Mary’s surrender is often front and center in the nativity story, and rightly so. But today, let’s pause and honor Joseph, the man whose obedience, integrity, and strength made him worthy to raise the Son of God.
He Was Handpicked by God
Joseph was not an accidental figure in the story of Jesus. He was specially and specifically chosen by God. So significant was his role that Jesus is recorded under his genealogy, not Mary’s. (Matthew 1:1-16, Isaiah 11:1, Jeremiah 23:5, 2 Samuel 7:12-13). Pause and think about that.
Though Mary birthed Jesus Christ, it was through Joseph that Jesus Christ was legally registered in the lineage of David. It was Joseph who carried the royal bloodline, the legal tie to prophecy. That’s why the angel didn’t just call him by name he said, “Joseph, son of David.” Matthew 1:20 says: “But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, ‘Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.’”
What a powerful affirmation. It tells us that Joseph’s role wasn’t minor or background noise. He was handpicked. Chosen to carry the legal right to the throne of David and to father the Savior within that covenant. Mary carried the promise in her womb, but Joseph carried the legal gate through which that promise could be fulfilled.
He was more than Mary’s husband. He was God’s chosen covering.
It wasn’t just about Mary’s womb, it was also about the man to whom Jesus was to be born. Among all the sons and descendants in David’s line, God saw Joseph and called him worthy to father His Son on earth. What a man.
A man whose spiritual posture gave God confidence.
A man whose presence provided stability for the Messiah’s early years.
A man God could trust with silence, mystery, and the heavy responsibility of legacy.
God didn’t just choose Mary for her purity, He chose Joseph for his integrity and courage.
Imagine this:
A man, engaged to a young woman. In love, building toward marriage. Then suddenly, she tells him she’s pregnant and it’s not his child. She says, “It’s the Holy Spirit.” How many men today would believe that? How many men would still stay?
But Joseph didn’t react rashly. He didn’t disgrace her publicly. Scripture says “he was a just man. (Matthew 1:19). He considered what to do quietly. He didn’t drag her name in the mud. And while he was still thinking, God spoke. And just like Mary, Joseph said yes. (Matthew 1:20). Not with words. But with action.
The Kind of Man God Can Trust With Destiny
God didn’t pick Joseph randomly. He chose a man who would hear, discern, and obey no matter how difficult the instruction. Joseph didn’t just receive the dream; he acted on it.
He married Mary.
He protected her.
He shielded her from shame.
And he raised a child he did not father biologically, but fully owned spiritually.
When Everyone Else Whispered…
Joseph carried the weight of public speculation. Imagine the whispers in the community:
“So that’s the man who couldn’t wait till the wedding night.”
“They say she’s pregnant by the Holy Spirit…right.”
“Joseph must be a fool.”
How many people could he possibly tell the full story to? And even if he did, who would believe him? But Joseph didn’t live for public validation. He lived for God’s commendation.
God Trusted Him With Leadership
Joseph was that man God could trust with leadership and fatherhood. He heard God for his family and obeyed. God said “Flee to Egypt” and immediately, in the middle of the night, he took Mary and Jesus and left. No debates. No complaints. No delay. Joseph was the kind of leader God could whisper to in the dark, and be confident that he would act by morning. He didn’t just protect his family physically; he protected the prophecy over their lives.
Matthew 2:13–14 says: “When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. ‘Get up,’ he said, ‘take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.’ So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt.”
Joseph’s care for his family and especially Jesus’s safety was so strong that when God first told him to return home after Herod’s death, he obeyed. But when he learned that Judea was ruled by Archelaus, a dangerous leader, he listened again to God’s warning through the angel and went to Galilee instead. Joseph’s commitment to protecting his family, even in uncertain times, shows his unwavering faith and courage and is commendable (Matthew 2:19-23)
A Father in Every Sense of the Word
We often say Jesus didn’t have an earthly father. But that’s not fully true. He didn’t have a biological father, yes. But He had a man who led His household with honor and Modeled quiet obedience and reverence for God. Can you imagine what Jesus learned from Joseph’s example? Integrity….honest and hard work (he was a carpenter)….obedience even when it is costly and much more.
Let’s Be Honest…
It takes a secure, humble, and God-fearing man to:
- Raise a child he didn’t conceive,
- Take second place in a story where his wife’s obedience would be most celebrated,
- And still remain faithful, present, and quietly powerful.
Dear Fathers, Husbands, Leaders…
Are you the kind of man God can entrust with divine responsibility?
Can you hear Him when He speaks in dreams?
Can He trust you to protect what is precious, even when it’s costly?
Can you steward someone else’s glory without needing to be seen?
Can you lead your family even when the path doesn’t make sense?
May We Know Men Like Joseph
Men who do not need loud platforms to walk in purpose.
Men who hear God in quiet places and move without hesitation.
Men whose strength is found in their surrender.
May We Raise Men Like Joseph
Boys who grow into men of integrity,
Who protect the vulnerable,
Who obey God above public opinion,
Who value purpose over applause.
