I think Joseph gets a bad wrap this time of year. Yes, Mary actually gave birth to the Christ and was the mother of God. But the shepherds, wise men, angels, drummer boys, and even donkeys get more attention and recognition than Joseph.
Why is Joseph so important? What did he do worth celebrating?
My friend, Joseph was and is one of the greatest examples of a simple man demonstrating the attributes and image of the Father in Heaven here on Earth. He portrayed the Father all throughout the Christmas story and I love every minute of it. So let us start at the best place to start, the beginning.
“19And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. 20But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit…..24When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife.” 25 but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus. (Mathew 1 ASV)
The Mercy of the Father
The first thing we learn about Joseph is that he is a just man. Based on the limited knowledge he had as a man, he saw Mary was pregnant and had to assume she had slept with another man. He had every right to shame her and have her publicly divorce her. But he did not want to treat her in such a manner and sought to divorce her in private and honorably.
The Adoptive Heart of the Father
Then the angel appears and tells Joseph the child is from the Holy Spirit. He is to take Mary as his wife and the child as his own. He accepted a child, not his, and adopted him into his family.
The Patience of the Father
The last verse here, 25, tells a story in and of itself. Joseph heard the plans the Lord had for this child. If he had slept with Mary, even as her husband, it would have discredited the validity of the virgin birth. He had to continue to abstain after marriage. He had to be pure and honorable through patience to her and to God.
Moving on:
1In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should beregistered. 2This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3And all went to be registered, each to his own town. 4And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem,because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. 6And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. (Luke 2 ASV)
The Provision of the Father
So Joseph wed Mary and she carried Jesus. Before she came to full term, though a census was issued. In this time, people had to return to their home town. Joseph now had to transport his bride carrying his unborn son. The distance in a straight line from Nazareth to Bethlehem is about 70 miles. But there was no straight route then. The journey is estimated at around 100 miles and took from 8-10 days of walking or riding on rough terrain. The two expectant parents must have been terrified and worried for the unborn child.
Joseph sure went through allot of inconvenience for this child. He had to have spent his hard earned money to procure transportation, possibly in a caravan, and sacrificed the time on the journey that he could have been working. But he did what was needed and provided for the child to fulfill prophesy.
The Intimacy of the Father
As we know, once they get to Bethlehem, there is no room for them in any normal accommodation. There were swarms of people coming into the area for the census. So they were housed in the lower part of the buildings where the animals were kept.
Then the birth happened. Have you ever seen a human birth? It is an experience of both awe and awful. You witness life beginning, but it is messy and painful. There is screaming, blood, and much more. And remember, there were no shots and pain killers back then.
I imagine Joseph having to help with the birth. Everyone in the town was pretty busy, so I am pretty sure he had to get his hands dirty. He quite possibly have been the one to reach his hands in and cradle the head of Jesus as he breathed for the first time. He had to go through the process with Mary and help deliver the Child. It must have been a difficult time for him as well. But he wanted to be there in closeness and intimacy with this child.
The Instruction of the Father
3Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him. (Mark 6:3 ASV)
In Jewish culture there were and are written laws instructing both parents and children how to behave towards one another. One such law had to do with teaching your son a trade or skill so that he can grow in it and eventually be able to provide for himself and a family one day. This is a sort of right of passage as a son in a Jewish household. As a son, Jesus, had the right to learn the father’s trade. So Joseph taught Him in the ways of a carpenter. He spent countless hours teaching, modeling, and correcting his son so he will be just as efficient as him.
This one act incorporated each attribute. Joseph had to have mercy when Jesus failed. There had to be patience in massive quantities, teaching such a intricate skill. Provision in teaching a profitable trade. And intimacy in the quantity of time that must have been spent as father and son working side by side.
It is because of all of this that Joseph is one of my favorite characters at Christmas. So when you share your Christmas story this year, include a little something about this man, Joseph, who accepted a child that wasn’t his, brought him up as an adopted heir, and trained him in the ways of his family as a carpenter. Here is a fine example of the true Fathers love.
