I’m putting up my nativity scenes today. Jesus, Mary, the shepherds, the kings, and even the lambs get more time and consideration than Joseph. What qualities did he exhibit? What did he have to offer the Son of God?
This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit.
Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.
But after he considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife.
But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus. Matthew 1:18-24
Matthew described Joseph as a righteous man. Like Mary, Elizabeth, and Zechariah, he tried to follow the Law of the Lord the best he could. What did he think when Mary told him she carried a child conceived by the Holy Spirit? Did he believe her? After all, Mary was not that kind of girl, or was she?
Joseph had every right to divorce Mary and accuse her of adultery. In that day, an engagement was as binding as a marriage, any break-up required a divorce. The person having sexual relations outside that relationship was considered an adulterer. Mary could have been put to death because of his accusation (Lev 20:10).
Joseph showed compassion, he chose to divorce her quietly, without accusation.
God stepped in. He sent an angel to speak to Joseph in his dream. In fact, all the communication to Joseph about Jesus was through a dream. There is no indication of any hesitation on his part. He married Mary the next day (Matthew 1:24). When the angel appeared in a dream, he left that night, taking Mary and Jesus to Egypt (Matthew 2:13-15). Another angel, he returned to the Galilee region (Matthew 2:19-22).
Luke tells us that Joseph obeyed the civil law, and went to be counted and taxed. He also tells us that Joseph and Mary did everything required by the Law after the birth of Jesus.
The last we hear of Joseph is in Jerusalem, after the Passover when Jesus was twelve years old. He and Mary frantically searched Jerusalem for three days until they found him in the Temple, speaking to the teachers. Three days of deep concern and increasing anxiety.
What emotions raced through Joseph as Jesus said, “Didn’t you know I had to be about my Father’s business?”? For twelve years Joseph had raised Jesus as his own son, instructing him in the Law of the Lord, teaching him the art of carpentry, comforting him when he cried…then Jesus reminded him of his identity, the Son of God.
Then Jesus went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. Luke 2:51
God placed Jesus into Joseph’s hands. He chose Joseph to be the one who guided Jesus into the knowledge of the Lord.
Jesus did not stay with the teachers in Jerusalem. His training would still be found with Joseph, a man who lived the heart of God.
TRICIA LATHROP 