Joseph's Dilemma and Decision

The message of Joseph is a message of grace.  Grace was found in his lineage recorded in Matthew (after all look at Rahab a harlot, Abraham the liar, David the adulterer) and yet they were still used by God to be the earthly lineage to which Jesus is born (Mary descended from the same lineage).  The term "grace" can be best identified as someone receiving something that they do not deserve.  When one look at these people, apart from knowing the full story of their lives, one can come to a conclusion that there is no way that Jesus earthly descendants should include those, but Matthew and Luke both show that it does.  Joseph himself was a recipient of God's grace.  He was not Jesus literal father, but he was Jesus legal father in the eyes of the culture.  Very little is said about Joseph in the Bible.  We see Mary more than we see Joseph in the life and ministry of Christ.  It does not mean that Joseph had no role.  For such a time as this, Joseph was used.  Think about this.  According to Jewish rules, Joseph had every right to publicly shame Mary after discovering that Mary was pregnant with a child that was not his.  Although, he did not, he also had every right to privately put away Mary which could cause disastrous consequences for Mary, no matter how it was done.  He was faced with a dilemma.  After an angel visited him in a dream, Joseph not only made a decision of obedience, he made a decision of grace.  According to the traditions of that time, Mary did not deserve Joseph's hand in marriage.  The message of Christmas is not only a message of God's grace to us, it is also a message of showing God's grace to others.  Instead of the law of legalism, Joseph showed the law of love and only until then are we able to fully experience and exhibit God's grace for ourselves and others.