Joseph & Christ

"Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him (Christ the Messiah) that was to come." (Romans 5: 14 KJV)

Although Adam is the only one who is specifically said to be a "figure" of Christ, yet he is not the only one from the Old Testament who is such a figure or type of Christ, for even Moses himself is a "figure of him who was to come." (See Deuteronomy 18: 15 & Hebrews 3: 5)

Not only Adam and Moses, but Joseph also typified Christ. How so?

First, Joseph is a type of Christ in his being especially loved by his father (Genesis 37:3): “Israel loved Joseph more than all his children.”

The Father loves Christ above all others, saying only of him - “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” (Mark 1: 11 KJV)

"The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand." (John 3: 35 KJV)

"For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may marvel." (John 5: 20 KJV)

"Behold my servant, whom I have chosen; my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my spirit upon him, and he shall shew judgment to the Gentiles." (Matthew 12: 18 KJV)

"While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him." (Matthew 17: 5; II Peter 1: 17 KJV)

Joseph was Jacob's favorite son just as Jesus is God's favorite son, his chosen one. Joseph was envied by his brothers, they being jealous of him, of his place in the heart of Jacob, and of his dream.

Joseph also typified Christ in his being hated and rejected by his brothers.

It is recorded - “they hated him and could not speak peaceably to him.” (Genesis 37: 4 KJV)

Christ also was hated by his countrymen, by his brothers, because he, like Joseph, was better, and more rigthteous, and more highly favored than they. He had a superior and nobler destiny than they. When Joseph related his dream to his brothers, one he had received from God, it is said - “they hated him even more for his dreams and for his words.” (Genesis 37: 5-8 KJV)

"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. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God." (John 1: 10-13 KJV)

"After these things Jesus walked in Galilee: for he would not walk in Jewry, because the Jews sought to kill him. Now the Jew's feast of tabernacles was at hand. His brethren therefore said unto him, Depart hence, and go into Judaea, that thy disciples also may see the works that thou doest. For there is no man that doeth any thing in secret, and he himself seeketh to be known openly. If thou do these things, shew thyself to the world. For neither did his brethren believe in him. Then Jesus said unto them, My time is not yet come: but your time is alway ready. The world cannot hate you; but me it hateth, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil." (John 7: 1-7 KJV)

"And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read. And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written, The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord. And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him. And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears. And all bare him witness, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth. And they said, Is not this Joseph's son? And he said unto them, Ye will surely say unto me this proverb, Physician, heal thyself: whatsoever we have heard done in Capernaum, do also here in thy country. And he said, Verily I say unto you, No prophet is accepted in his own country. But I tell you of a truth, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elias, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, when great famine was throughout all the land; But unto none of them was Elias sent, save unto Sarepta, a city of Sidon, unto a woman that was a widow. And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Eliseus the prophet; and none of them was cleansed, saving Naaman the Syrian. And all they in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath, And rose up, and thrust him out of the city, and led him unto the brow of the hill whereon their city was built, that they might cast him down headlong." (Luke 4: 16-29 KJV)

Joseph also typified and prefigured Christ in the prophecies which Lord God revealed to him respecting his future destiny (Genesis 37:5-10), his dreams foretelling of his exaltation over all his family. Christ likewise was prophesied to be exalted over all his brothers. (Isaiah 9:6; Hebrews 2).

Joseph's sovereignty was a leading part of the prophesy of his exaltation. In his dream the field, and the sun, the moon, and the eleven stars, all bow down to Joseph. So also Christ spoke of his own present and future sovereignties, of his glorious exaltation over all things, including nature. "Unto Jesus every knee shall bow." (Philippians 2: 10 KJV)

The life and character of Jesus Christ is typified in the life of Joseph in four other particular manners: As a Son, and as a Servant, and as a Sovereign, and as a Savior.

As "a Son" Joseph is a type and figure of Christ. Though Joseph was not in actuality the firstborn son of Jacob, yet he later came to occupy the place of the firstborn son, the son of the highest rank. Of the Messiah Lord God said - "I will make him my firstborn, higher than the kings of the earth." (Psalm 89: 27 KJV)

Joseph was a servant in his being a shepherd (Genesis 37:2), and Jesus is called the "Good Shepherd" (John 10:11-14), and the "Great Shepherd" (Hebrews 13:20), and the "Chief Shepherd" (1 Peter 5:4). Joseph's servitude to Potiphar and in Egypt is also a picture of the career of Jesus who labored and served here under Caesar and in both literal Egypt, and spiritual Egypt.

There are many other comparisons concerning Joseph as a type of Christ! Joseph's whole life seems to be one grand picture of the life and person of the Messiah.

For instance, Joseph’s brothers, betrayed him as Judas betrayed Christ. (Genesis 37:26-27; Mark 14:10).

Joseph also, like Jesus, was stripped of his raiment (Genesis 37:23; Matt. 27:28; Jn. 19:23).

Joseph’s brothers sat and watched as those who would take away their brother came by their camp. The Jews also sat and watched at the crucifixion of Christ (Genesis 37:25; Matthew 27:36).

Joseph was sold as a slave for 20 pieces of silver, and Jesus was sold for thirty pieces of silver (Genesis 37:28; Matthew 26:15).

Another type of the career of Christ is when Joseph, like Christ, was taken to Egypt to escape death. (Genesis 37:26; Matthew 2:14-15)

Friend, do you know Jesus? Will you be one of those who reject him or one who receives him?