21 June 2026 | St Albans, UK [Joe Philpott]
Joseph, the earthly father of Jesus, is mentioned only briefly in the Bible. We know his name, his profession, and that he was engaged to Mary and accepted a unique calling. Strikingly, the Bible did not record a single word he spoke. Not one conversation. Not one prayer. Not one word of encouragement for Jesus when He was a child. His story is told entirely through his actions.
Matthew describes him as “a righteous man” (Matthew 1:19, NRSV). Later, when God instructs him through a dream to “take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 1:20, NRSV), it requires courage. Accepting Mary involves embracing misunderstanding, suspicion and uncertainty. Joseph could not possibly foresee all that was to come. But he obeys.
When danger threatens, he flees with his young family to Egypt to protect them. He returns only when God directs him to do so. Again and again, Joseph listens and acts.
In a world where influence is often measured by visibility, Joseph’s story runs counter to that trend. He is not absent from the biblical narrative of Jesus, but his presence is limited. His key actions are briefly included, but not the depth of his life or all that he did for his family. Much of what he did will only ever be known to those closest to him.
The wiser we become, the more we realise that some of the most important influences in our lives came not from dramatic moments or grand gestures of love, but from people who consistently showed up. A father reading Scripture at the breakfast table. A grandfather kneeling in prayer. A reassuring conversation after a difficult day. Loving, Christlike but firm discipline. These experiences rarely seem extraordinary when they happen. Yet over time they shape our character.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer once wrote, “Action springs not from thought, but from a readiness for responsibility.” While he may not have had fathers specifically in mind, his words capture something important about fatherhood. Children are shaped not only by what parents intend to do, but by the responsibilities they are willing to embrace each day.
Joseph understood something of that truth. He was called to be present. Present when Mary needed support. Present when Jesus needed protection. Present in the ordinary moments of family life. Present when reassurance was needed. Present when God called him to move. Present when circumstances were confusing. Present when obedience was costly.
Perhaps that is why Joseph’s example continues to speak to us, despite never speaking in Scripture.
Human fathers, even the best ones, are imperfect. Joseph himself would have been imperfect. Despite everything he got right, he, too, would have made mistakes. Yet his example reflects something of God’s character. He listened. He encouraged. He supported. He accepted responsibility. He persevered. He cared for those entrusted to him.
And that may be the calling of fatherhood: not to be perfect, but to keep showing up. To love in ways that may not always be recognised or remembered. To be a steady presence, even when words are not needed. To ask forgiveness when mistakes are made. To choose patience when frustration would be easier. Fathers may not always see the fruit of their prayers, sacrifices and daily choices, but children are shaped by what is repeated: kindness, patience, honesty, grace and love.
Most of us will never be famous. Our names will not appear in history books. Yet Joseph reminds us that significance and visibility are not the same thing. His name appears only briefly in the biblical narrative, but his influence impacted the earthly life of the Saviour of this world.
To the fathers reading this, do not underestimate the choices you make, the time you give and the love you show. The conversations you have, the example you set and the care you give are shaping your children’s lives in ways you may never fully see. Children do not need perfect fathers. They need fathers who are present, who keep showing up and who are willing to learn, grow and begin again when they fall short. Continue to be present, continue to encourage and continue to point them to Christ.
[Photos: LightFieldStudios & ASphotostudio / Envato]
