If Mary’s faith was unshakeable then Joseph’s love was even more so. Here was a man who married Mary only to discover she is pregnant for another man. Law said he was to cast her out and have her stoned to death. But he can’t do that. He simply cares too much for her so he quietly arranges to divorce her. After a visit from an angel Joseph learns that Mary is not lying but that she is carrying the child of God.
So Joseph goes to Mary and tells her she will need a father for her child (I got that from a movie not the bible) and knows that he was chosen for that task the same as she was. So with the disapproval of their entire village he takes Mary and the unborn child on. They were shamed and the talk of the town.
The journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem was probably the hardest on Joseph. He was responsible for getting them there safely and was most likely nervous that Mary would give birth along the way. On top of all of that Herod is looking for the King of the Jews so they are questioned at different points along the way.
They get to Bethlehem and Mary gives birth. The angel comes to Joseph again and tells him they need to leave in order to protect Jesus. He takes Mary and Jesus and leaves everything they know going into a foreign land. They later return home and continue a normal life.
Joseph is want men should be, in my opinion. He protects Jesus as though he was his own child. He loves him, teaches him, and provides for him. Nowhere in the bible does it say anything about Joseph ever being unkind to Jesus in anyway. Although it does not say much about Jesus’ childhood.
Jesus loves Joseph as well. If you ever read the Gnostic Gospel of Thomas it tells of Jesus’ childhood. It tells of how Joseph corrects Jesus when he does something wrong (the same way any parent would) but it also tells us that when Joseph dies Jesus wept from the depths of his heart.
Joseph’s love for Jesus would not of allowed him to watch as Jesus endured what he did. He would have fought to the death to save his son. It is for that love that God took Joseph before Jesus began his ministry.
How do you see Joseph? Just a step father or a man who could love a child knowing who and what he was?
I live in a small Georgia town that you most likely have never heard of and I LOVE it! My house is more than full as I am a single mother of four & caregiver to my aging mother and uncle. Lover of all things Outlander. Goes to the beat of her own drum woman.
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Joseph as a child of God, had the capacity to love another child of God. That’s how I see him. He followed his faith and believed. That is what is so wonderful. I love the way to told this story. It could be very helpful to even a young”ish” child.
Joseph to me is one of the greatest men in the Bible. He is just as human as any other man, struggles but through his love and faith he comes through.
the best gift God can give to the world, his son to love Him and have salvation!
I think Joseph showed what real love was. He didn’t care that he wasn’t the biological father. In his heart he knew he was the father of Mary’s child. Regardless of the situation. That to me is a real man who follows his heart.
Joseph was amazing to do what he did but then again he was guided by God. I’m sure he was a great earthly father for Jesus. The Bible doesn’t really talk about Jesus’ childhood much.
Joseph is like a father I wish I had. He is someone that took the responsibility of bringing up a child that wasn’t his which is a big deal for many men of today. It’s not an easy thing to do and he did it with great love and compassion. For you to move from place to place to protect a child that’s not of your blood means so much.
I have always respected and loved Joseph for his amazing selfless decisions!