An Exploration into Joseph

New Testament Reading from the English Standard Version

I have decided to write this journal to explore the New Testament and study the actions of the
life of Jesus Christ and all who have followed in his footsteps. It has been a constant theme in
my limited theology teachings that those who have followed Jesus Christ throughout the ages
since his birth have been closer to God, truly making a person a follower of The Way. The
following is an exploration of Joseph, husband of Mary, and the earthly father of Jesus.
Currently, I feel closer to Joseph than to other individuals spoken about in the Bible. We are all
children of God, and yet only some of us will be the earthly bound father to a child of God. My
wife, Emily, is pregnant, and it has been a difficult road thus far.

Reading Matthew 1:18 through Matthew 2:23, I feel as if I have gotten a closer look into Joseph.
Matthew 1:24-25 reads, "When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord
commanded him: he took his wife but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he
called his name Jesus." While examining this reading, it occurred to me the choices that were
presented to Joseph. Joseph could have ignored the Angel of the Lord and divorced Mary
quietly. Joseph could have also made a public spectacle, which most likely would have had
Mary put to death at the time. Joseph could have just left and never said a word. The choice
that Joseph made not only was a Godly choice but fulfilled what had been spoken of by a
prophet of the Lord, Matthew 1:23 "Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they
shall call his name Immanuel." The prophet Isaiah had spoken these words that were recorded
in the Bible in Isaiah 7:14 in the Old Testament.

Joseph fulfilled the word of God and was continuously guided by the Angel of the Lord. In
Matthew 2:13, it says, "Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to
Joseph in a dream and said, 'Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain
there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.'" Joseph,
following the angel of the Lord, once again saved the child and himself from execution and
guided him. This goes on throughout the first few chapters of Matthew. Joseph is guided by an
angel of the Lord, Joseph and his family are saved, and a prophecy of Christ is fulfilled. One
thing that the Bible does not address is Joseph’s mindset at the time of all of this.

Joseph is a man, a clearly faithful man of God, but a man nonetheless. I would like to know if
Joseph was terrified or wavering at any point when receiving these messages. The further I
have thought about it, the more I come to believe that Joseph’s faith was met with bravery
provided by God to do what is right. Joseph, being a man of faith, guided him in fatherhood to a
child of God. While reflecting on my own life, I feel that there are many points where I needed
to follow more in faith, and I have failed. With a child on the way, it is more important than
ever that I live a life of faith. Another aspect that goes unexplored is how Joseph knew to follow
the angel of the Lord and did not think that this could be a message from the Devil. 2
Corinthians 11:14-15 (NIV) says, "And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of
light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness.
Their end will be what their actions deserve."

Joseph's ability to differentiate between a message from God and the devil is truly that of a
miracle. In the beginning of Matthew, it is written in Matthew 1:19, "And her husband Joseph,
being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly." While
Joseph is contemplating this, though not strictly written, I do wonder if the shame he felt for
Mary was the devil's influence. Other individuals during that time would not have even thought
to divorce her quietly, and most would have been outraged by the birth of a child that was not
theirs. However, Joseph, being the man that he was, a just man, was someone that would be
able to understand the word of the Lord instead of falsehoods spread by the belief of others. It
has been apparent in my life that what is right and what is easy are often not the same, and to
pursue what is right, you will lose friends and family along the way.

My first lesson to my son or daughter, if they ever read this journal, is to do what is right. By
that, I mean you are going to have decisions in the future that are going to be difficult, and the
crowd of people around you is going to attempt to convince you that they are right and to
follow them. To do what is right is to first pray on the decision at hand. The second is to
consider the teachings of the Bible, for the Word of God is what we must go to. Finally, doing
what is right can be easy or hard, but the true defining factor of right versus wrong is whether
you spread love or hate. If your actions are based on love, be filled with confidence that you
have done right. If your actions are filled with hate, it will guide you down a dark path. In
Matthew 5-7, throughout the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus emphasizes the importance of love,
forgiveness, and treating others with kindness and respect. Remember, the words of Jesus
written throughout the New Testament are a guide to you in your life. My child, I have not
always followed these things perfectly, but though you are about the size of a raspberry at this
point in life, I know that my love for you goes beyond all measures. You will undoubtedly hear
things about me that are not always kind. In my life, I have done things that have not always
been filled with love, forgiveness, and kindness. It is my life's mission to live closer to the word
of God, but throughout my life, I have not been nearly perfect with this pursuit. I will continue
to try to be the best dad I can be to you, and my only expectation of you is that you attempt to
be the best child you can be, living a life of love, forgiveness, and kindness. You will fail and fall
down. It is in those times that you must forgive yourself and rise above to show love and
kindness to others once again.

I am going to end this journal entry with a simple "I love you, my child," and it is my greatest joy
to get to meet you before long.