Joseph

By Charles Stambaugh

    As a father of two sons. I often wondered what it would be like to be the earthly father of Jesus. With what Joseph went through; he has the right to be called a Saint. He was given the responsibility to take care of Mary and raise the Christ child. Wow. This Christmas, let’s try and put ourselves in his shoes. 

    A God-honoring young female,named Mary, was engaged to Joseph. He was also a God-honoring man.  He was a descendant of King David. But Mary had a situation. She was expecting a child, and she had to tell Joseph. Joseph was taken aback, hurt, upset, mad, and had a hard time believing the story that the Holy Spirit caused Mary to be pregnant with the Son of God. To save face, Joseph was going to have Mary put away privately. According to Jewish law, she was to be stoned to death before the child was born. But an angel then came to Joseph. The angel said that the story that Mary told was true. Now, Joseph had a bigger issue. Does he believe the angel and disobey what he had been taught? Was this just a bad dream? Who could he ask? Who would believe him? What would people think about moving up the wedding? Would they figure out that the baby came too soon? By faith, he put away his feelings and fears. He trusted and acted on what he believed was God’s plan.

    But then, there want out a decree that all the world should be taxed. Since Joseph was from Bethlehem, he and Mary had to go there. 

   This had to make Joseph upset, to travel by donkey, with Mary expecting a child. When they finally arrived, there was no room for them in any inn. They had to bed down in a stable next to animals. Then Mary went into labor. Any husband would be stressed during childbirth. But here was Joseph in a strange town, not knowing anyone, after a long frustrating day, in a dirty barn, with a wife screaming in labor, no crib or baby clothes. After the birth, these shepherds and others came because an angel told them that Christ the Lord was born. What a stressful first Christmas. 

    Six days later, Joseph took Jesus to be circumcised and to  offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord. There were several there that recognized the baby as the Saviour of the world. A short time later, these wise men from afar came knocking on the door. They brought gifts, told the story of the star, and worshiped the baby Jesus. Both Mary and Joseph pondered all these things and kept them in their hearts. But Joseph was soon visited with angels telling him to flee to Egypt because Herod the king was killing all the baby boys. Mountain-top joy turned to fear and frustration. Now, he had to leave family and friends and travel with Mary and a baby to a country that he knew nothing about. 

   The last time Joseph was mentioned in the Bible was when Jesus was 12 years old and was missing. They supposed Jesus was in the company of his kinsfolk. They spent three days looking for him. He was found in the temple, talking with the religious leaders. Mary said: “Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? Behold, thy father and I have sought thee, sorrowing.” It is not stated if Joseph punished Jesus for this. Joseph had to train Jesus in many things as He was growing up. They had to have father-and-son talks which may have included His deity. Joseph must have wondered what to think about this child as being God. It is not stated that he ever told his kinsfolk, friends, and other children who Jesus was. Joseph died before Jesus started His public ministry, but he was chosen to help prepare the Christ child to be the Saviour of the World. 

   “If a type is to be sought in the character of Joseph, it is that of a simple, honest, hard-working, God-fearing man, who was possessed of large sympathies and a warm heart. Strict in the observance of Jewish law and custom, he was yet ready when occasion arose to make these subservient to the greater law of the Spirit. He was quick to make answer to what he perceived to be the direct call of God. Joseph is known to us only as a dim figure in the background of the Gospel narratives, yet his whole-hearted reconciliation to Mary, even in the face of possible slandering by his neighbors, his complete self-sacrifice, when he left all and fled into Egypt to save the infant Jesus, are indicative that he was not unworthy to fulfill the great trust which was imposed upon him by the Eternal Father.”1  

“For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2:11 KJV