Hey everyone I’m Gary Hoban and welcome to Refinery Life Australia.
Today we are continuing our new series titled “The Church and the Modern Family”
Today is part 3 The Forgotten Father.
Text
Matthew 1:24 (ESV)
24 When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife,
Introduction
When Christmas rolls around, the spotlight settles on Jesus, His mother, Mary, the shepherds, the angels, and the Magi.
Have you ever heard a sermon about Joseph, Mary’s husband, who functioned as Jesus’ human father?
I haven’t, until now.
The Roman Catholic Church has canonised Joseph, calling him Saint Joseph.
But us protestants have virtually ignored him.
He must have been a remarkable man of God to be chosen from all the men on the earth to serve as Jesus’ earthly father.
Let’s give him some honour today by learning about him, and even learning from him as I believe one of the biggest issues facing both the church and the world are fatherless children.
Matthew recorded the most information about Joseph.
He was a descendant of David, so royal blood ran through his veins.
He maintained a dignity and kindness that reflected his family heritage.
He witnessed Jesus’ birth, saw the shepherd’s adoration, and led Mary and the Baby to Egypt to escape Herod’s slaughter of infants.
Joseph took Jesus to the temple at least twice, once in His infancy and again when He was twelve years old.
Jesus called Joseph “father” and was subject to his authority.
Joseph feared God and worked hard to support his family in a rustic town that was disliked for its obscurity and provincialism.
Joseph disappeared from the historical accounts of the Gospels.
It is likely that he died when Jesus was a young man, and Jesus as the eldest son, assumed the responsibility of Joseph’s carpentry shop and the support of His family.
He didn’t stop working as the village carpenter until His younger brothers were old enough to take over.
Then He entered His public ministry.
Think about that for a second if you believe God will heal everyone with a sickness, Jesus didn’t heal or raise from the dead His earthly father.
Although little is written about Joseph, we find plenty of facts to know he was a great man.
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