While many Protestant churches have strong tendencies of de-emphasizing the role that Mary played in the birth of the Messiah, many Catholic churches seem to overemphasize her role. A healthy perspective is that Jesus chose to endure all of the same difficulties in our paths, including birth, childhood, adolescence, adulthood, disease, temptation and death. Additionally, He chose the vessel of Mary. Somehow, Joseph gets lost in the mix, due in part to the fact that Joseph was not part of the conception of the Savior. Yet Joseph played a godly role in the life of Jesus, protected his family and also was chosen by God. Joseph’s name in Hebrew means “God increases,” and Joseph’s life reveals that increase.
18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. 19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly. 20 But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. 21 And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins.”
Matthew 1:18
We all have dreams, but how many of us act on those dreams? In the eyes of most men, if you never have had relations with your fiancé, and she turns up pregnant, it is time to find a new sweetheart. Amazingly, Joseph believed Mary’s extraordinary explanation, and immediately acted upon the instructions given by the angel in a dream. Joseph did not hesitate, but acted in protection of his betrothed, who rightfully, could have been put to death by Old Testament law. Joseph exhibited much kindness and love throughout an ordeal that was anything but normal. God chose Joseph for the attributes exhibited in the midst of severe trials. We know from Matthew 1:25 that Joseph did not know his wife in a sexual way until after the birth of Jesus.
The next mention of Joseph in the Bible occurs when an angel once again appeared in one of his dreams, warning Joseph of Herod’s evil intentions. Once again, rather than stewing over what to do, or even praying and waiting upon the Lord for an answer, Joseph demonstrated that he was a man of action, and protection. He immediately packed up his wife, child and belongings and headed for Egypt. In an act of self-preservation, Herod mandated that all boys aged three and under should be put to death in the region! Yet with the words of the Holy Spirit and the quick decision to follow by Joseph, young Jesus arrived safely in Egypt. While in Egypt, a third dream occurred, with God once again speaking to Joseph through an angel, and then a fourth dream occurred while on the journey:
19 Now when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, 20 saying, “Arise, take the young Child and His mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the young Child’s life are dead.” 21 Then he arose, took the young Child and His mother, and came into the land of Israel.
22 But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea instead of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. And being warned by God in a dream, he turned aside into the region of Galilee. 23 And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, “He shall be called a Nazarene.”
Matthew 2:19-23
Our faith grows when God carries us through trials. Having correctly acted on two previous dreams, Joseph easily accepted that the third dream involving the angel was also correct, and brought Jesus back to Israel. A fourth dream advised Joseph to avoid Judea, so the husband and father followed God and His advice back to Nazareth. The carpenter protected his family, and most importantly, our Savior. Stepping out in faith requires complete trust in God. Did Joseph ever doubt that he was acting righteously? As a man, he certainly had much time to reflect upon each decision on the journeys from Nazareth to Bethlehem, from Bethlehem to Egypt and from Egypt to Nazareth. Certainly, Satan tried to get Joseph to doubt and question his decisions, and also his faith, yet Joseph righteously performed the duties ordained by God. The next and final time we see Joseph, he is searching for a 12-year-old Jesus:
41 His parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. 42 And when He was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem according to the custom of the feast. 43 When they had finished the days, as they returned, the Boy Jesus lingered behind in Jerusalem. And Joseph and His mother did not know it; 44 but supposing Him to have been in the company, they went a day’s journey, and sought Him among their relatives and acquaintances. 45 So when they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking Him. 46 Now so it was that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. 47 And all who heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers. 48 So when they saw Him, they were amazed; and His mother said to Him, “Son, why have You done this to us? Look, Your father and I have sought You anxiously.”
Luke 2:41-48
Luke aptly describes the role Joseph played in the life of Jesus. While God would remain the Father of our Lord, Joseph was the earthly father of Jesus. Joseph knew that they were not related by blood, but Joseph’s love for Jesus was every bit as strong as that of any earthly father. Anxiously looking for his son, Joseph was relieved to see Jesus teaching at the temple. The Bible never mentions Joseph again. Whether or not Joseph died sooner or later, he influenced Jesus at least up until the age when a young Jew becomes a man, at his bar-mitzvah.
Appointed by God, Jesus was the well-loved, adopted son of Joseph. Adoption is an interesting subject in the Bible. According to Roman law, adoption involved all of the same rights as a child with a legal bloodline, including the rights of inheritance. Though many adopted children in our culture feel unloved, there is a special quality of a parent who chooses to raise a child that someone else has brought into the world. As Christians, we are adopted children of God. Joseph’s love for Jesus is an example of that as God’s love for us involves care, protection and inheritance! On this Christmas, remember that God places us into families for His reasons, but He chose us as His adopted children! We will share in the inheritance of His Son. God spoke to Joseph just as He speaks to us, and increased the love in Joseph, to care for his wife, son and all of us in the process!
So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase.
1 Corinthians 3:7
Therefore I will divide Him a portion with the great,
And He shall divide the spoil with the strong,
Because He poured out His soul unto death,
And He was numbered with the transgressors,
And He bore the sin of many,
And made intercession for the transgressors.
Isaiah 53:12
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