Of all the Old Testament character studies, none presents a clearer and more distinct picture of our Lord Jesus than that of Joseph, the son of Jacob. The life of Joseph clearly illustrates in picture and type the words of Peter, “the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow” (1Pe 1:11).1 But none, no matter how distinguished or how notable their story, could ever adequately set forth the fullness of the beauties and glories of our blessed Lord Jesus Christ.
One of the first things we learn about Joseph is that he was loved of his father (Gen 37:3). Think of how the Lord Jesus was loved of the Father. Twice in the Gospel of John we read the words, “The Father loveth the Son” (Joh 3:35; 5:20). The Lord Jesus, as He prayed to the Father just prior to His going to the cross, said, “Thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world” (17:24). The Father Himself declared, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Mat 3:17; 17:5).
Every child of God is loved by the Father. The Lord Jesus said, “He that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him” (Joh 14:21). Just before going to the cross, He prayed to His heavenly Father, “Thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me” (17:23).
Joseph’s father made him a coat of many colours, or many pieces (Gen 37:3). The many pieces might picture for us the many virtues and glories of our blessed Lord Jesus. John wrote, “We beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth” (Joh 1:14). Paul wrote of Christ, “In him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily” (Col 2:9).
Although Joseph was loved by his father, he was hated by his brethren, and they could not even speak peaceably to him (Gen 37:4). The same was true of our blessed Lord. The psalmist wrote prophetically of Him, “They that hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of mine head” (Psa 69:4). Isaiah wrote, “He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief” (Isa 53:3). Throughout the record of the Gospels, we read how He was derided (Luk 16:14) and laughed to scorn (Mat 9:24).
Joseph was sent by his father to seek for his brethren. When a man found him wandering in the field and asked him, “What seekest thou?” he replied, “I seek my brethren” (Gen 37:14-16). The Lord Jesus said, “The Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luk 19:10).
Joseph was sent out from the vale of Hebron (Gen 37:14). The word “Hebron” means “communion.” What fellowship and communion the Father and Son must have enjoyed in heaven before the Son ever came to this earth. Yet, He willingly left the scenes of glory and came into this world to do the will of the Father (Psa 40:7-8).
Whether it was in the house of his master, Potiphar, or in the prison, we read concerning Joseph, “The Lord was with him” (Gen 39:2-3,21,23). Even while our blessed Saviour was here, throughout His earthly sojourn among men, He ever and always enjoyed communion with the Father. He said, “I am not alone, because the Father is with me” (Joh 16:32; see also 8:16,29). And every child of God can claim this precious promise, “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee” (Heb 13:5).
When Joseph’s brothers saw him, they conspired to slay him (Gen 37:18). John wrote in his Gospel account, “He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not” (Joh 1:10-11). All through His earthly ministry, the religious leaders and elders of the Jewish people sought opportunity to take the Lord Jesus and kill Him (Mar 14:1).
Joseph’s brothers were envious of him (Gen 37:11; Act 7:9). They eventually sold him for twenty pieces of silver (Gen 37:25-28). Our Lord Jesus was betrayed and sold for thirty pieces of silver (Zec 11:12-13; Mat 26:15). Pilate understood that the Lord Jesus was delivered to him because of envy (Mat 27:18). Thirty shekels of silver was the price paid for a slave that had been gored by an ox (Exo 21:32). What a price for the blessed Son of God!
Joseph was falsely accused (Gen 39:7-19). The Lord Jesus was betrayed by Judas (Mat 26:16-48). He was falsely accused (26:60). The psalmist wrote, “False witnesses did rise up; they laid to my charge things that I knew not” (Psa 35:11).
Joseph was put in prison (Gen 39:20). The psalmist wrote how Joseph was in chains and his feet were hurt with fetters (Psa 105:18). Our Lord Jesus was crucified (Mat 27:35; Mar 15:25; Luk 23:33; Joh 19:17-18). Many Old Testament Scriptures foretell of the sufferings of the Lord Jesus, notably the book of Psalms and the prophecy of Isaiah. Prophetically, it is written of Him that He said, “They pierced my hands and my feet” (Psa 22:16). The Gospel writers also detail for us the sufferings of our blessed Lord.
Myrrh speaks to us of suffering, and it is interesting to note that the first mention of myrrh in the sacred Scriptures is in connection with Joseph. We read that Joseph’s brethren sold him to Ishmeelites who were travelling to Egypt carrying “spicery and balm and myrrh” (Gen 37:25). Myrrh is also associated with the Lord Jesus, in His birth (Mat 2:11), in His death (Mar 15:23), in His burial (Joh 19:39) and in His resurrection glory (Psa 45:8).
1 Bible quotations in this article are from the KJV.
