Today, March 19, the church remembers and gives thanks to God for Joseph, the adoptive father of Jesus. Not much information is given about Joseph in the Scriptures, but nevertheless, what is shared about him says a lot.
St. Matthew records, “And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly” (Matthew 1:19, ESV).
Joseph was a just man. He was a righteous man. And as such, he was a man that all Christians, especially fathers, should seek to emulate. But what made Joseph so righteous?
First, Joseph was righteous because he listened to and believed the Word of God. We read, “When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him” (Matthew 1:24, ESV).
True righteousness before God, the righteousness necessary to enter heaven, is through faith alone. We believe in the promise of Christ, spoken to us in the Word, and God credits that faith to us as righteousness. As St. Paul once said, “… I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith” (Philippians 3:8-9, ESV).
Joseph heeded the word of the angel because he believed. He had faith in the promise of Jesus as Savior, and that made him righteous.
A good and righteous dad, according to the Bible, isn’t just one who plays catch with his sons, brings his wife flowers, and pushes his little girl on the swing. These things might make us loved by our families, but they don’t avail before God. For, “Without faith it is impossible to please Him” (Hebrews 11:6, ESV).
A righteous dad is one who has faith. A righteous dad is one who believes that he is a sinner and that Jesus is his Savior. A righteous dad is one who trusts the Scriptures and leads his family to the house of God, not away from it.
The data overwhelmingly shows that kids are much more likely to stop going to church when they grow up if their dad never went, even if mom did. Dads are the chief witness in the home. They need to read the Bible themselves. They need to read it to their kids. They need to teach them how to pray. And they need to be faithful in worship attendance.
Joseph did what he did because he believed the Word. To be a truly righteous man, we need to do the same.
Next, Joseph was righteous not just because he had faith, but because his faith was displayed by his actions. Joseph raised a baby that was not his own because God told him to. Joseph left his home to flee to Egypt to protect Mary and the child because it was the right thing to do.
Faith alone saves, but faith is never alone. Christians live in their vocations and do good works because they believe. A dad provides and protects. He doesn’t run off to the man cave to get “me time,” but lays aside his own wants and desires to serve the needs of those around him. He does hard things because God gave him greater strength than others. He uses this strength not to dominate or abuse, but to love and support.
As Joseph took up the task willingly and without complaint, righteous men sacrifice and even lay down their lives for others.
Joseph was a righteous man because of what he believed and what he did. We remember him because he is a lasting witness to true biblical masculinity and what it means to be a good dad.
If you are a man, pray that these qualities might become yours. Trust in the Lord’s forgiveness and seek his strength to do better. Follow Joseph’s example.
And if you are not a man, pray that those around you who are might become like him. We men need your prayers, and we need a lot of them.
Whoever you are, commit your way to the Lord, and as he did for Joseph, God will guide you too.
