Holidays

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In our last installment, I referred to Joseph as the “forgotten father of the Messiah.” Why so? Except for Christmas, when the manger scene emerges from the mothballs, Joseph’s name rarely emerges in religious discussions, despite the fact that he helped raise Jesus. He is rarely even mentioned in the Bible.

Despite his exile to the shadows of history, the few details that we know about Joseph’s life shine brightly with character lessons beaming from his righteousness.

What is “righteousness”? The simplest sense is “doing what is right,” resulting in integrity, purity, correctness of thinking, feeling, and acting. But who decides what is “right”? God does!

Through the mouth of King Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived (and, not incidentally, one of Joseph’s ancestors), God said, “My son, if you receive my words, and treasure my commands within you . . . Then you will understand righteousness and justice, equity and every good path . . . So you may walk in the way of goodness, and keep to the paths of righteousness” (Proverbs 2:1, 9, 20, NKJV).

Joseph came from good stock. Solomon’s father was King David, whom Solomon eulogized thus: “You have shown great mercy to Your servant David my father, because he walked before You in truth, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with You; You have continued this great kindness for him, and You have given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day” (I Kings 3:6, NKJV). Here was an example of both David’s righteousness and God’s reaction to it.

Although Joseph was a direct ancestor of the Israelite kings, he lived humbly. He was a carpenter, which was one of the lowliest occupations of the day. Nevertheless, he didn’t allow his modest estate to drag down his character—he lived a righteous life.

How do we know Joseph was righteous? God said so: “Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly” (Matthew 1:19). When faced with the most heartbreaking decision of his life, Joseph maintained his integrity and love, and set his heart to do the right thing.

Few affronts in life cut more deeply than betrayal, especially between lovers. We may be tempted to destroy the betrayer—if not physically, then perhaps psychologically or socially. Joseph sought neither—he asserted his rights, but in a way that would not add to Mary’s disgrace. Righteousness does not condone revenge.

Joseph took in, as it were, a child that was not his own. The rights of the firstborn son were very important in that culture. Joseph knew that the firstborn would not be his, but he accepted the challenge. He even refrained from consummating the marriage until Jesus was born, thereby removing all claim to the paternity of the Child, and giving credence to the virgin birth. In perfect, righteous obedience, “he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife” (Matthew 1:24).

In righteousness, Joseph obeyed everything the Lord told him to do. He wed Mary (Matthew 1:24), fled to Egypt with his family (Matthew 2:13, 14), and moved to another town (Matthew 2:22).

In righteousness, Joseph obeyed the occupying government. Although settled in Nazareth, he returned to his home town of Bethlehem at Caesar’s command for the census (Luke 2:1–7). He obeyed at no small discomfort, with only a stable to welcome him and his pregnant wife. But no matter—every step of obedience Joseph took fulfilled God’s perfect will (e.g., Micah 5:2—“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.”).

In righteousness, Joseph led his family in worship, fulfilling all of the customs of his faith: he circumcised Jesus, purified Mary, presented Jesus at the temple, observed the Passover, and raised his unique stepson to serve God and man (Luke 2:21+ff.).

Although Joseph didn’t fully understand what was going on in his life, he trusted God enough to obey Him without reservation. He was faced with extraordinary circumstances: a pregnant fiancée, stories of angelic visitations, flight as a refugee from a murderous king, a son who calls God his father (and is perfect, every father’s ideal!), low socioeconomic status, and, apparently, an early death. Joseph’s righteousness was rewarded with the privilege of raising the Messiah, God’s protection and provision, and, despite near obscurity in history, “A good name [which] is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold” (Proverbs 22:1).

Joseph’s reaction to the Christ of Christmas is a lesson in righteousness for us all. Our next lesson features King Herod, who teaches us how to hate God.

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