Joseph the builder: Father of the Messiah

via TJC 

“Jacob was the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary. Mary gave birth to Jesus, who is called the Messiah.” ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭1‬:‭16‬ ‭

The passage above is from the opening of the book of the gospel of Matthew which traces the lineage of Christ from David to Jesus through his Fraternal side of the family. 

As we shared this week, we  don’t know a lot about Joseph. Most translations inaccurately translate that Joseph was a carpenter but the original word used in Aramaic  would be more accurately translated as Builder. 

Doesn’t that change your perspective a little, that the Builder of the Universe would choose a human builder to raise the son of the Living God? 

I think of the many things I’ve dreamed, schemed, and attempted to build in my life. Moving my family from Germany to Florida; we worked together to build a ranch for horse training.  We are in round 2 of this effort, as our plans were challenged by an adversary, but we have a great foundation. 

That foundation is what my wife and I are building through Christ in the lives of our five children. I’m not prepared for all we have faced, but I do know to trust God, keep the right priorities, and build great relationships.

My responsibility to build my family is no less then Joseph’s; though I can only imagine how overwhelming it was as a devout Jewish man to be chosen to raise the Messiah. So i model what I can off of scripture and the man Christ is in me. 

Daily Battle Order:

Strive to take your responsibility for raising your children as seriously as and with as much an honor as you would if you were in Joseph’s shoes. Love them, discipline them, model for them, love and cherish your wives for them and teach them the way they should go so when they are grown they will not depart from the way.