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was resurrection, Pentecost, evangelism, The book of Genesis may close with
church building and a kingdom yet to Joseph’s death, but Joshua ends with
come. So the Lord reminds them of the his burial. We are told that the Israelites
New Covenant that Jehovah had already buried the revered remains “in Shechem,
spoken of more than 600 years earlier, a in a parcel of ground which Jacob bought
covenant that would be ratified by His … and it became the inheritance of the
own blood. Then He also gave them a children of Joseph” (Jos 24:32). Yes, that
commandment linked to physical em- Shechem. Yes, that parcel of ground. Yes,
blems. When He took the bread and the that inheritance. Joseph’s bones were bur-
cup, instituting the Lord’s Supper, He ied there, and although they had traveled
was giving them tangible items to remind many miles and many years, one can’t
them of His character (“in remembrance help but think that at their burial the
of me”), and of His sacrifice (“my body promise of Joseph and the reminder of
which is given for you”). But remember, God’s faithfulness would come to mind:
Paul also tells us that the symbols aren’t “God will surely visit you.”
just for looking back; they are associated Visiting that site 1400 years later, on
with a future prospect: “till he come” (1Co that fateful, dusty day at the sixth hour,
11:26). The emblems remind participants and looking a few hundred yards to the
and observers of the promise the Lord southeast, you would see a small group
Jesus made in the midst of the eleven, “I of men walking toward Jacob’s well. The
will come again, and receive you unto bulk of the group leaves and goes into
myself” (Joh 14:3). the city, but one Man remains, seated on
Maybe that promise is far from our the well. Now get closer. Take your time.
minds as we settle into the world’s ways, Who is this Man? A Jew? Yes. One would
trying to get the most we can from this know that just by His clothing. A Galilean?
life. But for those who know the hardship No doubt, you could tell by His accent.
of Christian suffering in a society that is Listen to His words and you’ll soon con-
against Christ and His people, the Break- fess, “Never man spake like this man”
ing of Bread is a refreshing reminder of (Joh 7:46). Witness His miracles and you
His imminent return to take us out. As might say, “Thou art a teacher come from
our culture becomes increasingly aggres- God” (3:2). But there’s more. If we could
sive against Christian values, even taking go back to creation, we would see this
many children of the Lord’s people down Person already existing with God. Even
into its godless spiral, the Lord’s Supper further, we would learn that all things
provides a perfect opportunity for us to were created by Him, and the pinnacle of
long for our own exodus, and pray the our lesson would be this: “And the Word
prayer of John on Patmos, “Even so, come, was God” (1:1). This is not just another
Lord Jesus” (Rev 22:20)! Bring us out! thirsty traveler; this is the Eternal I AM!
But aren’t these articles supposed to So, with the bones of Joseph and their
consider Joseph in John chapter 4? If so, rich meaning only a stone’s throw away, a
how do these bones influence our under- journeying Man stops at Jacob’s well, and
standing of the interaction at Jacob’s well? one cannot help but think that heaven’s
To see that, we need to go to the third title over this entire narrative would be
mention of Joseph’s bones in the Bible. this: “God will surely visit you.”

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