That's my Dad

The not so absent father

What ​ child​ ​ is​ ​ this,​ ​ who​ ​ laid​ ​ ​to ​ rest,​

On ​ Mary's​ ​ lap​ ​ is​ ​ sleeping?​

Whom ​ angels​ ​ greet​ ​ with​ ​ anthems​ ​ sweet,​

While ​ shepherds​ ​ watch​ ​ are​ ​ keeping?​

This, ​ this​ ​ is​ ​ Christ​ ​ the​ ​ King,​

Whom ​ shepherds​ ​ guard​ ​ and​ ​ angels​ ​ sing:​

Haste, ​ haste​ ​ to​ ​ bring​ ​ Him​ ​ laud,​

The ​ babe,​ ​ the​ ​ son​ ​ of​ ​ Mary.​

Why ​ lies​ ​ He​ ​ in​ ​ such​ ​ mean​ ​ estate,​

Where ​ ox​ ​ and​ ​ ass​ ​ are​ ​ feeding?​

Good ​ Christians,​ ​ fear,​ ​ for​ ​ sinners​ ​ here​ The ​ silent​ ​ Word​ ​ is​ ​ pleading.​

Nails, ​ spears​ ​ shall​ ​ pierce​ ​ him​ ​ through,​ the ​ cross​ ​ he​ ​ bore​ ​ for​ ​ me,​ ​ ​for ​ you.​

Hail, ​ hail​ ​ the​ ​ Word​ ​ made​ ​ flesh,​ the ​ Babe,​ ​ the​ ​ Son​ ​ of​ ​ Mary.​

So ​ bring​ ​ him​ ​ incense,​ ​ gold,​​ and​ ​ myrrh,​

Come, ​ peasant,​ ​ king,​ ​ to​ ​ own​ ​ him.​

The ​ King​ ​ of​ ​ kings​ ​ salvation​ ​ brings,​

Let ​ loving​ ​ hearts​ ​ enthrone​ ​ him.​ Raise, ​ raise​ ​ a​ ​ song​ ​ on​ ​ high,​

The ​ virgin​ ​ sings​ ​ her​ ​ lullaby​

Joy, ​ joy​ ​ for​ ​ Christ​ ​ is​ ​ born,​

The ​ babe,​ ​ the​ ​ Son​ ​ of​ ​ Mary.​

This, ​ this​ ​ is​ ​ Christ​ ​ the​ ​ King,​

Whom ​ shepherds​ ​ guard​ ​ and​ ​ angels​ ​ sing:​

Haste, ​ haste​ ​ to​ ​ bring​ ​ Him​ ​ laud,​

The ​ babe,​ ​ the​ ​ son​ ​ of​ ​ Mary.​

These ​ lyrics​ ​ of​ ​ the​ ​ famous​​ ​ Christmas​ carol,​ ​ "What​ ​ Child​ ​Is​ ​ This?",​​ ​were ​ ​written ​ ​in​ ​1865​ ​by​ an​ Englishman ​​named ​ William​ ​ Chatterton​ ​ Dix.​ ​ ​ ​The ​song​ ​ ​poses ​ such​ ​ an​ ​ important​ ​ question​ ​ worth​ pondering: ​ who​ ​ this​ ​ baby​ ​ in​ ​ the​ ​​Bethlehem ​ manger​ ​ is​ ​ while​​ working​ ​ one's​ ​ way​ ​ through​ ​ the​ ​ various​ stanzas ​ of​ ​ the​ ​ hymn.​ ​​ It​ ​is​ ​ interesting​ ​ to​ ​ note​ ​the​ ​ characters​ ​ mentioned​ ​ overtly​ ​ such​ ​ ​as ​ the​ ​ Christ​ child, ​ His​ ​ mother​ ​ named​ ​ Mary,​ ​ ​shepherds, ​ angels​ ​ and​ ​ even​ ​two​ ​​forms ​ of​​ ​feeding ​ ​livestock. ​ ​ ​While​ not​ specifically ​ named,​ ​ the​ ​ recognizable​ ​ actions​ ​ of​​ ​the ​ ​wise ​ men​ ​ are​ ​ referenced​ ​ as​ ​ the​ ​ ones​ ​ who​​ brought​ their ​ well-known​ ​ gifts​ ​ of​ ​ incense,​ ​ gold,​​ ​and ​ ​myrrh. ​ ​ All​ ​the​ ​ ​characters ​ ​normally ​ ​present ​ ​in​ ​a​ ​Nativity display ​ are​ ​ accounted​ ​ for​ ​ and​ ​ in​ ​ place​ ​ except​ ​ one.​ ​ ​Do​ ​ you​ ​ realize​ ​ who​ ​ is​ ​ missing​ ​ from​​ the​ ​ stable​ scene ​ roll​ ​ call​ ​ by​ ​ name​ ​ or​​ by​ ​ referenced​ ​​action?

Joseph.

There ​ is​ ​ no​ ​ mention​ ​ of​ ​ the​ ​ man​ ​ who​ ​ ​would ​ help​ ​ raise​ ​ the​ ​ "Son​ ​ of​ ​ Mary."​ ​ ​ Everybody​ ​ ​else ​ in​ ​ ​the Christmas ​ story​ ​ gets​ ​ air​ ​ time​ ​ or​ ​​makes ​ a​ ​ cameo,​ ​but​ ​ ​not ​ the​ ​ primary​ ​man​ ​​who​ ​would ​ love​​ ​and ​ invest​ himself ​ in​ ​ the​ ​ life​ ​ of​ ​ ​this ​ special​ ​ child.​ ​ ​ We​ ​ cannot​ ​ ​know ​ for​ ​ sure,​ ​ but​ ​it​​ ​seems ​ ​like​ ​Joseph ​ ​would ​ ​be ok ​ without​ ​ much​ ​ (​ or ​ any!)​ ​ ​fanfare ​ in​ ​ this​ ​ song.​ ​ ​ In​ ​ ​fact, ​ Mark's​ ​ gospel​ ​ gave​ ​ Joseph​ ​ the​ ​ same​ ​ amount​ of ​ exposure:​ ​ zero.​ ​ ​ Joseph​ ​ never​ ​ ​once ​ is​ ​ ​cited ​ or​ ​alluded​ ​ to​ ​ in​ ​ all​ ​ of​ ​ the​ ​ ​gospel ​ ​of​ ​Mark. ​​ ​Although ​ ​the other ​ gospel​ ​ writers​ ​ of​ ​ Matthew,​ ​ Luke​ ​ and​ ​John​ ​ all​ ​ mention​​ ​Joseph​ by​ ​ name,​ ​ none​ ​ of​​ them​ ​ record​ him ​ as​ ​ ever​ ​ having​ ​ ​a ​ speaking​ ​ part.​ ​ ​ While​ ​ a​ ​ ​few ​of​ ​ ​Joseph's ​actions ​ ​ are​ ​ recorded​ ​ ​during ​ ​the​ ​early years ​ of​ ​ his​ ​ relationship​ ​ with​​ Mary​ ​ and​ ​ into​ ​Jesus​ ​ 'early​ ​ life,​ ​ none​ ​ of​ ​ Joseph's​ ​ words​ ​ ​remain ​ in​ ​ ​print within ​ the​ ​ pages​ ​ of​ ​ the​ ​ Bible.​ ​ ​ Only​ ​ Joseph's​ ​ actions​ ​ of​ ​ obedience,​ ​ care,​ ​ and​ ​ presence​ ​ are​ ​ mentioned.​

No, ​ Joseph​ ​ was​ ​ not​ ​ present​ ​ ​in ​ the​ ​ ​song.​ ​Joseph's​ ​ words​​ are​ ​ not​ ​ present​ ​ in​ ​ the​ ​ gospel​ ​ texts.​ ​ ​ ​But Joseph ​ quietly​ ​ was​ ​ present​ ​ at​ ​​the​ ​ manger. ​ ​ He​ ​ was​ ​ present​ ​before​ ​ the​ ​ manger.​ ​ ​ ​He​ ​was​ ​present ​ ​after the ​ manger.​ ​ He​ ​ was​ ​ present​ ​ ​at ​least​ ​ up​ ​ through​ ​Jesus'​ ​ twelfth​​ birthday ​ ​ as​ ​ recorded​ ​ ​in​ ​Luke​ ​2:41-52. Beyond ​ that​ ​ account,​ ​ historians​ ​ ​believe ​ Joseph​ ​ died​ ​ somewhere​ ​​ between​ ​Jesus' ​ teenage​ ​ ​years​ ​and​ the​ beginning ​ of​ ​ his​ ​ public​ ​ ministry​ ​ ​at ​ age​ ​ ​30.​ ​And​ ​ during​ ​ the​ ​ early​ ​ childhood​ ​ years​ ​ of​ ​ Jesus'​ ​ life​ ​ on​ earth, ​ not​ ​ only​ ​ was​ ​ this​ ​ ​child ​ known​ ​ as​ ​ ​the ​ "Son​ ​ of​​ Mary"​ ​ as​ ​ the​ ​​song ​​states ​ ​but​ also​​ ​Jesus​ ​was​ ​known as ​ the​ ​ Son​ ​ of​ ​ Joseph.​

Matthew 1:18–25 HCSB

The birth of Jesus Christ came about this way: After His mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, it was discovered before they came together that she was pregnant by the Holy Spirit. So her husband Joseph, being a righteous man, and not wanting to disgrace her publicly, decided to divorce her secretly. But after he had considered these things, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, don’t be afraid to take Mary as your wife, because what has been conceived in her is by the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to name Him Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.” Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet: See, the virgin will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and they will name Him Immanuel, which is translated “God is with us.” When Joseph got up from sleeping, he did as the Lord’s angel had commanded him. He married her but did not know her intimately until she gave birth to a son. And he named Him Jesus.

That’s my Boy

There ​ are​ ​ two​ ​ places​ ​ in​ ​that​ ​ text​ ​ that​ ​ give​ ​ the​ ​​reader ​ clues​ ​ that​ ​ Joseph,​ ​ ​although ​ ​not​ ​the ​​birth​ father​ of ​ Jesus,​ ​ became​ ​ his​ ​ adoptive​ ​ father.​ ​ ​ ​The ​ angel​ ​ of​ ​ the​ ​ ​Lord ​ told​ ​ Joseph​ ​ in​​ the​ ​ dream:​

Matthew 1:21 HCSB

She will give birth to a son, and you are to name Him Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.”

Matthew 1:25 HCSB

but did not know her intimately until she gave birth to a son. And he named Him Jesus.

,

Matthew 1:25

"She ​ will​ ​ bear​ ​ a​ ​ son,​ ​ and​ ​ ​you ​ ​shall ​call​ ​ ​his ​ name​ ​ Jesus​ …. ​ And​ ​ ​he ​ ​called ​ ​his​ ​name ​ ​Jesus." Matthew ​ 1:21​ , ​ 25​

The ​ naming​ ​ of​ ​ a​ ​ child​ ​ was​ ​ the​ ​ responsibility​ ​ of​ ​the​ ​ father.​ ​ ​ The​​ ​intention ​ of​ ​ God​ ​ was​ ​ for​ ​ Joseph​ ​ to​ adopt ​ Jesus​ ​ as​ ​ his​ ​ son​ ​ and​ ​​become ​ his​ ​ earthly ​ ​ father.​ ​​ When​ ​ Jesus​ ​ was​ ​ born​ ​ in​ ​ Bethlehem​ ​ on​ ​ that​ Christmas ​ night,​ ​ Joseph​ ​ named​ ​ the​ ​ child,​​ ​his ​ ​adopted ​ child,​ ​ Jesus.​​ ​ It​ ​ was​ ​ his​ ​ responsibility​ ​ as​ ​ his​ adoptive ​ father.​ ​ ​ On​ ​ the​ ​ ​night ​ Jesus​​ was​ ​ born,​ ​Joseph​ ​ not​ ​ only​​ ​gave ​ Jesus​ ​ His​ ​ name​​ but​ ​ also​ ​ ​Joseph likely ​ took​ ​ this​ ​ newborn​ ​ baby​​ ​and ​ symbolically​ ​ placed​ ​ Jesus​ ​ across​ ​his​ ​ knees.​ ​ ​ ​Such​ ​a​ symbolic​ ​ ​act was ​ the​ ​ way​ ​ a​ ​ first-century​ ​ ​ husband ​ in​ ​ ​biblical ​days​ ​ ​acknowledged ​ the​ ​legitimacy​ ​ of​​ ​his​ newborn​ descendant. ​ ​ Subsequently,​ ​ for​ ​ a​ ​ ​man ​ to​​ place​​ someone ​​ ​else's ​ child​ ​ across​ ​ his​ ​ knees​ ​ was​ ​ ​a ​ sacred​ ​ and​ symbolic ​ act​ ​ signifying​ ​ adoption.​ ​ ​ Although​ ​ the​ ​​Bible ​ does​ ​ not​ ​​state​ explicitly​ ​ that​ ​ Joseph​ ​ did​​ this,​ ​ it​ is ​ highly​ ​ probable​ ​ Joseph​ ​ not​ ​ only​ ​​gave ​ ​Jesus ​ his​ ​ name,​ ​but​ ​also​ ​laid​ ​ Jesus​ ​ ​across ​ ​his​ ​knees​ ​claiming his ​ legacy​ ​ and​ ​ adopting​ ​ the​ ​ Son​ ​ of​​ ​Mary ​ as​ ​ his​ ​own.​

I knew his old man

Luke ​ identified​ ​ both​ ​ Mary​ ​ and​ ​Joseph​ ​ as​ ​ ​Jesus' ​ parents.​ ​ ​ ​Mary, ​ ​Jesus' ​ birth​ ​ mother,​ ​ calls​​ her​ ​ husband,​ Joseph, ​ Jesus'​ ​ "father."​ ​ ​ It​ ​ was​ ​clear​ ​ that​ ​ Joseph​ ​ adopted​ ​ Jesus​ ​ as​ ​ his​​ ​son. ​ ​ It​​ ​was ​ ​how​ ​Jesus​ ​was​ known​ in ​ his​ ​ childhood​ ​ and​ ​ even​​ into​ ​ his​ ​ adult​ ​life.​ ​ ​ Another​ ​clue​ ​ is​ ​ given​​ in​ ​ ​John's ​ ​gospel ​ ​when​ ​Jesus ​ calls​ his ​ disciples​ ​ to​ ​ follow​ ​ him​ ​ and​ ​ later​​ ​into ​ his​ ​ public​ ​ ministry.​

John 1:43–45 HCSB

The next day He decided to leave for Galilee. Jesus found Philip and told him, “Follow Me!” Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the hometown of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the One Moses wrote about in the Law (and so did the prophets ): Jesus the son of Joseph, from Nazareth!”

John 6:

John 6:41–42 HCSB

Therefore the Jews started complaining about Him because He said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.” They were saying, “Isn’t this Jesus the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How can He now say, ‘I have come down from heaven’?”

Like father like son

Everybody ​ who​ ​ knew​ ​ Jesus​ ​ recognized​ ​ him​ ​ as​ ​ Joseph's ​ ​ son.​ ​ ​ ​Joseph ​ ​had​ adopted​ ​ Jesus​ ​ as​ ​ his​ ​ son​ ​ ​from day ​ one.​ ​ ​ What​ ​ child​ ​ is​ ​ this?​ ​ ​ One​ ​​of ​ the​​ characteristics​ ​ that​ ​ answers​ ​ the​ ​ question​ ​ is​​ found​ ​ in​ ​ ​the reflection ​ of​ ​ his​ ​ earthly​ ​ father,​ ​ ​Joseph. ​ ​ ​He ​ is​ ​ ​the ​ One​ ​ who​ ​ ​adopts ​ and​ ​ names​ ​ us​ ​ as​​ ​part​ ​of​ ​His ​ ​own family. ​ ​ Paul​ ​ writes​ ​ about​ ​ this​ ​characteristic​ ​ of​ ​ ​Jesus ​who​ ​ would​ ​ grow​ ​ from​ ​ the​ ​ baby​ ​ in​ ​ the​ ​ manger​ ​ to​ the ​ God​ ​ that​ ​ was​ ​ willing​ ​ not​ ​ only​ ​ to​​ die​ ​ for​ ​ rescue​ ​ of​ ​ His​ ​ creation,​ ​ ​but ​also​ ​​to​ ​lay​ ​all​ ​people ​ ​across​ ​His knees ​ to​ ​ call​ ​ them​ ​ as​ ​ His​ ​​own ​ as​​ he​ ​ purchased​ ​their​ ​ freedom​ ​ from​ ​ the​​ ​slavery ​ ​of​ sin,​​ ​death, ​ ​Satan, and ​ hell.​

Gal. 4:

Galatians 4:4–7 HCSB

When the time came to completion, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba, Father!” So you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.

What ​ child​ ​ is​ ​ this?​ ​ ​ He​ ​ is​ ​ the​ ​​one ​​who ​ makes​ ​ adoption​ ​ into​​ His​​ family ​ ​ ​possible. ​ ​ ​And​ ​adoption ​ ​leads to ​ our​ ​ salvation​ ​ which​ ​ includes​ ​ our​ ​ freedom​ ​ ​from​ ​sin. ​ ​ ​That ​ is​ ​ what​​ Joseph​ ​ was​ ​ told​ ​ to​ ​ name​ ​ his​ adoptive ​ Son​ ​ when​ ​ He​ ​ would​ ​be​ ​ ​born. ​ ​ ​Remember ​ what​ ​ the​ ​ angel​ ​ of​ ​ the​ ​ Lord​ ​ ​said ​ ​to ​ ​Joseph ​ ​in ​ ​his dream.

Matthew 1:21

Matthew 1:21 HCSB

She will give birth to a son, and you are to name Him Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.”

What’s in a name?

The ​ name​ ​ of​ ​ Jesus​ ​ means​ ​ "God​ ​ saves."​ ​ ​ ​What ​ God​ ​saves,​ ​ God​ ​ adopts​ ​ as​ ​ His​ ​ own​​ ​and​ ​for​ ​His​ ​own​ by​ the ​ power​ ​ of​ ​ the​ ​ Holy​ ​ Spirit.​

Romans 8:14–17 HCSB

All those led by God’s Spirit are God’s sons. For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father!” The Spirit Himself testifies together with our spirit that we are God’s children, and if children, also heirs —heirs of God and coheirs with Christ—seeing that we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.

Paul ​ goes​ ​ on​ ​ to​ ​ write​​ about​ ​ ​the ​ adoption​ ​ into​ ​God's​ ​ ​family ​ ​in​ his​ ​ letter​ ​ to​ ​ the​ ​ Ephesian​ ​ church.​

Ephesians 1:5 HCSB

He predestined us to be adopted through Jesus Christ for Himself, according to His favor and will,

After ​ our​ ​ adoption​ ​ into​ ​ the​ ​ family​ ​ of​ ​ ​God ​ the​ ​Father​ ​ that​ ​ is​ ​ ​made​ possible​ ​ by​​ ​Jesus​ ​the​ Son,​​ ​in​ due​ time ​ Jesus​ ​ will​ ​ give​ ​ us​ ​ ​a ​ new​​ name.​

Revelation 2:17 HCSB

“Anyone who has an ear should listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. I will give the victor some of the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name is inscribed that no one knows except the one who receives it.

That ​ is​ ​ adoption​ ​ language.​ ​ It​ ​ includes ​ ​ the​​ ​ responsibility​ of​ ​ a​ ​ ​father ​ to​ ​ ​name ​ his​ ​ child.​ ​ ​ What​ ​ ​child ​ is​ this? ​ ​ He​ ​ is​ ​ the​ ​ one​ ​ ​who ​enables​ ​ adoption​ ​ into​ ​ God's​ ​ family​ ​ ​to ​ take​​ ​place ​ and​​ ​will​ ​give​ ​a ​ ​new​ ​name​ ​to those ​ who​ ​ become​ ​ part​ ​ of​​ His​ ​ family.​ ​ ​ These​ ​are​ ​ ​the ​ ​characteristics ​ we​ ​ see​ ​ in​ ​ Jesus'​ ​ adoptive,​ ​ earthly​ father, ​ Joseph.​ ​ ​ These​ ​ are​ ​ the​ ​truths​ ​ and​ ​ ​responsibilities ​ of​ ​ the​ ​ One​ ​ we​ ​ celebrate​ ​ who​ ​ was​ ​ born​ ​ in​ ​ a​ manger ​ so​ ​ he​ ​ could​ ​ die​ ​ on​​ a​ ​ cross​ ​ leading​ ​to​ ​ resurrection​ ​ and​ ​ the​ ​ defeat​ ​ of​ ​ sin​ ​ and​​ death.​ ​ ​ ​Such victory ​ and​ ​ life​ ​ enables​ ​ ​ adoption​ ​to ​ be​ ​ available​ ​ ​for ​ all​ ​ who​ ​ ​call ​ ​on​ His​ ​ name!​ ​ ​ This​ ​ is​ ​ the​ ​ ultimate​ answer ​ to​ ​ the​ ​ question:​ ​ what​ ​ child​ ​ is​ ​ this?​ ​ ​ He​ ​is​ ​ ​Jesus, ​ the​ ​ adopting​ ​ and​ ​ naming​ ​​God​ ​who ​ ​sets​ ​us ​​on

His ​ knee​ ​ and​ ​ calls​ ​ us​ ​ sons​ ​and​​ ​daughters. ​​ He​​ enables​ ​ us​ ​ to​ ​ be​​ ​family ​ as​ ​ ​He ​ gives​​ ​us​ ​our​ ​name.