Faithful Fathers: Joseph by David Jeremiah

Faithful Fathers: Joseph

JUNE 29, 2019

When [Joseph] arose, he took the young Child and His mother [Mary] by night and departed for Egypt.
Matthew 2:14

 Recommended Reading: Matthew 1:18-25

History is full of unsung heroes—people who were faithful, true, servant-minded, and did it all with no expectation of praise or reward. In our modern era, think of teachers, helpful neighbors, first responders, members of the military, and so many more.

The biblical stories reveal unsung heroes as well; one of the most prominent of which was Joseph, husband of Mary and earthly father of Jesus. We meet Joseph in the early chapters of Matthew and Luke’s accounts of Jesus’ birth—and then he disappears from sight once Jesus begins His ministry. But we are safe in saying that Joseph took upon himself the most difficult task of shepherding the mother of Jesus, and then Jesus Himself, through the perilous days before and after Jesus’ birth. Joseph was a father who took God at His Word (Matthew 1:20-25). Given Jesus’ precocious nature at age twelve (Luke 2:41-52), Joseph must have nurtured Jesus’ spiritual development from an early age.

Faithful fathers don’t worry about rewards or credit. They depend on eternity to reveal the fruit of their faithfulness to their children.

Human fatherhood should be molded and modeled on the pattern of the fatherhood of God.
William Barclay