Every Little Boy Needs a Daddy—Even Jesus

from Patrick Morley

Volume 307
December 22, 2008

Mary was pregnant and all Joseph knew was, “It isn’t mine.” Joseph decided to divorce Mary (in Hebrew culture, engagement was tantamount to marriage).

In the great Christmas passage, Matthew 1:18-25, it looked like Jesus was going to grow up without a dad. But God thought it was so important for Jesus to have a human father that he supernaturally intervened to change the mind of Joseph. An angel appeared and persuaded Joseph to stay with Mary.

Why not just let Joseph’s decision stand? Because every little boy needs a daddy. But Jesus was God—did Jesus really need a dad? Yes, in the sense that God wanted to model ideal humanity, not broken humanity. What kind of message would it have sent if Jesus had grown up in a broken home?

Conclusion: Jesus wasn’t just born to a virgin woman; he was born to a virgin couple. Jesus was a man’s man, and he didn’t learn that from his mommy. It was Joseph who tussled his hair, taught him a craft, and wrestled with him on the floor. Mary may have had the baby, but Joseph taught him how to be a man.

God says, “Men are important. Every little boy needs a daddy.” Let’s think about the implications of that when we plan out our goals, programs, agendas, and time for 2009.

Merry Christmas,

Patrick Morley, Ph.D.