2. Joseph: Prioritizing Obedience over Reputation. (Dec. 9 & 10) Matthew 1:18-25 Matthew tells us that Joseph had an excellent reputation; he was a righteous man. Matthew also tells us that before they “came together”, that Mary was found to be with child. Matthew never reveals how Joseph found out, but he did. At that moment, Joseph had two options. If he divorced Mary publicly and even insisted upon stoning Mary, his reputation would be restored completely. If he went forward with the marriage, he would be implicated in everyone’s eyes. The lesser measure of putting her away quietly would leave his reputation in ongoing suspicion – the stink would remain on him. Joseph’s dream challenged him to prioritize obedience over reputation. Not only would he be regarded as a sinful man who lacked self-control, but he would also be assuming the most overwhelming of all challenges, to raise God’s Son in the context of a rough Galilean town that would have despised his family. In 1 Corinthians 4 Paul speaks of the damaged reputation of the Christian who is viewed as a fool and the scum of the earth by those who see the gospel of Jesus as folly. We too are challenged to prioritize obedience to God over our reputation with the world. What will it cost you to put God first?

2. Yosef of
Nazareth
Prioritizing
Obedience over
Reputation
Matthew 1:18-25

3. Key Questions
1. Who was Yosef of
Nazareth?
2. Why do we know so little
about him?
3. How did God’s call
“reshuffle the deck” of
his life?
4. What lessons can we
learn from him?

4. First Question
Who was Yosef ben
Yaakov haNotzri?
 He was an
insignificant man
in a significant
family.

5. First Question
Who was Yosef ben
Yaakov haNotzri?
 He had a strong
accent.

6. First Question
Who was Yosef ben
Yaakov haNotzri?
 He was likely
only a couple of
years older than
Mary.

7. First Question
Who was Yosef ben
Yaakov haNotzri?
 He was a
“righteous” man
in an unrighteous
generation.

8. First Question
Who was Yosef ben
Yaakov haNotzri?
 He was merciful
in a cutthroat
society.

9. Second Question
Why do we know so
little about him?
 He never speaks
directly in the
gospels.

10. Second Question
Why do we know so
little about him?
 Ancient Jewish
biographers were
disinterested
with “origin
stories.”

11. Second Question
Why do we know so
little about him?
 Matthew is more
driven by
theological
themes than any
other concerns.

12. Second Question
Why do we know so
little about him?
 He likely died
before Jesus
began his earthly
ministry.

13. Third Question
How did God’s call
“reshuffle the deck” of
his life?
 He made Mary’s
“shame” his own!

14. Third Question
How did God’s call
“reshuffle the deck” of
his life?
 He went from
rules follower to
fugitive!

15. Fourth Question
What lessons can we
learn from Joseph?
 The importance
of “Swift
Obedience.”

16. Fourth Question
What lessons can we
learn from Joseph?
 Understand the
value of repetitive
tasks – faithfulness
over time creates a
powerful legacy!

17. Fourth Question
What lessons can we
learn from Joseph?
 Obscurity does not
equal insignificance!