Joseph as a Prophetic Type of Christ

“When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, ‘Perhaps Joseph will hate us, and may actually repay us for all the evil which we did to him.’ So they sent messengers to Joseph, saying, ‘Before your father died he commanded, saying, thus you shall say to Joseph: I beg you, please forgive the trespass of your brothers and their sin; for they did evil to you.’ Now, please, forgive the trespass of the servants of the God of your father.’ And Joseph wept when they spoke to him.” [1]

Jospeh’s brothers had thought to kill him until slavers came their way. At that point, they decided to sell him to slavers for silver. The common price for a slave when Jesus walked the earth was 30 pieces of silver. 30 pieces of silver is how much the religious leaders in Jerusalem gave the disciple Judas Iscariot for betraying Jesus. Joseph did not exact vengeance on his brothers when he had the power to do so. In this way, the Spirit helped Joseph to be a prophetic metaphor of Jesus. His weeping over his brothers’ words seems to say that the Spirit of Christ kept him from doing what he humanly wanted to do but could not do because of God in his life.

“His brothers fell down before him and said, “Behold, we are your servants.” [2]

This should be the attitude of every person towards our Lord Jesus Christ. Our sins brought about lashes upon His back. Our sins brought about a crown of thorns on His brow. Our sins brought about nails driven through His hands and His feet. Our sins brought about His utter humiliation. Our sins slew Him. He was cast into a grave but raised from that place by the power of God. His triumph was manifested to many eyewitnesses. Like the brothers of Joseph, we should ask Jesus to forgive us for our sins against Him. Like Paul on the road to Damascus, we should fall down before Jesus, and ask, “Lord, what shall I do?” [3]

Joseph said to his brothers, “‘Do not be afraid, for am I in the place of God? But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive. Now therefore, do not be afraid; I will provide for you and your little ones.’ And he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.” [4]

Joseph was raised up for the very purpose to go through trials that would bring about the salvation of his brothers, and to provide for the needs of their families. He comforted them. Again, he was a type of the coming Messiah Jesus. After His resurrection, Jesus said to His disciples who had doubted Him, “‘Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.’ And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit.’” [5]

Later, we find the Apostle Peter telling others what Jesus did, saying, “The Word which God sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ—He is Lord of all—that Word you know, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, and began from Galilee after the baptism which John preached: how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him. And we are witnesses of all things which He did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem, whom they killed by hanging on a tree. Him God raised up on the third day, and showed Him openly, not to all the people, but to witnesses chosen before by God, even to us who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead. And He commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that it is He who was ordained by God to be Judge of the living and the dead. To Him all the prophets witness that, through His Name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins.” [6]

Jesus Christ is Lord of all. He does good. He heals those who are oppressed by the devil. He conquered death on the third day. Jesus calls and sends witnesses to testify for Him. He is the Judge. He judges sin as sin, but He also forgives the sins of those who believe in Him.

When Peter’s listeners received and believed his testimony about Jesus, the Holy Spirit fell on them, they magnified God and were baptized unto Christ.

“While Peter was still speaking these Words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the Word. And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. Then Peter answered, ‘Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?’ And he commanded them to be baptized in the Name of the Lord. Then they asked him to stay a few days.” [7]

God’s grace is great! God loves you! When you ask Jesus Christ to forgive your sins, He does. He takes away your sense of guilt and shame, and replaces those awful feelings with feelings of joy, love and peace given to you by His Holy Spirit.

The Lord “desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” That includes you, but you must receive Christ personally. Christ is the door to heaven. You must come to the God through faith in Him. Have you done so? I hope so, but if not, He is only a prayer away. Just ask Jesus to forgive you and to be Your Lord and Savior. He will save you. [8]

[1] Genesis 50:15-17
[2] Genesis 50:18
[3] Acts 9:6
[4] Genesis 50:19--21
[5] John 20:21-22
[6] Acts 10:36-43
[7] Acts 10:44-48
[8] 1 Timothy 2:4; John 10:7; John 14:6; John 1:11-12; Romans 10:13