Joseph – A Father’s Day Message Tony Cooke Ministry

One evening a little girl and her parents were sitting around the table eating supper. The little girl said, “Daddy, you’re the boss, aren’t you?” Her Daddy smiled, pleased, and said yes. The little girl continued “That’s because Mommy put you in charge, right?” I believe that being a Christian Father is one of the highest callings any man can ever achieve in his life.” Once on a plane, I sat next to two ministers – both friends of mine. It was one of those divinely orchestrated coincidences…We got to discussing Father’s Day messages, and the topic quickly turned to our own fathers. The first pastor had been abandoned by his father as a child. Grew up with enormous challenges – and a major part of his perspective on life was centered on making sure that he did not turn out like his own dad. As my friend spoke of the absence of his father, I thought of Timothy… though his father and grandfather are not mentioned, Paul refers to him as his spiritual son in the faith. Timothy kept his eyes open for a man who could be a godly influence and example for him to follow. Whether or not we had an earthly father that was seeking us, and seeking our spiritual well-being, we have a Heavenly Father who has loved us… I want to speak to you about a man – a FATHER who is very often overlooked. He is often overshadowed by the prominence given to his wife. I’m talking about JOSEPH, the husband of Mary and the adopted father of Jesus. Even as God chose Mary to be the one who would give birth to the Son of God, so in His mighty providence He chose Joseph to be a FATHER to Jesus and to raise Him into manhood. Mary and Joseph were chosen together to be parents.
God searched the earth, and He found a young girl – a teenager engaged to be married – of whom the Bible says: she “found favour with God”. She was a choice young lady – God-fearing young lady. But NOTE: God also went looking for a father. He called Mary AND JOSEPH as a couple. And here is the point of it – GOD WAS DEMONSTRATING FOR US THAT THE ROLE OF THE FATHER IS A VERY IMPORTANT ONE.
Fathers are not only needed for the physical act of CONCEIVING a child; they are also needed for the spiritual act of RAISING a child. This child, Jesus, was conceived in the womb of Mary “by the Holy Ghost” – a miracle took place so technically, there was no need for a man to be involved in the conception. But a man WAS still needed to fill the role of father in Jesus’ childhood. HAVING SAID THAT – let me say a word to single parents here today. Please don’t despair that your children are beyond hope because their father is gone, or their mother is gone – that is NOT the case. God is SO gracious. “When my father and my mother forsake me, Then the LORD will take care of me.” Single parents, today, we salute you. We honor you. God bless you for your diligence with your children!
So, Joseph was chosen. And just as God had looked for a godly young woman to bring forth the child, so He looked for a godly man to be the father. And what an inspiring model of fatherhood Joseph was. God made a good choice! The Scriptures draw the picture for us of a wonderfully caring and affectionate man. And we can see this, firstly, in his relationship toward Mary. Joseph finds out that Mary is pregnant. How does it make him feel? Angry? Betrayed? The penalty for adultery in the Old Testament was death by stoning. And this penalty applied to infidelity during betrothal as well as marriage. Now by New Testament times things had changed somewhat, but the matter was still treated as a grave offense. Upon discovery that Mary was pregnant, Joseph would have been obliged to divorce her, and this would expose Mary to public shame and humiliation. Joseph was kind. He LOVED Mary. It’s based on a real commitment. And husbands, the Bible says to US today that WE must love our wives with all that we have.
Joseph was a loving man toward Mary. BUT, even before God spoke to Joseph – Joseph wasn’t operating from vengeance or bitterness of heart. The Bible says: he “was minded to put her away secretly”. There were ways in which a divorce could be enacted very quietly, without the involvement of a judge, and Joseph was already considering the best way to do this. Joseph was kind. He LOVED Mary. When Mary was about to give birth to Jesus, there was no room for them in the Inn, but Joseph did the very best he could to see that Mary was taken care of. But we also see that Joseph was a loving man in his relationship…When the child came along – the child he had not conceived – there was no attitude in Joseph that “THIS BOY ISN’T MY FLESH AND BLOOD”. There was no resentment or indifference toward Him; no lack of love at all. JOSEPH ADOPTED JESUS AS HIS OWN. HE ADOPTED THE ONE THAT THE REST OF THE WORLD WOULD REJECT.