Joseph: The Protective Stepfather

The Family of Jesus Study

Sep 04, 2024

Note: I am beginning a six week study of The Family of Jesus. I am using Karen Kingsbury’s book The Family of Jesus as a guide but will be using several resources. I’ll try to note those at the end of the lesson. I’m enjoying the study - some of these people we know very little about. A good example of that is the first one. - JED

Readings:

Matthew 1:18-25, 2:13-23; Luke 1:26-27; 2:1-5; 21-24, 39-40; 3:23; 4:22; John 6:41-42

Introduction

"We don't hear a single word from him, and he only shows up in 16 verses in the

New Testament, yet his impact on our faith, on Christ, is profound." - Adam Hamilton. Matthew tells us Joseph's father's name was Jacob (1:16 and Jacob the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was born, who is called Christ). The only other thing we know is that Joseph was a carpenter. Matthew 13:55 “Is not this the carpenter's son? Is not his mother called Mary? And are not his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Judas?”

Carpenters probably weren't building houses. They were built primarily of stone or mud brick. Instead, Joseph likely made yokes for oxen, household and farming tools, doors for homes, and furniture. (Hamilton) Joseph probably taught Jesus the craft (Mark 6:3 “Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary ... And they took offense at him.”) His family may have passed the skills of the trade from father to son for generations. Joseph was instrumental in fulfilling some of the prophecies of Jesus, including that He would be of the line of David, born in Bethlehem, come from Egypt, and live in Nazareth. They were poor, as indicated by the circumstances of Jesus’ birth and the minimal sacrifice they were able to afford when they went to the temple. Joseph likely died before Jesus was crucified, and probably before Christ’s ministry began. What are the characteristics of Joseph that we can learn from?

1. Joseph Was Just and Upright.

“And her [promised] husband Joseph, being a just and upright man and not willing to expose her publicly and to shame and disgrace her, decided to repudiate and dismiss (divorce) her quietly and secretly.” - Matthew 1:19 AMPC

What can we learn from his decision to marry Mary despite the social stigma?

Cole: According to Jewish custom, the engagement period lasted about one year before the marriage was consummated. But that period was taken much more seriously than our engagements are. The couple could not terminate the engagement except by a bill of divorce, and any breach of faithfulness was viewed as adultery (Alfred Edersheim, The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah [Eerdmans], 1:150). In other words, they were as committed as we are just after the wedding ceremony.

Matthew records that Joseph did not act quickly but “considered” what must be done. In what must have seemed like a disastrous situation.

Guthrie: “He was kind. He didn’t want Mary’s pregnant picture splashed on the cover of the tabloids in a way that would humiliate her. So he decided to do his best to make it a quiet divorce, and then he went to bed.”

2. Joseph Listened to God and Trusted God Courageously

Joseph patiently, listened and trusted God. He had no idea what was coming when he agreed to stand by Mary. But it didn’t matter. He trusted God regardless. He trusted God’s Angelic Messages.

“Three times Joseph saw angels in his dreams. In the first appearance, the angel announced something impossible: Mary had become pregnant, though she had not been unfaithful to him. In the second, the angel warned him to flee to Egypt to escape Herod’s plan to murder the boy Jesus. Later, an angel sounded the all-clear, informing Joseph of Herod’s death so that he could return to Israel with Mary and Jesus. … Though we know little of Joseph from the Scriptures, we know at least of his remarkable faith and obedience.” (Spangler)

What does this teach us about keeping God first even in uncertain times? What does Joseph’s faithfulness in a time of not knowing what was ahead show us about staying faithful to God when answers are hidden?

Joseph trusted God in spite of what others would assume. Almost everyone would believe that by his taking Mary as his wife after her pregnancy was discovered that he was the father and they’d been together before marriage.

Joseph trusted God in spite of the culture that would reject them. Cole: After the angel explained to Joseph the unique circumstances of Mary’s conception (1:20-21), Joseph went ahead and took Mary as his wife (1:24). That took a lot of courage in that culture (“do not be afraid,” 1:20). Their culture was not tolerant of having a baby out of wedlock. Mary’s pregnancy before marriage would have triggered a lot of condemning stares and vicious gossip. “Psst! Did you hear that she got pregnant before they got married? And I hear that it wasn’t even his baby!” For Joseph to stand with Mary, he had to fear God more than he feared the opinions of others.

Joseph trusted God to wait until after Jesus was born to consummate their marriage. He was married to Mary, but did not sleep with her until after Jesus was born. Cole: He followed God’s moral law. He didn’t believe in situation ethics, in bending God’s law to fit his situation. Even though it was sometimes very painful to obey, he obeyed God’s Word.

3. Conscientious towards the Government – (LK 2:1-5)

Spangler: “Caesar Augustus ordered every man in his vast empire to register in a census. For Joseph, that meant traveling south to Bethlehem, the city of David, his ancestral home. But would Mary, now several months pregnant, be strong enough for the trip…”

The trip may have been as long as ten days by foot, with possible assistance from a donkey for Mary.

Dexter: God uses governments for His plans, even their seemingly senseless decrees. Because Joseph obeyed his government’s command to go to his hometown and be counted, even though the timing seemed bad with Mary about to give birth, Jesus was born in Bethlehem and the prophecy was fulfilled.

4. Joseph was a humble servant.

Joseph was content to serve behind the scenes. Sometimes our role in the story is to blend into the background, quietly obeying. Listening.

Cole: Joseph was not rich or successful in his business. In his own day he was not well-known; if he hadn’t become the earthly father of Jesus, we never would have heard of him. He was a carpenter who walked with God, who developed godly convictions and communicated them with tender compassion in the context of time spent with the unique Son committed by God to his care.

5. Joseph was a Father.

Imagine how important it was that Jesus grew up with a father whose character was worthy of emulating. Years before he was recognized as - or confessed to being - the Son of God, Jesus was known as the son of Joseph. How might Joseph’s profession as a carpenter have influenced his approach to fatherhood and his relationship with Jesus? In what ways do you think Joseph’s actions and decisions impacted Jesus’ upbringing?What challenges and sacrifices did Joseph face as the earthly father of Jesus?

He was resourceful (LK 2:7). Though there was no room for them in the inns, he found them a shelter to stay in that was warm and safe. When the Magi come to see them, they are in a house (MT 2:10-22); he provided a place for them to stay.

When he received an angelic message to get out, Didn’t procrastinate; he arose while it was still night to obey.

After living in Egypt for as long as three years, Joseph receives two more dreams. One tells him when it is safe to return, and the other directs him to settle in Nazareth, Mary's hometown. There they will raise and help shape the young Jesus.

Hamilton: "Often we go right to Mary, we go right to the Christ child, but we miss out on this man who likely formed and shaped much of Jesus' self-understanding, his understanding of God and what God is like."

Conclusion

How He Died: It doesn’t say, beyond the fact that he was apparently already dead by the time Jesus was crucified, and likely before the beginning of His ministry.

In our telling of the Christmas story, Joseph often has a background role. He is a non-speaking character, the quiet, unassuming man standing by the manger in our nativity sets. Yet, his role is significant. In Joseph, we see some of the highest ideals of character, fatherhood, grace, love, mercy, and faith.

Resources