Joseph was the man chosen by God to be Jesus’ earthly father. He would love him as his own son. Those of you that have raised children that were not your biological children, should be able to understand some of the feelings Joseph had. This man who was of the house of the lineage of David would be the one to teach Jesus everything about being a man. As the God-Man, Jesus experienced every emotion, pain, and joy that any other man would experience. We know very little about his childhood, but we do know that he went through the same process of growth that any other boy went through. Joseph taught him how to use a carpenter’s tools, how to provide for a family, and he would also teach him about spiritual things! He would learn the Jewish customs and about his ancestors all the way back to Abraham. Everything any young Jewish boy needed to know to become a man, would be taught to Jesus by Joseph.
Joseph was part of fulfilling the prophecy of Christ. He was of the house of the lineage of David. There were fourteen generations in all from Abraham to David, fourteen from David to the exile to Babylon, and fourteen from the exile to the birth of Jesus. (Matthew 1:17)
Luke 2:4 “And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)”
Joseph was a gracious man of meager means, but he made sure he observed the Holy Days and the Hebrew feast with his family every year. In Luke 2:41-48, we have the account of them attending the feast. This was when Jesus was 12 years old, and Jesus decided he would stay behind to discuss religious matters with those in the temple. It was three full days before they found Jesus. Like any parent, they must have been frantic looking for their son, and when they found him he was in the temple, speaking as no other 12-year-old boy had ever done. He was having an adult conversation with doctors!
Luke 2:41-48 “Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the Passover. And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast. And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and his mother knew not of it. But they, supposing him to have been in the company, went a day’s journey; and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance. And when they found him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him. And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions. And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers. And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing.”
Joseph was a man that sought to protect and fulfill his role as a good Jewish father. It would have been difficult for Joseph to accept the role of father to a child not of his choosing. I’m sure the natural instinct of sinful people caused much gossip about this child. A child conceived out of wedlock and not his own biological child would have stirred great emotion on Joseph’s part. However, Joseph fulfilled the role of father admirably in every way. Nowhere in scripture do we read of anything negative about Joseph. We assume that Joseph must have passed away by the time Jesus was crucified because Jesus entrusts the care of his mother to John.
What a different world we would live in if all parents took the time to train their children in the manner that Joseph did. He was obedient to God. He was obedient to the government because we know he took a long journey to pay his taxes. He was obedient to his religion. He did not miss the Holy Days and feast that were part of the Jewish religious customs. Joseph stands as a testimony to the value of integrity, obedience, faithfulness, and especially to honoring the entrusted role of “fatherhood.”
Are you seeking to be that kind of person? A person of integrity where your word is your bond? A person of faithfulness to the Lord. Exhibiting that by being faithful to church, the study of the word, and in prayer? Are you obedient in all things? These are questions we all need to ask ourselves on a regular basis. Just like Joseph had a young boy watching him, we too have others watching us.
