March 6: A Look at Joseph

At Christian Assembly during the Lent and Easter seasons, we are reading chronologically through the four Gospels with a desire to attain the LIFE that Jesus in John 10:10 promised to us: I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. With everyday’s reading we will see what the Word has to say about the FULLER LIFE we can have in Christ.

Daily Reading: Thursday, March 6

The Birth of Jesus

Matthew 1:18-25, Luke 2:1-20

The Genealogy of Jesus

Matthew 1:1-17, Luke 3:23-38

Jesus Presented in the Temple

Luke 2:21-40

The Visit of the Magi

Matthew 2

The Boy Jesus at the Temple

Luke 2:41-52

We talk often of how special Mary must have been to be chosen by God to give birth to his own Son, but what of Joseph? What kind of man would God have entrusted with the protection and care of his Son? Luke 2:40 and 2:52 tell us that the child Jesus grew physically (“…became strong…” “…grew…in stature…”), mentally (“…filled with wisdom…” “…grew in wisdom…”), and spiritually (“…the grace of God was on him.” “…grew…in favor with God…”). His earthly father would have been extremely important in that maturation process.

To restate the question offered earlier, what kind of man was Joseph? The Scriptures offer us a few clues.

1) He obeyed the laws of the land.

The beginning verses of Luke 2 tell us that Joseph participated in the census that was required by Caesar Augustus. As a subject of the Roman Empire, he obeyed the decree and returned to his hometown of his ancestors, a pregnant Mary with him. Remember Jesus’ answer to the trick question from the Pharisees concerning the imperial tax? “So give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” Where would he have learned that respect for human government and authority? From Joseph, it seems.

2) He followed the Law of Moses.

Matthew 1:19 specifically states that Joseph was faithful to the Law. We see examples of this in our daily reading: 1) Jesus was circumcised when he was eight days old, 2) Jesus was presented at the Temple as a baby, 3) Joseph traveled every year with his family to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover Festival. All of this was required by the Law, and Joseph made sure that he, his wife, and his children did all that they were required to do.

3) He listened to the voice of God.

An angel appeared to him in a dream and told him to take Mary as his wife because her pregnancy was of God – Joseph did so. Three other times an angel spoke to Joseph in dreams and he followed the instructions given to him in his sleep. All three of those words from the Lord were for his and his adopted Son’s protection.

4) He worked hard.

We hear no more from Joseph after Jesus is accidentally left at the Temple as a twelve-year-old boy, and most scholars assume he must have died before the grown Jesus began his public ministry. But Joseph’s reputation seems to have outlived him. In Matthew 13:55 Jesus is identified as “the carpenter’s son”. No doubt, Joseph was successful at his profession and had obviously made a name for himself.

Joseph was entrusted with one of the most important tasks in all of human history: the responsibility of rearing the very Son of God. He was a man worthy of the job. He obeyed man’s law and God’s Law; he listened to the voice of the Lord; he worked hard.

If we desire a FULLER LIFE – if we want the Lord to trust us with greater blessings – we can learn a few things from Joseph. Be obedient to His Word and voice. Be in right standing with others, especially those who rule. Be willing to take what God gives you and WORK IT!