06/14/2025
Good morning & happy Fathers' Day! To some dads, your day may have started with the kids bringing you presents & maybe, even breakfast in bed. Maybe some of you have received handmade cards & greetings. Some fathers will be having family home for lunch or dinner or cookouts (but secretly, you'll be glad when it's over!). A dear friend told me, “Happiness is seeing their taillights disappear over the hill”
But this is not the case with every dad today. Some may have sad memories of a father who mistreated or rejected them. Many dads are hurting because there will be no contact today with the child you love. For some dads, today can be an exciting time; for others, a day of sadness & deep depression.
My dad, by today’s standard, was not very well educated, only getting to the sixth grade. However, he made up for his lack of formal education with honor, integrity, a gentle spirit & Godly character. I have made so very many mistakes, but my dad was always proud & never disappointed or ashamed of me. To him & mom, I never preached a bad sermon! They’ve both been gone for many years now but I still miss them dearly.
What does Father God consider a good earthly father? Both New Testament writers Matthew & Luke explain the fact that Joseph was not the physical father of Jesus. Jesus was conceived of the Holy Ghost & born to a virgin. Of course, we know that Almighty God was His Father, but, since Jesus was also fully human, He also had an earthly father.
There is very little biographical information given to us in Scripture about Joseph. About all we know of him is that he was a descendent of David from the village of Bethlehem. He was a carpenter. He may have migrated north to the town of Nazareth where he became engaged to a young woman named Mary, probably younger than Joseph.
Joseph may have died before Jesus began His public ministry. We know he was alive when Jesus went to Jerusalem at the age of 12 but that is the last mention of him in the Gospel record.
Years later, when Jesus performed his first miracle at the wedding feast at Cana, Jesus’ mother was there & presumably alone, maybe a widow. From these few meager facts, we see the framework of Joseph's life.
However, there are some illuminating events in Joseph’s life that enable us to look deeply into his character.
His engagement to Mary became a time of personal crisis for Joseph. Imagine, learning your fiancé is pregnant & knowing positively that the child she carried could not possibly be his. This must have come as a staggering blow to Joseph. As we observe his reactions, we see some indicators of what he was really like.
Joseph demonstrated great mercy. Assuming Mary had been unfaithful, rage was a perfectly natural reaction. Anger probably permeated Joseph’s every waking moment. When hurt, a human’s first reaction is to hurt back. Matthew 1:19 says that Joseph was a just man not willing to make a public spectacle of Mary. So, he decided to divorce her privately. Joseph is described as a just man. – but he was just a man! He regulated his life by Jewish law. That law called for public stoning. Unwilling to put Mary to shame, not even his own hurt, anger or legal considerations, could overrule Joseph’s compassion for Mary. Human imperfections did not hide the fact that Mary was a human being with feelings, too. Could it be that years later the Young Man who was nurtured by His kind, earthly father would say to a fallen woman My friend, I don't condemn you. Go and sin no more? Jesus came to be the answer for sinful people – not add to their burden. The compassion Joseph showed here can be seen all through Jesus' ministry.
Joseph was open to impossible possibilities. Joseph was getting in deeper & deeper. No doubt he & Mary discussed the ramifications of divorce. Surely Mary shared with Joseph the incredible story of what happened to her. Imagine the bizarre account of the angel. First, Joseph’s fiancé is pregnant; he had to deal with his feelings about that. He must have struggled deciding not to humiliate her. Then, she tells him that God is behind all of it! Joseph was no prude; he knew about the birds & bees. How well do we handle mysteries beyond our imagination? We’re not told but how do you suppose Joseph’s friends responded? Were they like Job’s three friends? They came to comfort & mourn with him… but they failed! Joseph believed in the face of the impossible. Matthew 19:26 But Jesus beheld them & said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible. What do we do? When the doctor says its cancer? When the check bounces? When the divorce papers are filed? When the summons appears? The true nature of faith is being willing to let God be God & not restrict Him to fit into the parameters of our understanding. We decide beforehand what is possible & what is not. We refuse to look beyond these self-imposed limits. Remember God’s question to Job? Job 38:1 Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind & said, {2} Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge? {3} Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of you & answer me. {4} Where was you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Declare, if you have understanding. God continues for 2 chapters & 69 verses to question Job. I love Job’s answer. I can relate, can you? Job 40:4 Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer thee? I will lay mine hand upon my mouth.
Joseph was willing to move on because of his faith
It is not easy – faith will always go against common sense! But, the risk is worth it. Hebrews 11:6 without faith it is impossible to please God.
There is a product you can buy called sunless tanning lotion. You can use it to look like you’ve been in the sun for months… without ever having seen the light of day! There are dads & others trying the same thing spiritually today. Dad, you can’t be the Godly dad your children need; the Godly husband your wife needs; the Godly dad your church and your nation needs without some exposure to God! Your kids; your family; your church; your community need you now more than ever to be the Godly man you can be!
Thank God for Joseph & thank God for you. Happy Father’s Day
