First United Methodist Church - Fort Collins, CO

In all our theological reflection on Jesus as the Son of God there is something important that gets lost. It is the influence of Joseph. We really have very little about Joseph directly, and yet, there is much about Joseph that comes to us indirectly.

I think the “Parable of the Prodigal Son” is Jesus’ definitive understanding of the nature of God. He believed in a God who was preemptively forgiving. He believed in a God whom he called “abba”; a word that means “loving Father”.

Joseph must have died when Jesus was young. We don’t hear anything about Joseph after Jesus had attained the age of 12 and was taken to Jerusalem when Jesus was lost in the crowd and separated from his parents. Mary chastized Jesus by saying that he had worried her and his father Joseph.

Joseph was a builder; some say he was a carpenter. Some suggest he was a stone mason. He taught Jesus his trade.

In Matthew’s Gospel we have the story of Joseph taking Mary and Jesus from Bethlehem to Egypt when there was a threat on children two years and younger. Joseph was a protective father.

The sermon will explore the influence on Jesus’ life of his father. He was Joseph’s son and in the lineage of David because of it. The fatherhood of Joseph is important as we explore Jesus’ life and teaching. This son of God had an earthly father, and when he wanted to express what God meant to him and how God was to him Jesus used the name “abba”. He might just as well have used the name Joseph.

How important is or was your father in determining your values and character? How important is a father to a son or daughter? How does your idea of God compare to the best that was attributed to your dad?

If you have thoughts on this write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. Click on the blank space and my email address will appear.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Charles

                                               Sermon Series For Lent 

February 10th     “Jesus Abrahamson”     Son of Abraham        Pam Everhart
February 17th     ”Jesus Josephson”         Son of Joseph          Charles Schuster
February 24th     “Jesus Manson”              Son of Man               Joel Kershaw
March 2nd         ”Jesus Godson”               Son of God               Charles Schuster
March 9th        “Jesus Marison”              Son of Mary              Charles Schuster
March 16th       “Jesus Davidson”           Son of David             Charles Schuster
                                                  

                                             Maundy Thursday (Passover Meal)
March 20th “Jesus Lambson”            The Lamb of God      Joel Kershaw
 
March 21st                 Good Friday (Requiem by Mozart)
  “Jesus Crux”        The Crucified One    Charles Schuster