “took” Mary as his wife (Matthew 1:24).
So much of this story, it turns out, hinges on Joseph’s quick obedience.
Oh, may I likewise be so faithful.
Tim MacIntosh writes a daily blog (on Facebook and on his website) titled, “Eyes on Jesus: Through the Scriptures.” He has also just published a book of daily devotionals in the Gospel of Mark, titled “Eyes on Jesus: Through Mark’s Gospel” (available at Regent College Bookstore, House of James, and on Amazon).
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