"Joseph and Jesus" Comparison

To compare Joseph and Jesus I have presented a short passage from the life of Joseph then one from the life of Jesus. I believe we can safely say that Joseph going into Egypt to save his people was a picture of Jesus leaving heaven to save his people. For a complete picture, you might want to read the four gospels and the life of Joseph as found in the last chapters of Genesis.

Sent by his father:

Genesis 37:13 "And Israel said unto Joseph Do not thy brethren feed the flock in Shechem? come and I will send thee unto them. And he said to him, Here am I."

It is interesting to note that the brethren were not where they were suppose to be but had decided to go someplace else.

John 3:17 "For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved."

Thirty Years Old

Genesis 41:46 "And Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh and went throughout all the land of Egypt."

Luke 3:22-23 "And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased. And Jesus himself bean to be about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph ...."

Conspired Against

Genesis 37:18 "And when they saw him (Joseph) afar off, even before he came near unto them, they conspired against him to slay him."

Luke 5:18 "Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God."

Special Coat

Genesis 37:23 "And it came to pass, when Joseph was come unto his brethren, that they stripped Joseph out of his coat, his coat of many colors that was on him."

John 19:23-24 "Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus took his garments, and made four parts, to every soldier a part and also his coat: now the coat was without seam, woven from the top throughout. They said therefore among themselves, Let us not rend it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be that the scripture might be fulfilled which saith, They parted my raiment among them, and for my vesture they did cast lots.

The Price

Genesis 37:26 "And Judah said unto his brethren, What profit is it if we slay our brother, and conceal his blood? Come, and let us sell him to the Ishmeelites and let not our hand be upon him; for he is our brother and our flesh. And his brethren were content."

Genesis 37:28 "...and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmeelites for twenty piees of silver..."

Matthew 26:14-15 "Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests, And said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver."

(Judah and Judas both mean praise)

Purpose to Save

Genesis 50:20 "But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive."

Luke 23:34 "Then said Jesus, Father forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment and cast lots."

John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

If they had known what we know now, they might have seen the life of Joseph as a prophecy of things to come. Many events in Joseph's life were similiar to that of Jesus but there are of course differences. A picture is just that a likeness of the real thing. Joseph was a savior in the sense that he saved his people from famine. Joseph's salvation was of a temporary nature and saved only the body alive for a season. Jesus' salvation is eternal and deals with both soul and body.

I venture to say that it is impossible to understand the Bible without understanding that Christ is the theme. If you look, He is everywhere throughout the scripture.