Bible Question:
Hi!! I have wondered, and wondered, and wondered for about 39 years now, ever since I first became a Christian (I'm 45 now): Whatever happened to JESUS's earthly father (step-father), Joseph?? Why is it such a secret?? There's got to be a very good reason why neither JESUS, nor HIS HEAVENLY FATHER, through the HOLY SPIRIT, told us in the Bible. But, why?? Did Joseph die before JESUS died on the cross? (I've thought that he must have.) Or did he leave the family for some reason? I've always wondered...... And I've pondered this: If Joseph died, then why doesn't the Bible just say so?? There wouldn't be a good reason to hide that. But, if he left the family for some reason, then that would explain the big secrecy. Now, I would not think that JESUS or HIS HEAVENLY FATHER, through the HOLY SPIRIT in writing the Bible, were concealing it (by not mentioning it) out of shame or embarrassment, but rather, would ONLY be doing so for two reasons: 1. Out of DEEP, MERCIFUL LOVE, because "love covers a multitude of sins" and 2. To not cause a STUMBLING BLOCK to new Christians or to non-Christians P.S. If you find that the answer would violate those two reasons mentioned above, then please, instead of posting it publically, could you just e-mail me privately? P.S.S. Also, I have looked for the answer in Josephus's history book (in the library) several times over the many years, and couldn't find anything. But, maybe the answer is in there, and I just missed it. Maybe, it's not so secretive after all. But, Josephus's book is huge!! (I, of course, looked in the index first, but couldn't find anything.) |
Bible Answer: Hank's concise earlier response pretty much answers this. I would simply add some of the logical observational basis for the common assumption that Joseph died before Jesus began his public ministry -- based on when the Scriptures do and don't say about Joseph. 5 observations are included below, which I believe indicate that Joseph died some time between Jesus' 12th birthday and the beginning of his public ministry. 1) Joseph appears in Matthew and Luke (particularly in Matthew, where Joseph's involvement is a primary focus) at the time of Jesus' birth. Matthew 1:19 specifically identifies Joseph as "being a righteous man." 2)Luke 3:23 and 4:22 identify Joseph as being the pulicly assumed and recognized father of Jesus (and 4:22 gives the indication that this reflected positively upon both of them, as they were all "speaking well of" Jesus at the time). 3) Luke 2:23 and following shows that Mary and Joseph regularly celebrated the Passover in Jerusalem and that both parents were with Jesus when he went up to Jerusalem at the age of 12. 4) The trip to Jerusalem at age 12 is the last mention of Joseph's active involvement with Jesus, and nothing at all from that time until the beginning of Jesus' public ministry is mentioned. The specific events of the (approximately 20 years of) interim are not apparently significant enough to the central message(s) of the Gospel to be included in the Scriptures (or available written history for that matter). 5) John 19:26,27 indicates that Jesus asked John to take responsibility for caring for Mary's welfare now that Jesus was gone and that John responded by taking her into his household from that day forth. (The logical implication of this is that Mary was a widow whose remaining children were not of sufficient age to care for her properly. This is an interpretation, but it's the only logical interpretation I've heard for this interchange on the cross. For further explanation of the guidelines and importance of caring for widows, see Acts 6:1-6 and 1 Tim 5:2-3,14-16). |