Life and ministry of Joseph: godly character and lessons

Joseph the Life, Teachings and Values

The Life of Joseph:

In many ways, the role fulfilled by Joseph may appear as strictly nominal. As the husband of Mary, Mother of Jesus, most of what is known or understand about Joseph proceeds from the upbringing that Jesus appears to have had. More specifically, though Joseph was considered the father of Jesus during his life, the more widely accepted Christian belief would emerge in the centuries hence indicating that Jesus was the Son of God. As a preeminent belief guiding the Christian and Catholic doctrines, this offers a unique role to Joseph, who is commonly regarded today as the foster-father of the Son of God.

Naturally, his life before the birth of Jesus was modest and pious. Based on the birth of Jesus as a child of Nazareth, it is recognized the Joseph was from Nazareth. Quite in fact, one of the more prominently known facts about Joseph was that he was of a less affluent background, a feature which caused some to cast doubt on the divinity of the son under his care. So is this denoted by the Catholic Church, which recognizes that "we know he was a carpenter, a working man, for the skeptical Nazarenes ask about Jesus, 'Is this not the carpenter's son?' (Matthew 13:55). He wasn't rich for when he took Jesus to the Temple to be circumcised and Mary to be purified he offered the sacrifice of two turtledoves or a pair of pigeons, allowed only for those who could not afford a lamb (Luke 2:24)." (CO, 1)

And yet, we may deduce that Joseph was meant to toil in spite of a bloodline that predicted his faculty to raise the Son of God. Namely, though there has been some dispute betwixt the Gospels, particularly those of Luke and Mark, with respect to Joseph's hereditary line, many believe that Joseph was actually descended from a royal lineage leading to King David. The Catholic Church indicates that "the angel who first tells Joseph about Jesus greets him as 'son of David,' a royal title used also for Jesus." (CO, 1) This may help us to deduce something concerning the importance of Joseph's suitability as a foster parent for the Son of God. One with a royal bloodline who yet knew the value of hard work and developing a trade would provide a suitable figure of admiration for one who would grow to take on empathy for all the low-born and toiling peoples of the world.

Godly and Faithful Attitude:

Without question, Joseph was a man of faith. His character was driven by this, even before he had become aware of the special role that he would play. As a Jewish man, he obeyed both the laws of society and the principles of his own value system. Such was the case when he was first confronted with the situation of Mary's pregnancy. Joseph knew the child not to be his, and solemnly accepted the condition that he would be forced to divorce Mary. Therefore, he did so in acknowledgement of the law. However, he feared for the social ignominy and possibly even the execution of his wife, so he did so in secret. This would be a demonstration of his compassion.

And just as compassionately as he addressed this matter, so too would he dutifully accept his role when he was made aware of it. We are told that "Joseph was man of faith, obedient to whatever God asked of him without knowing the outcome. When the angel came to Joseph in a dream and told him the truth about the child Mary was carrying, Joseph immediately and without question or concern for gossip, took Mary as his wife. When the angel came again to tell him that his family was in danger, he immediately left everything he owned, all his family and friends, and fled to a strange country with his young wife and the baby. He waited in Egypt without question until the angel told him it was safe to go back." (Matthew 2:13-23).

In these, Joseph, provides us with an example of steady faithfulness even in the face of great personal cost. And in return, all that we know of him has been culled from the story of Jesus, and indicates to us that he was a kind and loving father who made himself a lifelong servant to God.

Unfaithfulness and Rebellion:

Perhaps the only scintilla of rebellion to be examined with respect to the story of Joseph is the disagreement held between different denominations with respect to Joseph's celibacy. Some traditions argue that he would go on to father other children with Mary, but the Catholic Church, among others, holds more aggressively the stance that "these 'brothers and sisters' are the cousins of Christ and affirms strongly that Joseph remained celibate while married to Mary." (Wikipedia, 1)

Applicable to Life Today:

Joseph's works and teachings apply to life today both practical and symbolically. On the symbolic level, Joseph has taken on significant importance for his role in rearing the proclaimed Son of God. As the foster patriarch for Jesus, Joseph has come to represent a model for the responsibilities of fatherhood, perhaps best implicated by the warm and nurturing role he is said to have played in raising God's son with his mortally betrothed wife. As a result, Joseph is seen by many denominations as a figure of central importance as a template for patriarchy as a whole. Accordingly, we find that "in Roman Catholic and other traditions, Joseph is the patron saint of workers and has several feast days. He was also declared to be the patron saint and protector of the Catholic Church by Pope Pius IX in 1870, and is the patron of several countries and regions." (Wikipedia, 1)

This spiritual role has numerous dimensions which proceed both from his fulfillment of his fatherly obligations and from his dutiful attention to his occupation, which is widely believed to have been the trade of carpentry. Indeed, as we well know, this is a trade which would be passed along to Jesus. The skilled but humble profession is an exemplar to those who toil such as did both Joseph and Jesus. This begins to induce us to a consideration of the more practical levels on which his life and that which we know about him suggest.