FATHER’S DAY
1. A few weeks ago we looked at Mary and Joseph as a couple.
2. Today, since it is father’s day, I want to look at Joseph as an individual.
3. When we look at the New Testament we find that Joseph was a father.
4. He was not the Lord’s natural father, but he did help raise Jesus.
5. After the Lord was born Joseph father some other children.
6. According to Mt. 13:55-56 Joseph and Mary had other sons and daughters.
WHEN WE LOOK AT JOSEPH WE FIND THAT THERE WERE SOME QUALITIES THAT MADE HIM A GREAT DAD. THIS MORNING WE WANT TO LOOK AT SOME OF THESE QUALITIES.
A. A study of Joseph’s life shows us that he loved his wife and son.
B. This is seen in Mt. 1.
C. According to the text Mary and Joseph were engaged (close to being married).
D. During this time Joseph discovered that the woman he wanted to marry was pregnant.
E. It is not too hard to imagine how Joseph must have felt.
F. He had found the woman he wanted to marry.
G. He had made a commitment with her.
H. Like any young couple they had probably shared their hopes and dreams.
I. At some point during this period he got a huge shock -- Mt. 1:18 – READ.
2. God eventually made it clear that Mary was not guilty of any wrongdoing.
3. Before God informed Joseph about the facts we are told what Joseph did.
4. Joseph’s actions show how much he loved his wife.
5. In the first chapter of Matthew we do not read about hate, anger, or malice.
6. Joseph could have said, “Mary will pay for what she has done. I am going to show her.”
7. “She was unfaithful to me and I am going to punish her to the full extent of the law.”
8. Notice what the text says – Mt. 1:19 – READ.
9. As painful as this news was, Joseph was not willing to “make her a public example.”
10. He purposed in his heart to privately “put her away.”
11. Joseph’s intentions show compassion, tenderness, and love.
12. He believed that he had been seriously wronged but he did not respond with hate.
13. In
Mt.
14. Joseph was not just a father. He was a righteous man.
15. Part of his righteousness is seen in his commitment to Mary.
16. In spite of the pregnancy he committed himself to Mary.
17. The text also makes it clear that Joseph loved Jesus.
A. Many of us have heard of fathers who had a bad attitudes towards a child.
B. Some fathers have said, “That’s not my child; I don’t want to have anything to do w/him.”
C. Joseph treated Jesus as if he had been the Lord’s natural father.
D. The Lord was treated as Joseph’s own son.
E. Part of Joseph’s treatment of the Lord is found in Mt. 2:14 – READ.
F. The Lord’s life was endangered.
G. The end of verse 13 says that Herod wanted to destroy Jesus.
H. Though Joseph was not the Lord’s natural father, He protected the child Mary gave birth to.
I. He went to another country to insure the safety of a child he had not fathered.
J. Being the Lord’s father was dangerous but Joseph accepted this responsibility.
K. We might further say that Joseph accepted responsibility for someone most of the world rejected.
18. IN ADDITION TO SHOWING LOVE THIS FATHER EXPRESSED A SECOND QUALITY THAT WE MUST COMMENT.
A. He was devout.
B. Look again at Mt. 2:13-14 – READ.
C. Joseph was told to take his wife and child and flee to a foreign country.
D. These instructions came from a “dream.”
E. Most of us know people who would probably not respond too well to these instructions.
F. Someone else might have said to God, “I don’t think that leaving here is a good idea.”
G. “We want more proof.”
H. Others might have been willing to go but would have asked for more information.
I. “God, tell us where we will work, live, and when we can come back home.”
J. Some might have even refused to go.
K. This father was told to go to another country and he went.
L. This father was concerned with doing what was right and he had faith.
M. He was devout and committed to God.
N. Joseph’s faith was not limited to this one occasion.
19. We
do not know how long Joseph, Mary, and Jesus stayed in
20. It was certainly longer than a week or two.
21. This
family entered into
22. A time came when Joseph received another dream – Mt. 2:19-20 – READ.
23. God
told Joseph to go back to
24. Joseph obeyed.
25. Another
father might have said, “God, we have adjusted to life in
26. “We have settled in, made new friends, have a good job, and a nice house.”
27. “We don’t want to leave.”
28. God said go and Joseph went.
29. Lk.
30. This father was a man who had faith in God and he was obedient to God’s will.
31. FROM WHAT IS SAID IN THE NEW TESTAMENT WE KNOW THAT JOSEPH LOVED HIS WIFE AND HE LOVED JESUS, EVEN THOUGH THE LORD WAS NOT HIS NATURAL SON. THE TEXT ALSO MAKES IT CLEAR THAT HE LOVED AND OBEYED GOD.
A. Our society honors fathers for many things.
B. Families appreciate fathers for a variety of reasons.
C. Some of the reasons we should appreciate fathers are found in the first few chapters of Matthew.
D. The opening chapters in Matthew show us some of the greatest qualities any man can have.
E. If a man loves his wife, his children, and he tries to faithfully serve God, he is a good man.
32. Joseph had these qualities.
33. The text says that he was “righteous.”
34. These qualities do not exhaust what we know about Joseph.
35. As the gospels progress there are a few additional references to Mary.
36. For one reason or another Joseph disappears from the Biblical account.
37. After the Lord’s childhood Joseph is no longer mentioned.
38. At the cross Mary is mentioned but Joseph is not.
39. Furthermore, while on the cross Jesus asked one of the disciples to care for Mary.
40. If Joseph was still alive at this time this request is hard to explain.
41. Many have proposed that Joseph died before Jesus.
42. This would explain why Joseph disappears from the accounts of Matthew, Mark, Luke, & John.
43. Whether or not Joseph died early in the Lord’s life we may make a thoughtful observation.
44. Joseph’s time may have been limited but he made the most of it.
A. When Jesus was a small child we know the kind of life that Joseph lived.
B. We know what kind of father he was.
C. This man cared for the Lord, gave a good example to his family, and obeyed God.
D. We know that each year Joseph attend the Passover feast.
E. Even if he had a relatively short life span, his years were well spent.
F. This man provided an example for his family to learn from and follow.
45. In Ephesians and Colossians Paul spoke of “redeeming the time.”
46. This means to make the most of our opportunities.
47. From what is said in Matthew and Luke it seems that this was what Joseph did.
A. Today this is the approach that is still right for fathers.
B. Be an example and the right kind of leader today.
C. Now is the time to be the kind of father that God wants and a family needs.
D. Some have the attitude that they will be a good father “some day.”
E. There are fathers who are not too interested in the example that they set.
F. Others have great plans for the future.
G. For some that “future” day never comes.
H. If it does come many have regretted the years they wasted and lost.
I. There are fathers who leave bad examples and later wish they could undo the past.
48. The bible tells people to make the most of our opportunities.
49. This is especially important for those who are fathers.
50. We may not have a tomorrow.
51. Our children may be here but we may be gone.
52. If we depart this life and we have not done what we should, there is no second chance.
53. Joseph left an example that has lasted for 2,000 years.
A. Our example will probably not last that long.
B. The important thing is to be the right kind of example.
C. Joseph loved his wife, his children, God, and he was obedient to God.
D. He made the most of his opportunities
54. We still have men like this in our world.
55. These men are worthy of praise.
56. For these men setting a day aside to honor them is right.
57. For the people who are here, we hope that what has been said is true of you.
58. You love your family members.
59. You love God.
60. Because you love God you have obeyed Him and are continuing to obey Him.
61. The initial steps to obeying God are found in the book of Acts.
62. People were told to believe.
63. Those who are willing to take this step are further instructed to repent.
64. When someone wants to live according to the Bible they are close to God’s kingdom.
65. There are only two steps left—confession and baptism.