My Name Is Joseph...
Reflections on Providence, Protection, and Paternal Love
Dear Believers in the Promised Messiah,
I am Joseph, son of Jacob, a man who lived a life quietly woven into the fabric of God’s grand design. As a humble craftsman from Nazareth, my life took an unexpected turn when I was chosen to be the earthly guardian of Jesus, the Son of God, and the husband to Mary, a woman of profound faith and purity.
My trade as a craftsman, working with wood and stone, taught me patience, precision, and the value of a day’s toil. These skills not only provided for my family but also paralleled the greater work God was crafting in the tapestry of salvation.
My life's journey was marked by moments of divine intervention and profound trust in God. When Mary, my betrothed, was found to be with child, my heart was troubled. Yet, in my contemplation, an angel of the Lord appeared to me in a dream, saying, “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.” (Matthew 1:20, NIV) This revelation transformed my confusion into conviction and my fear into faith.
Obedient to the Lord’s command, I took Mary as my wife, embracing the child Jesus as my own. The early years of Jesus’ life were underpinned by further divine guidance and protection. In another dream, an angel warned me of Herod’s deadly intent, leading me to take my family to Egypt, fulfilling what the Lord had said through the prophet, “Out of Egypt I called my son.” (Matthew 2:15, NIV)
Returning to Nazareth after Herod’s death, I continued my trade, teaching Jesus the craft and instilling in Him the values of hard work and devotion to God. It was a simple life, but one filled with the richness of love, faith, and the presence of God in our midst.
The last mention of me in the scriptures is during a pilgrimage to Jerusalem when Jesus was twelve years old. It was a time of great anxiety and relief when Mary and I, having lost track of Him, found Him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening and asking questions. Even then, His understanding and answers amazed all who heard Him.
Though my presence in the later parts of the Gospels is absent, suggesting my passing before Jesus began His public ministry, my role in His life story does not diminish. I served as a protector, provider, and an earthly example of fatherly love to the Son of God.
To you, who follow in the footsteps of Jesus, I offer my life as a testament to the power of faith, obedience, and quiet service to the Lord’s calling. In times of uncertainty and fear, may you find the courage, as I did, to trust in God’s promises and guidance. Remember that often, God’s purposes are fulfilled in ways beyond our understanding, and He chooses ordinary people, like you and me, to play extraordinary roles in His redemptive plan.
May my journey encourage you to embrace God’s call with faith and humility, knowing that He is with you, guiding and providing every step of the way. In your service to others, in your daily toil and in your care for your families, see the hand of God at work, shaping and using your life for His glory.
In faithful service to God and His Son,
Joseph, Carpenter of Nazareth.