Joseph: A Portrait of Jesus

Joseph, in his coat of many colors, was but a prophecy, a portrait, not with the brushstrokes of an artist, but painted with words. We're going to see a portrait of the Lord Jesus Christ. Did you find Genesis chapter 37? And when you found it, I want you to look up here, if you will, and may I tell you about the Word of God, this. It is an absolutely amazing, astounding book. Now, to some people, the Bible is a mystery. I want to give you a key, a golden key, that will help to unlock the Bible and let the truth of the Bible dance from the pages into your heart and into your life. The key is a man, a person, and more than a man, his name is Jesus, and the Bible is all about the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ himself said, concerning the Old Testament, search the scriptures, for these are they which testify of me. Now, I remind you that the Old Testament was written before Jesus Christ ever touched down in a human body upon this earth. And those were the scriptures that Jesus was talking about when he said, search the scriptures, for these are they which do testify of me. And one of these scriptures that testify of the Lord Jesus is the life of Joseph. Joseph became a prophecy, a portrait, a figure, an illustration of the Lord Jesus Christ, not by happenstance, but by divine providence. The more I study the Bible, the more I stand in awe and amazement as we look into the Old Testament and see a hidden portrait of the Lord Jesus Christ. What a confirmation both of the inspiration of the Word of God and the deity of the Lord Jesus Christ. Keep your Bibles open because my only concern today is that I'll not have time to say all that I want to say about Joseph, a portrait of Christ, the gospel according to Joseph. Point number one, I want you to see a portrait of Jesus now, the beloved son in the life of Joseph. Genesis chapter 37, verses 1 through 3. And Jacob dwelt in the land wherein his father was a stranger in the land of Canaan. And these are the generations of Jacob. Joseph, being 17 years old, was feeding the flock with his brethren. And the lad was with the sons of Bilhah and with the sons of Zilphah. By the way, these were slave wives, his father's wives. And Joseph brought unto his father their evil report. Now, Israel, that's another name for Jacob, loved Joseph more than all his children because he was the son of his old age and he made him a coat of many colors. Now, we're thinking of Jesus, the beloved son, as pictured in the life of Joseph. Three things stand out here in these few verses that I want you to see. First of all, as we

think of Joseph, think of his father's devotion, his father's devotion. Verse 3 tells us that Joseph of all of his brethren is specially loved, specially loved. He was his father's beloved. Now, what does that tell us about the Lord Jesus Christ? Well, my friend, Jesus in Matthew chapter 3 verse 17, at his baptism, God the Father spoke out of the glory and a lower voice from heaven saying, this is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased. And when the Lord Jesus Christ was on the Mount of Transfiguration, again the voice spoke from heaven. Matthew 17 verse 5, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them. And behold, a voice out of heaven which said, this is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased. God has a son. His name is what? Jesus. And he is beloved of the Father. And this world will never settle the sin question if it ignores the son question. Jesus is the son of God. And the Bible says when we honor the son, we honor the father. So, first of all, you see Jesus, a portrait of Jesus who is his, has number one, his father's devotion. You got that? Number two, he has a faultless devotion. distinction. Look, if you will, here and in this passage of Scripture in verse 2 and it says that he, Joseph, brought unto his father his brother's evil report. That is, here is Joseph, he's distinct from all of his brethren. They are evil, he is not. Did you know, I'm sure he was a sinner, but do you know that there's not one sin mentioned about Joseph in the Bible? That is amazing. We have the sins of Moses, we have the sins of Paul, these great believers, but no sin is ever mentioned about Joseph. Why? Because he is a picture of the Lord Jesus Christ. Put in your margin, Hebrews chapter 7 verse 26, it speaks of Jesus who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners. Joseph brought unto his father the evil report of his brethren. Joseph was not a tale bearer, Joseph was a truth speaker. Why does the world hate Jesus? Put in your margin, John 7 verse 7, Jesus said, the world cannot hate you, but me it hateth, because I testify of it that the works thereof are evil. Just as Joseph brought an evil report, Jesus has testified that this world is evil. I've told you before, the world does not hate the baby Jesus, the world does not hate the Jesus who fed the multitudes, the world does not hate the Jesus who healed the sick, the world hates the Jesus who testifies of it that its works are evil. Here is this boy, he has his father's

devotion, he has this faultless distinction, but you also see his future dominion. Joseph had a dream and he told that dream to his brothers. He said, I dreamed that you all were bowing down to me and the sun, the moon, and the stars were doing obeisance to me. Boy, did that tick them off. The idea that they were going to bow down to Joseph, why they were repulsed by the idea. Does that speak to you of the Lord Jesus? Genesis 37 verses 5 and 6, and Joseph dreamed a dream and he told it to his brethren and they hated him yet the more. Well, just look in the New Testament, Matthew chapter 26 and verse 64. Jesus saith unto them, thou hast said, nevertheless I say unto you, hereafter ye shall see the Son of Man sitting on the right hand of power and coming in clouds of heaven. And they hated Jesus because Jesus spoke of his coming dominion. I've often asked the question, what's the world coming to? I've answered that question, it's coming to Jesus. Amen? Say amen. It is coming to Jesus. Things are out of place right now. I believe the battle for Jerusalem has begun. I believe that the precursor of Armageddon is here. We're living in these frightful moments. Do you know why the world's in such a mess? Friend, things are out of place. Jesus is the King and he belongs upon the throne. Satan is the criminal and he belongs in prison. And the church is the bride and she belongs with her groom. And soon that's all going to be back into place. Jesus is going to be on the throne. Satan's going to be in prison and we're going to be with Jesus. Thank God for that. Hallelujah. And so here's the beloved son, his father's devotion, his faultless distinction and his future dominion. That's what Joseph pictured as he pictures the Lord Jesus Christ. Now let's move to the second thing. Not only do we see a portrait of Jesus, the beloved son, but we also see a portrait of Jesus, the suffering servant. How did Joseph suffer? Well, first of all, there was the suffering of a conspiracy. Look in verse 18, Genesis, uh, 37 verse 18. And when they saw him a far off, that's Joseph, even before he came near unto them, they conspired against him to slay him. He suffered a conspiracy. What did Jesus suffer? Conspiracy put down in your Bible, Matthew 26 verses three and four, then assembled together the chief priest and the scribes and the elders of the people

unto the palace of the high priest who was called Caiaphas and consulted they that they might take Jesus by subtlety and kill him. Exactly the same. Here's a conspiracy against Joseph. Here's a conspiracy against Jesus. Now, not only did he suffer conspiracy, but he suffered abuse. Now, what did they do to Joseph? Genesis 37 verses 23 and 24. And it came to pass when Joseph. Came near unto his brethren that they stripped Joseph out of his coat his coat of many colors that was on him And they took him and cast him into a pit and the pit was empty and there was no water in it That is he's put there in an empty pit that he cannot get out of no sustenance He is put there to death actually they are trying to kill him. What a picture of the sufferings of Christ notice Matthew chapter 27 beginning in verse 26 then Released he that is then Pilate Released Barabbas unto them and when he had scourged Jesus he delivered him to be crucified then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall and gathered unto him the whole band of soldiers and they stripped him and put on him a Scarlet robe and when they had plaited a crown of thorns they put it on his head Joseph is stripped out of his coat of many colors. Jesus is stripped out of his seamless robe Joseph descends into the pit and Jesus goes down into the very pit of death. What a picture what a picture of Jesus now, let's move to the third thing and and hey, don't drop out on me now Don't you drop out? God wants to speak to you today and you may not even be a Christian but this oh how this applies to you First of all, we see the beloved Son Then we see the suffering servant and now we see a portrait of Jesus the exalted Sovereign Joseph goes through all kinds of ignominious shame I don't have time to tell you what happened to him as he's falsely accused and cast into prison All kinds of terrible horrible things happen to him But by the providence of God and the hand of God is upon him and God takes him From the pit and from the prison and God exalts him and gives him a name which is above every name Joseph now is lifted up. I want you to see in Genesis 41 fast-forward to Genesis chapter 41

and let's look in verse 38 and Pharaoh said to his servants Can we find such a one as this is a man in whom the Spirit of God is and Pharaoh said unto Joseph For as much as God has showed thee all these there's none so discreet and wise as thou art Thou shalt be over my house and according to thy word all my people be ruled Only in the throne will I be greater than thou and Pharaoh said unto Joseph see I have set thee over all the land of Egypt and Pharaoh took off his ring from his hand and put it on Joseph's hand and Robed him in vestures of fine linen and that's pure white and put a gold chain About his neck and he made him to ride in the second chariot Which he had and they cried before him before Joseph riding along in that chariot bow the knee And he made him ruler over all the land of Egypt and Pharaoh said unto Joseph. I Am Pharaoh and without thee shall no man lift up his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt What a transformation this Jew boy despised rejected slain in a figure Languishing in prison is brought up brought out enthroned What a picture of our dear Savior Jesus say amen first Peter chapter 3 verse 22 It speaks of Jesus who has gone into the heavens and is on the right hand of God Angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him The same parallel and again, I love Philippians 2 verses 9 through 11 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him Jesus and given him a name which is above every name that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow of things in heaven and things in earth and things under the earth and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father as Joe Joseph is riding along there in the chariot. There goes a herald out there and says to everyone bow the knee Bow the knee bow the knee a man says I don't want to bow. He says you will bow That's Joseph bow

the knee Sodom Hussein will bow the knee Hitler will bow the knee Jay Leno will bow the knee you will bow the knee you will as I live saith the Lord every knee shall bow And every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father. What is the culmination of all of it? He, my friend, is the only hope of a dying world. The only way that this world could have been saved back in Joseph's time was what Joseph had done when he made provision. Notice Genesis 41 and verse 55. And when all the land of Egypt was famished, that is the people are dying, the people cried to Pharaoh for bread, and Pharaoh said unto all the Egyptians, Go unto Joseph, what he saith unto you, do. And the famine was all over the face of the earth. And Joseph opened all the storehouses and sold unto the Egyptians, and the famine waxed sore in the land of Egypt. And all countries came to Joseph for to buy corn, because the famine was sore in all the lands. Is not this absolutely amazing? Here is Joseph, a despised and rejected Jew, the only hope of all the world. A despised and rejected Jew, the only hope of all the world. They go to Pharaoh. Pharaoh says, Go to Joseph.

And he has plenty. His supply is without number. Go back to Genesis 41 and look, if you will, in 49. And Joseph gathered corn as the sand of the sea, very much until he left numbering, for it was without number. Joseph, the only hope in that day. Who's the only hope in this day? What's his name? Jesus. The Bible says in Acts chapter four, verse 12, Neither is there salvation in any other. For there's none other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved. And I want to tell you that there's no shortage to the supply of Jesus either. And out of his infinite riches in Jesus, he giveth and giveth and giveth again. And the Bible says, For the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. Now, let's move to the fourth thing, because we're quickly running out of time. I want you to see a portrait of Jesus now, the seeking Savior. You see, like Jesus, Joseph revealed himself to his brothers. Turn to chapter 45. Then Joseph could not refrain himself before all them that stood by him.

And he cried, Cause every man to go out from me. He's there in the palace, and he says to all the attendants, Go away. And there stood no man with him. Now watch this. While Joseph made himself known unto his brethren. These are the ones that put him to death in a figure. These are the ones that scorned him, conspired against him. And he wept aloud. That is Joseph. And the Egyptians in the house of Pharaoh heard. And Joseph said unto his brethren, I am Joseph. Doth my father yet live? And his brethren could not answer him, for they were troubled at his presence. Listen, Joseph now reveals himself to his brothers. May I tell you something? They would never have known who Joseph was had Joseph not revealed himself to them. He's now older. He's dressed like an Egyptian. He's there speaking the Egyptian language. The only way that they could know him was for him to say, Look, I'm Joseph. The only way that you'll know Jesus

is for Jesus to reveal himself to you. You'll never figure him out. But you've been brought by divine providence here this morning that God the Holy Spirit might speak to you. And Jesus is saying to you, I am Jesus. I'm the Son of God. I want to save you. So you lay your intellectual pride in the dust and let him reveal himself. Now, like Jesus, Joseph revealed himself to his brethren. Like Jesus, Joseph forgave and restored his brothers. Look in chapter 45, verses 4 and 5. And Joseph said to his brethren, Come near to me, and I pray you. And they came near, and he said, I am Joseph, your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt. Now therefore, be not grieved nor angry with yourselves that ye sold me hither. For God did send me before you to preserve life. What love and what grace. Tragedy has become triumph. Notice in these verses, he gives an invitation. He says, Come to me. And they came. They responded. And they came to him.

I'm going to give an invitation on behalf of Jesus. And I'm going to ask you to come to Jesus. And I hope you'll do what the brethren of Joseph did when they came to Joseph. Now, when Joseph said, Don't feel bad, he's not trying to minimize their sin. What he is doing is maximizing the grace of God. A calvary from man's viewpoint was earth's greatest tragedy. From God's viewpoint, it was earth's greatest triumph. You meant it for evil, but God meant it for good. And when hell was doing its worst, God was doing his best when Jesus died upon that cross. Do you see the picture here? Do you see the parallel? Not only did he convict his brothers and reveal himself to them, not only did he forgive them and restore them, but here finally he commissioned his brothers. Notice in verse four what he says here. He says, come. And then if you go to verse nine, look in verse nine, haste ye and go up to my father and say unto him, thus saith thy son, Joseph, God hath made me Lord of all Egypt. Come down unto me, tarry not. Our faith is summed up in this. Come to me, go to all the world. Joseph says to his brothers, come to me, come here.

I will forgive you. I will restore you. Now, I want you to go and I want you to tell the message. And what were they to tell? Look in Genesis 45, verse 26. And they told him, that is their father saying, Joseph is yet alive. He is governor over all the land of Egypt. And Jacob's heart fainted for he believed them not. And they told him all the words of Joseph, which he had sent unto them. And when he saw the wagons, which Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of Jacob, their father, revived. They are going now as evangelists, his brothers. The ones who put him to death have now been forgiven and restored. And here's the message. You want to know what your message is? If you're a child of God, here it is. We once rejected him. Now he has been raised on high. Now he's been given a name which is above every name. Now the world is at his feet. He is the fairest of 10,000. He has forgiven our sins. He wants us to be with him and share his glory. That's the message that they preached. They preached Joseph risen, rich, and reigning. And that's the Jesus that I'm preaching today.

God wants you saved. He wants you to know Jesus. And what Joseph said to his brothers, come to me, he's saying to you, if you've never come, come. And what Joseph said to those who have come, Jesus is saying to you, go tell the others. Tell them that I'm not dead, but I'm alive. I am now at the right hand of the majesty on high. I have made provision for you, and I want you to come and live with me. Forever. Would you bow your heads in prayer? Heads are bowed and eyes are closed. Our heavenly Joseph, the one with the nail prints in his hand, the ones that we all helped crucify, the one who is ascended, risen, the one before whom every knee will bow someday, is saying to you, come to me. Do you want to be saved? Pray like this. Dear God, I know that you love me. I know that you want to save me. I have sinned against you. I've been selfish and self-centered. I've been living for myself and self alone. But now I need you. I turn my life over to you. Thank you, Jesus, that you paid for my sin with your blood.

I believe that you did. I believe you walked out of that grave. You promised to save me if I would trust you. I do trust you now, with all of my heart. Come into my heart. Come, Jesus, into my heart. Come into my heart. Come, Jesus, into my heart. Come into my heart. Forgive my sin. Save me, Jesus. Pray that prayer. Pray it and mean it. Save me, Lord Jesus. Did you ask him? Then by an act of faith, thank him for doing it. Say, thank you for saving me, Jesus. I trust you to do it. And that settles it. Begin now to make me the person you want me to be. I'm weak, but you're strong. Start with me where I am, Lord Jesus, and go with me all the way. I give you my heart. I trust you, Jesus. Amen and amen.