Tuesday, July 12th, 2022
We last see Joseph when he and Mary go back to the temple to find Jesus who was AWOL on the trip back home from the Passover. Jesus was 12 years old at the time. Joseph must have died sometime after that, but Scripture doesn’t say when, where, or why. Dare I speculate, given that I’m not a Bible scholar or theologian of great note? Oh, why not!
Let’s take a look at Isaiah 53:8. By oppression and judgment he was taken away. Yet who of his generation protested? Jesus came for the express reason of dying on the cross for our sins. When he was arrested and taken to the cross (which is what verse 8 is speaking of), his mother, Mary, did not protest. The apostles didn’t create a ruckus.
If Joseph were there, what would he have done? I think he would have fought for his son like any good father would have. He would have protested, and most likely quite loudly. He would have been a distraction for what had to take place ever since Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden. God did not want such a distraction from the culmination of all the prophecies of the Old Testament. He wanted us to see only Christ crucified on the cross and resurrected three days later. There was no room for Joseph to loudly protest and be beaten senseless by the Roman guards. Those are my thoughts on why Joseph had to go. Take it as you will.