stephen R Harrison

Joseph, or “Jofus”, as all my kids pronounced it when they were young, was the earthly and adoptive father of Jesus. Jesus, however, was conceived by the Holy Spirit (Matthew 1:18, 20). Not much is known about Joseph from Scripture, other than his lineage from King David, his profession as a carpenter, and his hometown of Nazareth. In fact, not a single word of his is recorded in the Bible! He wasn’t present at Jesus’ death, as most historians believe he had died sometime beforehand. Today, he isn’t one of the more popular Christmas figures. Sometimes, he’s left out of manger scenes and overshadowed by Mary, the wise men, and barnyard animals. Do you know any Christmas songs about him? Nevertheless, this unassuming, silent carpenter is known for something remarkable that often gets overlooked. He adopted God’s Son.

Scripture says Joseph was a “good man” (Matthew 1:19). Still, I’m sure when he discovered that the one he was pledged to marry was mysteriously pregnant, his thoughts and emotions ran wild. How could this marriage go forward? The Bible says Joseph was a righteous man and faithful to the Jewish Law. He did not want to expose her publicly and decided to divorce her quietly. When you read about this in Scripture, you may ask if Joseph and Mary were engaged or married. The answer, although somewhat complicated, is “yes”. Betrothal in biblical culture differs from engagement in Western culture today. If engaged people in today’s Western society want to “break it off”, they do, sometimes for the most trivial of reasons. Someone, however, in an arranged betrothal was in a formal and binding contract, typically sealed with a payment from the groom’s parents to the bride’s parents. A one-year waiting period before the wedding ceremony and consummation was also customary. Dissolution of this type of engagement couldn’t be casually decided or informally undone. Breaking a betrothal and a marriage both required termination by an official divorce decree. 

So, how could Joseph be good and divorce Mary quietly? Jewish law allowed for the public stoning of the unfaithful betrothed. Knowing this, Joseph understood Mary could have been legally and openly killed if she had been adulterous (Deuteronomy 22:22-24). Initially, Joseph believed his only option was to quietly disappear, perhaps protecting his beloved Mary from public humiliation and ultimate judgment. What else could he do to reconcile this conundrum? He desired to marry her (they were betrothed), but how could he continue in their relationship after discovering that “before they came together, she was found to be pregnant” (Matthew 1:18)?

While he was sleeping, something miraculous happened. An angel appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. And she will have a Son, and you are to name Him Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins” (Matthew 1:20–21). Joseph could have walked away quietly, but this word from the Lord caused him to obey without delay. He then took Mary as his wife (Matthew 1:24) but did not consummate the marriage until after Jesus was born (1:25) as Jesus was born of a virgin (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23).

Joseph chose to step up and protect his fiancée and his soon-to-be stepson and Savior. When times get tough, loved ones don’t leave each other. Even when he couldn’t see the whole picture, he stood beside Mary every step of the way and trusted God at His Word. That’s devotion, commitment, and covenant. What an example of a real man of God. Although he had every legal and logical right to leave, he stayed, loved, and protected them as he led them to Egypt for their safety (Matthew 2:13). God chose Joseph to be Jesus’ earthly father. How wonderful! The man who adopted Jesus chose the Son who would eventually adopt and choose sinners to be His children. What a story!