2024_12_23 Insight Post- Kim Feld
This week’s reading- Matthew 1:16-25, Matthew 2:13-23, Luke 2:4-52, Luke 3:23, Luke 4:22, John 1:45, John 6:42
Joseph is one of the most interesting characters in the Christmas story to me. We see that he is a man of kindness and integrity when he finds out Mary is pregnant. Although Joseph seeks to divorce Mary, he wants to avoid public shame and humiliation for her. I can imagine that he was on a roller coaster of emotion, thinking Mary had been unfaithful one minute and then finding out through an angelic visitation that the child she carried was the Son of God. He stepped into a role that I can only imagine and became Jesus’ earthly father, a role that came with its own set of challenges and uncertainties.
We know that Joseph was alive when Jesus was 12 (see Luke 2:41-52), but scripture doesn’t tell us at what point he passed away. He taught Jesus the trade of carpentry, which I imagine took hours of being together. He passed on skill and knowledge and nurtured and protected Jesus as his own son. There must have been something special about this man specifically chosen by God to create a home for His Son.
God has given fathers a unique role in their children’s lives. Much of what we learn in our formative years comes from our parents. God has entrusted those of us who are parents with a great responsibility. None of us will do it perfectly, but are we seeking God’s guidance for how we are doing and leaning hard into Him for wisdom?
What did God see in Joseph that made him the one He chose? When I read the scriptures highlighting Joseph’s role, I see a man with spiritual sensitivity, decisiveness, courage, and steadfastness. He was trustworthy and faithful. And he fulfilled God’s call on his life. He is a character to emulate. As we reflect on Joseph’s qualities, let’s also consider how we can incorporate these qualities into our own parenting and how we can be more like Joseph in our roles as fathers and mothers.
Kim Feld
Executive Director of Education and Outreach