Mathew 1:18-25

Today, to celebrate Father’s Day, I would like to use Joseph as a model for all fathers. I have to confess that when I started writing the sermon, I was disappointed to find out just how little biographical information is given to us in the Scripture about this man. All we know about Joseph is that he was a descendent of David, he was from the village of Bethlehem, and that he was a carpenter. He seems to have migrated north to the town of Nazareth and there, he became engaged to the young woman called Mary.

The assumption is that he may have been older than Mary and may have died before Jesus begun his public ministry. We do know that he was alive when Jesus went to Jerusalem at the age of 12, and that is the last mention of him in the gospel’s records. Years later when Jesus performed his first miracle at the wedding feast at Cana, his mother was there and presumably alone, maybe already a widow. These are the little facts we have as a framework for Joseph’s life. However, there is enough information to create a sequence of events that will enable us to look deeply into his character.

We know that Joseph went through hard times and personal crisis. Being engaged, Joseph learned that his wife to be, was pregnant and he was not the child’s father. This must have come as a staggering blow to him, and observing his reaction is an indicator of what he was really like. There are at least three characteristics that can let us know what kind of man Joseph was.

1. Joseph was a merciful man. Mary was pregnant before marrying Joseph. Therefore, she could have been accused of being unfaithful. Mathew 1:19 describes Joseph as a merciful man, “Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.” He was faithful to the law; this means he was obedient to the law. This law called for a woman caught in adultery to be publicly stoned. “But Joseph yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.” To me, this means that not even his own hurt or his legal considerations could overrule his compassion for Mary. Yes, he had planned to divorce her, but he never lost the sight of the fact that Mary was a human being. Joseph chose compassion before law, mercy before death. So, it is any wonder that, years later the young man who was nurtured by this kind of father, would say to a fallen woman caught in adultery “woman, I don’t condemn you, go and sin no more.” In fact, the compassion that Joseph shows to Mary can be seen all through Jesus’ ministry.

2. Joseph was a man who trusted God. Even when he could not fully understand, Joseph was obedient. As Joseph set about to dissolve their engagement quietly, I have no doubt Mary shared with him what had occurred to her when the angel and then the Holy Spirit came to her. Matthew 1:20 says, “But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.” Joseph believed in the message the angel gave him, this shows his extraordinary capacity of compassion and trust in God. I do not know if he fully understood what was going on, but the fact of not understanding did not cloud his faith. Joseph obviously believed. Only one who has a great sense of openness. trusting, and compassion can do that.

 I believe Joseph’s attitude toward all the mysteries of God helped Jesus to relate positively to the mystery of life, and by looking at Joseph, Jesus was taught to have the right vision of His Father in heaven, even when he could not understand. All this was possible by the kind of father he had on earth. And knowing that he was a merciful man, a man who trusted in God we come to Joseph’s third characteristic.

3. Joseph was a good role model for Jesus. Joseph passed on his profession to Jesus. Jesus might have seen how his father enjoyed his job and maybe while Jesus was growing up, he might have said “I want to be like my father when I grow up.”

With the little that we know, we can say that Joseph was a sensitive and trusting man. He was willing to trust in moments and circumstances when most men would back away from, and this sensitivity, his trust and openness to God paid off again and again as he listened to God’s voice and moved his little family to Egypt to avoid Herod and then back to Nazareth rather than Bethlehem because of the political climate.

Joseph was profoundly aware of what was going on around him, and had the courage to act without fear when God asked; his faithfulness was not shadowed by doubts. His courage of course came from his trust in God; it came by listening to God through Mary, the angel and by his own experience of trusting God. And we now know that Joseph was not disappointed – look at the man he raised – a Son who was able to recognize when his hour had come and to venture forth with courage and purpose; a son who like his earthly father walked the whole nine yards, in order to be faithful to his Lord.

So, this has given us a little insight into the man called Joseph, who was the chosen man to play the role of earthly “father of Emmanuel, God among us.” We have seen him around for many years but only in the background of the manger. But now I understand why God entrusted his only Son into the care of this man. What better atmosphere could Jesus have known while he was growing up than an earthly father who was so compassionate of others, so open to God, and so decisive in his own person? Joseph reminds me of something I heard or read somewhere: “You teach what you know, but you only pass on what you are.”

Today that we are celebrating Father’s Day I would like you to think about one question, and that question is: What have I passed on to my children? Maybe you have passed on part of your land; maybe you have passed on a house or a bank account or your business. If that it is so, you have passed on what you have, but what about what you are? Have you passed on your faith in Jesus; your trust in God and in God alone; your spiritual practices: prayers, scripture reading. 

Remember, God entrusted us a son or a daughter or several sons or daughters who are his, that is why they should grow not only to be like us, but to be like his heavenly father, to be like Jesus.

We teach our kids every day, even when we believe we are not; we teach them what we like and what we dislike; we teach them what football team to go for; we teach them what political party support, and which do not. For a lot of them we are their first role models.

Proverbs 22:6 say, “Train up a child in the way he should go, and even when he is old, he will not depart from it.” My brothers, fathers, grandfathers and fathers-to-be; my brothers who are not biological fathers, but who are uncles, cousins, big brothers, we all have a responsibility, we all are role models and God has placed a responsibility over us. We are spiritual leaders too. As spiritual leaders we must pass on our faith, our trust in God, our openness to God’s will.

Let us do as Elijah did with Elisha. Before Elijah was taken into heaven he passed on his mantle to Elisha.

When our kids enjoy and share with their own kids our legacy, will they also enjoy and share our faith.? What are we passing on, what we have or what we are.?

Happy Father’s Day