I have been both intrigued and challenged by the biblical record of Joseph, husband of Mary and earthly (though not biological) father of Jesus the Christ. The biblical record is brief and yet rich with lessons for those who have ears to hear.
Recently, we saw that Joseph was “no ordinary Joe,” evidenced by several things, including his righteous treatment of Mary when he assumed she had been sexually unfaithful. Biblical righteousness is not merely about doing what is right but often entails the exercise of mercy alongside fidelity to God’s truth. Those right with God not only do not keep a record of wrongs (1 Corinthians 13:5) but neither do they keep a record of their rights. Joseph was such a man. Rather than aiming to shame Mary, he was willing to suffer shame himself. I can’t but help to think that Joseph exemplified what God requires of the righteous: namely, that they do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with God (Micah 6:8). What an example under which the Lord Jesus Christ was raised. Joseph was clearly no ordinary father. Small wonder the Father chose him to be the earthly father of his Son.
Pondering the testimony of Joseph, I will argue that he was the kind of father that every father should strive to be and the kind of father that every Christian—every believing—father is called to be. As a husband and father, Joseph faithfully fulfilled his role as prophet, priest, and king.
First, Joseph was a righteous prophet in his home. On at least four occasions, an angel of the Lord revealed God’s will to Joseph and each time he obeyed (Matthew 1:20–25; 2:13–15, 19–21, 22–23). Joseph took God’s revelation—God’s word—seriously and his family was blessed because of it. It is not an exaggeration to say that, by obeying God’s word, Joseph protected both his wife and God’s promised seed (Genesis 3:15). He trusted God and, when put to the test, his faith was proven to be real, and his family, including his adoptive son, were both eyewitnesses and beneficiaries of his fidelity. Joseph’s faithfulness to God’s word would have played a role in Jesus growing in stature and favour with both God and man (Luke 2:40, 52). In this sense, he was no ordinary father. He was the kind of father that every Christian father should be.
When fathers take seriously God’s word, then, like Joseph, they protect their family from being slaughtered by the god of this world, the prince of darkness, Satan. Too many Christian fathers fail to do the hard thing of obeying God’s word with the result that their families are deceived and even destroyed by the fallen and the fading of this sinful cosmos (1 John 2:15–17). Believing fathers are to lead their families like they truly believe. Therefore, they say no to that which would displease the Lord and deform their children’s character. And they say yes to that which pleases the Lord and prompts godliness in their home. Like Joseph, they are willing to despise the expectations of the culture, to deny themselves and thereby be a human means of delivering their families from spiritual destruction.
Second, Joseph was a righteous priest in his home. We read in Luke 2 that, when Jesus was eight days old, he was circumcised and subsequently named Jesus (Luke 2:21). This was Joseph’s responsibility (Matthew 1:21, 25). Then, after forty days, in accordance with Scripture, Joseph led his family to Jerusalem for Mary’s purification, accompanied by the required sacrifices (Leviticus 12:1–8). As head of head of the home, he was taking responsibility for Mary to be declared “clean” before the Lord and before God’s people. He was doing humanly what God required for his family to be right with God. Further, we read that “every year his [Jesus] parents travelled to Jerusalem for the Passover Festival” (Luke 2:41). Joseph took seriously his responsibility for his family to participate in this feast, which both reflected on God’s past redemption and anticipated God’s future redemption of his people (through Jesus!). Interestingly, many (about eighteen) years later, Jesus entered a synagogue “as usual on the Sabbath day” (Luke 4:16). Where do you suppose he learned this? From Joseph, no doubt. As Jesus submitted to his earthly parents (Luke 2:51), he obeyed Joseph as he led his family to weekly instruction and worship at the synagogue. But I seriously doubt that this devotion to the Lord was reserved for the Sabbath Day. Rather, we can safely assume that Joseph also directed his family to the Lord during the week.
This priestly responsibility remains for believing fathers. We are to lead our families to and in worship of our great God, daily as well as on the Lord’s Day. There is no higher responsibility for a father than the salvation of his children. Yes, I believe that salvation is of the Lord. Yes, I know that salvation is God’s gracious and sovereign gift. But I also know that he uses means. Fathers are a major means. We are to live like it. Fathers must lead their families to Christ. Fathers must intercede for their families, doing all they can that their families are right with God.
Third, Joseph was a righteous king in his home. When the Roman decree was announced for all to return to their hometowns to be taxed, Joseph led his dear pregnant wife to Bethlehem (Luke 2:1–5) where she would give birth. When danger was on the horizon, he led his family to safety (see Matthew 2:13–23). He led them. He protected them. He took responsibility for them, as a husband and father should do.
The idea of “patriarchy” is currently under heavy criticism. Some criticisms are justified (i.e. knuckleheads who beat on their chest demanding unquestioned obedience, even to the point of abuse). But too many have thrown out the proverbial baby with the bathwater, for God has called husbands and fathers to lovingly lead their homes. Apparently, Joseph took this calling seriously. And Mary and Jesus were blessed because of it.
Jesus was blessed by the Father to have an earthly adoptive/foster father who was truly a “man’s man,” who did the biblically ordinary thing of being a righteous prophet, a righteous priest, and a righteous king in and for his family. Christian father, God expects the same of you. And we can be such fathers because of Jesus who continues to save us from our sins and who, as Emmanuel, is with us to sustain us for the task (Matthew 1:21–23).
Doug