Joseph is a prominent figure in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke, particularly in the infancy narratives. Here's a breakdown of his role:
Matthew:
* Genealogy: Matthew's Gospel begins with a genealogy tracing Jesus' lineage back to Abraham through Joseph. This establishes Jesus' legal right to the throne of David (even though Joseph is not Jesus' biological father).
* Dream Visions: Joseph receives several important messages from God through dreams:
* He is told not to divorce Mary when she is found to be pregnant, as the child is conceived by the Holy Spirit (Matthew 1:20-24).
* He is warned to flee to Egypt with Mary and Jesus to escape Herod's slaughter of the infants in Bethlehem (Matthew 2:13-15).
* He is later told in a dream that it is safe to return to Israel, but he then settles in Nazareth in Galilee (Matthew 2:19-23).
* Legal Father: Joseph's role is primarily as Jesus' legal father. By accepting Mary and naming Jesus, he places Jesus within the lineage of David, fulfilling Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah.
Luke:
* Annunciation to Mary: While the angel Gabriel appears to Mary, Luke's Gospel still acknowledges Joseph's betrothal to her (Luke 1:26-38).
* Journey to Bethlehem: Joseph travels with Mary to Bethlehem for the census, where Jesus is born (Luke 2:4-7).
* Presentation in the Temple: Joseph and Mary present Jesus in the Temple in Jerusalem, fulfilling Jewish law (Luke 2:22-40).
* The Boy Jesus in the Temple: When Jesus is twelve years old, Joseph and Mary take him to Jerusalem for the Passover. On the return journey, they discover he is missing and find him in the Temple, discussing theology with the teachers (Luke 2:41-52). This is the last explicit mention of Joseph in the Gospels, though it's implied he continues to raise Jesus.
General Observations:
* No Mention in Mark or John: Joseph is not mentioned in the Gospels of Mark or John.
* Implied Death Before Jesus' Ministry: Joseph is not present during Jesus' adult ministry in any of the Gospels. This leads to the common belief that he died before Jesus began his public ministry. This inference is further supported by the fact that Mary is often mentioned without Joseph in later Gospel accounts.
* Just Man: In Matthew's Gospel, Joseph is described as a "just man" (Matthew 1:19), emphasizing his righteousness and obedience to God.
In summary:
Joseph is primarily a figure in the infancy narratives of Matthew and Luke. He plays a crucial role as the legal father of Jesus, protecting Mary and Jesus and providing Jesus with a lineage connected to David. He disappears from the Gospel accounts after the story of the boy Jesus in the Temple, suggesting that he died before Jesus began his ministry.