Son of Joseph

And they said, “Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How is it then that He says, 'I have come down from heaven'?”

John 6:42*

When talking about the inspired word of God, there is no such thing as a coincidence. Christ was the step-son of a man named Joseph. It could have been Judah, Hezekiah or Zebulon, but it wasn’t. Jesus was the son of Joseph.

Joseph never made a big deal about adopting Jesus. That would have just stirred up more gossip and disparaging remarks about Mary. He took Mary’s son as his own, provided for Him and made Him his legal heir. That’s why everyone knew the man as Jesus of Nazareth, Son of Joseph.

There is another very important Son of Joseph that doesn’t appear in the Bible but was written about by Jewish sages long before the New Testament was written. Rabbis and scholars earnestly searched the scriptures awaiting the Messiah and were perplexed at what seemed to be contradictory descriptions of the Lord’s anointed. Sometimes the Messiah appeared to be a majestic, conquering King. Other times He was like a suffering servant. Their conclusion was that two Messiahs must be coming.

For the sake of discussion, these two were labeled “Moshiach ben David” and “Moshiach ben Yosef” (“Messiah, son of David” and “Messiah, son of Joseph”). Although most awaited the messiah that would put an end to Roman domination, just as David conquered Israel’s enemies, it was clear in much of Old Testament prophecy that the messiah would be like the patriarch Joseph who delivered his people through suffering. Portions of scripture such as Psalms 22 and Isaiah 53 were believed to refer to Messiah, son of Joseph.

So when the unbelieving residents of Galilee called Him the Son of Joseph, they only confirmed what their rabbi’s taught them would come of the messiah; “He is despised and rejected by men, a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief”(Isaiah 53:3).

What the first century Jewish people didn't understand was that there weren't two messiahs coming but one who would come twice. The first time He came as Messiah, Son of Joseph to redeem mankind through His suffering. At His second coming He will cause all enemies of God to bow the knee and He will bring the Davidic dynasty back to the throne.