Joseph was a step dad

The Sunday before Christmas, the pastor at the church we attended appropriately continued his sermon series on the birth of Jesus. He discussed Joseph's dream, when the angel came to him and said "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins." (Matthew 1:20-21)

The pastor discussed how Joseph accepted his responsibility as the father of Jesus and raised him as his own son. He did stop short of saying that Joseph was a step dad, but the idea was there.

It is OK for us to admit it, Joseph was the step-dad of Jesus. Joseph was not the biological father of Jesus nor did Jesus have a father who surrendered his parental rights.

Jesus had a biological father through the Holy Spirit (Matthew 1:20). Though most people at the time, and certainly many today, thought/think that Joseph was really the biological father, Joseph, Mary, and Jesus all knew who the real father of Jesus was.

Jesus also acknowledged many times who his father was, and his father acknowledged who Jesus was. The earliest we have Jesus publicly acknowledging who his father is was when he stayed behind in Jerusalem after the Passover. His parents have left Jerusalem after the Passover and later realize that Jesus is not with them. When they return to Jerusalem to find him, they find him in the temple. Mary admonishes Jesus for staying behind, but Jesus says to her “Why were you searching for me? Didn't you know I had to be in my Father’s house?” (Luke 2:42-51) At the baptism of Jesus in the river Jordan, God the Father speaks and says “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” (Matthew 3:17)

Now I can't recall any sermons I have ever heard on being a step dad. Perhaps in some personal story a pastor was sharing. Maybe we avoid it because he causes us to get into topics we don't like to discuss like divorce and remarriage. But maybe starting with Joseph might be a good place to start talking about step dads in church.