Where was Joseph when Jesus was an adult?

Jesus having accomplished His mission in Cana of Galilee, went down to Capernaum, He, and His mother, and His brethren, and His disciples; and they continued there many days.*

*It would seem from this scripture, and especially from Mark 2:1, that Mary had removed from Nazareth to Capernaum. It is also probable, for he is not mentioned after Luke 2:48, that Joseph was now dead, and this may have led to the removal. Nothing hangs upon either of these conjectures, although in regard to the latter one can readily perceive that there might be divine reasons for the death of Joseph before Jesus entered upon His public mission.

THE LORD'S MOTHER AND HIS BRETHREN.

Jesus having accomplished His mission in Cana of Galilee, went down to Capernaum, He, and His mother, and His brethren, and His disciples: and they continued there not many days.*

*It would seem from this scripture, and especially from Mark 2:1, that Mary had removed from Nazareth to Capernaum. It is also probable, for he is not mentioned after Luke 2:48, that Joseph was now dead, and this may have led to the removal. Nothing hangs upon either of these conjectures, although in regard to the latter one can readily perceive that there might be divine reasons for the death of Joseph before Jesus entered upon His public mission.

"After this He went down to Capernaum, He and His mother and His brethren and His disciples; and there they abode not many days." It may be noted that Joseph does not appear anywhere since the end of Luke 2 when the Lord was twelve years old. Doubtless he had fallen asleep meanwhile. Mary is again seen with Him. His absolute separation to the will and work of His Father in no way interferes with the earthly relations He had graciously taken. And so will it be with that which He represents.

Although of the royal line of David, Joseph and Mary were poor and humble, circumstances ordered in the government of God to suit His purpose for the birth of His Son into this world. In Matthew 13:55, those around said, “Is not this the carpenter’s son?” and in Mark 6:3 those who heard the Lord speak said, “Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us?” This would seem to indicate that Joseph had been called to his rest before the Lord started on His public ministry, and probably shortly before, seeing that he was referred to as the carpenter, and Jesus as his son.

As the oldest of a family in which He had four brothers and, at least, two sisters, the Lord Jesus would have the responsibility of caring for the needs of the household after Joseph had gone, and He had succeeded him as “the carpenter.” It was perhaps natural that His brethren did not believe in Him (John 7:5), for the natural man does not receive the things of God. They were the constant witnesses of a life of perfection that glorified God, and must have brought rich benefits to all in contact with Him, but there was not faith to perceive the glory of the Person who was so near to them day after day. Yet how very blessed it is to see the working of God’s grace in Christ’s brethren after the flesh, for, in the upper room, where the apostles continued in prayer after the Lord’s ascension to heaven, there were with them, “Mary the mother of Jesus, and…His brethren” (Acts 1:13-14).

It is the last mention of Mary. Chrysostom may well suppose Joseph to have died, the truth is that he had long disappeared. Of both we heard for the last time in the beauteous scene of the Lord at twelve years of age (Luke 2:42-51). He too was not yet anointed by the Holy Ghost; yet was He perfect man and true God, the child of Mary, and subject not to her only but to her husband — legally His father. But the incident brings out clearly His perfection as a child feeding on the word of God; but no less His consciousness of being the Son of God (far beyond the thoughts of Joseph or Mary), and withal His subjection to them, 'His parents', in that human place to which He had come down from divine glory in a love no less divine. When in due time, anointed by the Holy Spirit, He enters on His service and His presentation as the Messiah Joseph is gone. This was as it should be. It was through Joseph He had direct claim as the royal Son of David; for Joseph came down from Solomon, and therein lay the true line of promise to the throne. Mary too sprang from David, but through Nathan, who could give no such title. Legally and naturally He was descended from the king beloved of God, as He had a title in His own person above David as surely as above Joseph and Mary, He was God, Jehovah, the Lord God of Israel. Still the word of God must be honoured and verified in every human particular which divine grace had given and made known, for the exercise and the reward, the trial and the joy of faith.

But there is much more in corroboration, which goes along with the special design of each of the two Gospels. For it will be noticed that only Matthew records the apparitions of Jehovah's angel to Joseph (Matthew 1:20, Matthew 2:19); whereas in Luke 1:26-38 the angel Gabriel was sent by God not to Joseph but to Mary, even though Jehovah's angel appeared to Zechariah before (Luke 1:11), and to the shepherds after (Luke 2:9), the Child was born, the Son was given. Of course, His birth of Mary was of absolute moment for His person as now Man no less than God forever, and for the infinite work He was about to accomplish. But so far was the legal position of Joseph as His reputed father from being unimportant, that He could not have been indisputably viewed as the promised Son and Heir of David's throne, till Joseph passed away. Hence not a word is said in any of the four Gospels which supposes Joseph alive, when our Lord enters on His manifestation as the Messiah, though (as every believer knows) much more than the Messiah. This also disposes of the notion, cherished by not a few ancients and moderns, that Joseph had a family of sons and daughters, before Mary was betrothed to him. For in that case his eldest would have been legally the heir to David's throne. So completely was the law fulfilled, as well as the Prophets and the Psalms. Scripture cannot be broken.

Mary here is regarded as Joseph's wife. Mary's line is traced through Nathan; Joseph's, through Solomon. Mary is prominent in Luke; here Joseph. But it is remarkable how he disappears in the Gospels.

Mr. N. says, this is not what we want. Now I apprehend Matthew must have known much better than Mr. N. (for I do not assume his inspiration here) what was required in his days, either from the expression of it by others, or the habits of his own mind formed by the same circumstances. The truth is, this was of great importance. If Jesus presented Himself to claim the throne of David, and Joseph had at that time a separate and hostile title in the direct line from Solomon, Jesus's title would have been void legally; and it was material to shew Him rightful heir by this title. And we find, in fact, that Joseph never once appears after Christ makes the claim, though we have mother (and, remark, confided to another at the cross), brothers, sisters — never Joseph. Jesus had succeeded him in his title, in a Jewish way, to the crown of David and throne of Israel. Matthew, then, gives what was needed in this respect; and gives it suitably. Jesus was the legal heir of Solomon.

And now we part company with Zacharias and Elisabeth and with Simeon and Anna. Joseph, too, disappears from view. John also will soon be off the scene, leaving the Lord as the object before us, during His ministry amongst men. And the only one of whom we have read, who remained on earth after the Crucifixion, Resurrection, and Ascension, was Mary, His mother. The sword did pierce through her soul when she stood by the cross. But the joy of which the world could not deprive her was hers, in common with the disciples, when the Lord was risen, and had sent, consequent on His Ascension, the Holy Ghost; for in the reception of that gift His mother must have shared in common with the rest.

Joseph's first intention evidently was to return to Judaea; but tidings as to Archelaus succeeding his father having reached him, fear made him hesitate. Then for the fourth time God instructed him by a dream. Thus he, Mary and the Young Child were shepherded back to Nazareth, whence he had originally come, as Luke tells us. It is instructive to see how God guided all these early movements; partly by circumstances, such as the decree of Augustus and the tidings about Archelaus; and partly by dreams. Thus the schemes of the adversary were foiled. The "porter" held open the door into the "sheepfold" in order that the true Shepherd might enter, in spite of all that he could do. Also the scriptures were fulfilled: not only was Jesus brought out of Egypt but He became known as the Nazarene.