JOSEPH FATHERLY ROLE IN THE LIFE OF JESUS
This article is not witch-hunt anyone but to encourage men to be taking responsibilities as God would help them. Lessons also for ladies(unmarried )in choosing the right man for marriage, also (married ladies) supporting their husbands to be their best while preparing their sons to be ready spiritually and morally to take fatherly responsibilities in the future properly.

It has been a common saying that fathers are natural leaders, ladders to climb on, shoulders to lean on and feathers to fly.
Even though Mary got the pregnancy of Jesus by the overshadowing power of the Holy Ghost yet by divine arrangement and intervention God ensure that the relationship of Joseph and Mary is intact. This is to ensure a proper family platform for baby JESUS. In God's original design, parenting should the duties of both parents, father and mother. Therefore God could not allow JESUS to be raised by a single parent of a single father or a mother.
From the account o JESUS birth and childhood we could see some examples of key father responsibilities that Joseph took.

1. MARRYING MARY AS WIFE: Thanks to God for the divine direction Joseph got, he took a bold step to accept and continue the relationship despite what we could a controversial pregnancy.

LESSON: DIVINE GUIDANCE IS VERY IMPORTANT IN MARRIAGE. We should not be led by feelings , what people say or even parent opinion should be a taken a good counsel not final say.
2. PROPER LEGAL DOCUMENTATION : We could infer from trip of Joseph to Judea with Mary his wife which implies he took every necessary step to legalize the union between him and Mary.
LESSON: Marriage must me formalised as soon as necessary checks and concerns including medicals compatibility etc are concluded. Cohabitation of marital partners without proper documentation is not scriptural.
3. COMPANIONSHIP AND CARE OF WIFE: From the biblical narration we could see that Joseph was a caring and considerate husband who ensure that he was available for his wife. From the scripture we saw that he was physically present during the delivery of Jesus. Unlike some husbands who believe their main responsibility is to provide for the family, anybody else could take care of their family even in pregnant state.
LESSON: Provision of money or materials alone are not enough to take care of wife and family. Husbands should make time available for their wives and children especially in critical period like during conception.
4.DEVOTION: Joseph is a good example of a fervent and devoted men of his days . We could see from the bible that he was in temple during when baby JESUS is being dedicated. Also Bible says that the two parents went to Jerusalem as a custom when JESUS was twelve years old. This means that as a matter of of principle and practice he attends fellowship and services regularly with family.
LESSONS: The best way to lead is to show examples, husbands must take lead in attending church programs and services. This would motivate the entire family especially the children to start following the right way of neglecting the assemblies of the people of God.
5. DIVINE GUIDANCE AND SPIRITUAL SENSITIVITY - Joseph was being divinely guided as to relocation especially because of the child- Jesus safety by the angel of the Lord and when it is time to return he was also led to take such important decisions that does not impact him only but the life of his family.
LESSON: Fathers should understand that they are spiritual leaders in their homes. They must be sensitive to God’s guidance for their decisions as it would go a long way to impact their family members.