When we studied Luke as we prepared for this Sunday’s lesson, we considered the character of Mary, the mother of Christ. The first chapter of Matthew centers more clearly around the earthly father of Jesus, a man named Joseph.
Over half of Matthew 1 relates the genealogy of Joseph. Elder James E. Talmage taught that, “Had Judah been a free and independent nation, ruled by her rightful sovereign, Joseph the carpenter would have been her crowned king; and his lawful successor to the throne would have been Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews.” (Jesus the Christ, p. 87)
This relationship was important because prophets testified that the Messiah would descend from David (see Isaiah 11:1-9). Thus, Joseph’s family tree stood as further testimony that Christ was the promised Messiah.
The second half of the chapter discusses Joseph’s reaction when he learned that Mary was pregnant. Although they were not married, they were espoused, which was still a legally binding contract. Had Mary betrayed it with adultery, as Joseph surely assumed she did, he would have had the right under the law to have a public trial, which could have resulted in Mary being stoned (see Deuteronomy 22:23-24). His other option was a private divorce. “Joseph was a just man, a strict observer of the law, yet no harsh extremist; moreover he loved Mary and would save her all unnecessary humiliation, whatever might be his own sorrow and suffering. For Mary’s sake he dreaded the thought of publicity; and therefore
determined to have the espousal annulled with such privacy as the law allowed.” (Jesus the Christ, p. 84.)
Having examined Joseph’s character, let us now look at his angelic vision. This is the third one we have studied this week, and it differs significantly from the first two. An angel literally appeared to Zacharias and to Mary, and spoke with them as a man. Joseph’s visitation, however, came to him in a dream (he had another angelic visitation to warn him of Herod’s plan to slay the children of Israel; this also came in a dream).
A dream seems an odd vehicle for the Lord to communicate so directly with a person, especially with a message of such importance. Dreams, after all, can be easily rationalized away. But this was not the case with Joseph. He did not tell himself that perhaps he was seeking a way to be more merciful with Mary. Instead, he obeyed the angel and took Mary as his wife. When Christ was born, he further obeyed the instructions given and named the child ‘Jesus’.
Of the three visited by angels, surely Joseph had the greatest opportunity to dismiss his vision. First, he was actually hurt by Mary’s supposed betrayal, and most likely somewhat emotional already. Second, he could easily dismiss his dream as fantasy and do as he wished. That he did not, that he felt the promptings of the Holy Ghost even then and obeyed without question, shows his spiritual mettle. Like Mary, he truly was a choice spirit.
Related Articles:
Gospel Doctrine: Because Thou Believest Not My Words
Gospel Doctrine: A Pure and Chosen Vessel