The lovely story of the four gospels begins and ends with the ministry of a Joseph. Joseph of Nazareth at the beginning is a Galilean, a poor man and a carpenter. Joseph of Arimathea at the end is a Judaean, a rich man and a counsellor. Each was in the right place, at the right time, in the right condition, to be used of God.
Joseph the carpenter is never mentioned by Mark, and only fleetingly by John. All that we know of him is given us by Matthew and Luke. In his first two chapters Matthew records five dreams and four of these are Joseph’s. He appears to have been a quiet, meditative, patient man, and Matthew notably says that he was a just man.
Joseph is first introduced to us as the husband of Mary. When Mary, still virgin, is found to be with child, this just man is minded to end their betrothal. But his kindly disposition wants to do this quietly – he will cause as little hurt as possible to his young wife. A dream assures him: this conception is miraculous, it is of God. Mary is to be the virgin mother of the Messiah. This must have demanded courage of Joseph. Like as with Mary, there would be much misunderstanding. But Joseph accepts his role with quiet dignity. He eventually brings Mary to Bethlehem. The town and the inn are crowded, but the baby is safely delivered and is wrapped up in swaddling clothes and laid in a manger as Joseph stands by, ever faithful, but characteristically quiet.
In a dream he is commanded to take the young child and His mother to the safety of Egypt, and from the wicked intent of Herod. It is again a dream which directs him to return. He is, however, afraid of Herod’s son, now reigning, and yet another dream guides him to Galilee and to Nazareth. So did our blessed Lord, born in Bethlehem of Judaea, become known as ‘Jesus of Nazareth’.
After that well-known visit to Jerusalem, when the parents lost the boy Jesus for three days, there is no further reference to Joseph’s life or ministry. It is assumed that he died during the early years of our Lord’s life, but he has left a testimony of a good and righteous man, who fulfilled the brief and quiet ministry which God had for him.
