Discover the striking parallels between Joseph and Jesus: were they just coincidences?
There are many spiritual parallels between Joseph and Jesus. Many of the things that Joseph did in the physical realm foreshadow what Jesus has done or will do on a much larger scale in the spiritual realm. Let’s take a look at some of these. (If you are not really familiar with the story of Joseph, you can read the article titled Jose and the economy first).
Before we start looking at their lives, let’s look at their names. Joseph’s Hebrew name is yowcef, which means “let it add”. The full name of Jesus was Yeshua ben Yowceph; Jesus, son of Joseph. Jesus’ purpose for his sinless life, crucifixion, burial, and resurrection was to add souls to the kingdom of God, which he is doing every day.
The firsts years
When we consider the birth of the two men, they were both born through miracles. Rachel, Jacob’s wife, could not have children. It wasn’t until after Jacob had ten children by other wives that God opened Rachel’s barren womb and Joseph was born (Genesis 30:22-24). Likewise, the birth of Jesus was an even greater miracle since he was brought into the world through the virgin Mary by the Holy Spirit.
In their youth, they both went to Egypt. After the Magi came to visit Jesus, an angel appeared to Joseph (Jesus’ earthly father) in a dream and told him to take his family to Egypt. Herod, King of the Jews, had devised a vicious plan to kill all children under the age of two according to the time he had learned from the wise men that Jesus could have been born. Joseph, on the other hand, was sold into slavery by his brothers and taken to Egypt when he was about seventeen years old.
Dreams were an important part of the lives of Joseph and Jesus. Joseph had dreams in his youth of him showing God’s purpose for him. He also interpreted the dreams of the Cupbearer, the Baker and the Pharaoh which led to a change in the entire lifestyle of the nation of Egypt. Pharaoh’s interpretation of dreams resulted in the salvation of many people from misery and death. Jesus’ earthly father had a dream in which he was told to take his family out of Israel to save his life. Jesus also had visions of the future as recorded in Matthew 24. By his life, the course of all humanity will be changed and the lives of a great multitude of people will be saved from misery and suffering.
When Joseph was about seventeen years old, he was told to go find his brothers, who were tending sheep, and see if all was well. Jesus seeks out all who are willing to accept him and receive salvation.
Joseph’s own brothers conspired to kill him. in gene. 37:18-34 we read how they threw him into a cistern and said that a ferocious animal devoured him. In the same way the religious leaders hated Jesus. Statements by Jesus such as “before Abraham was, I am” (John 8:58) caused unparalleled hatred and envy. Fellow Jews, relatives of Jesus, conspired to kill him as well.
His works, his ministry
God feels both Joseph and Jesus to save people. Joseph saved the Egyptians and his own family from starvation: physical life. Jesus offers eternal life to people of all genealogies. Both became servants. Joseph became a servant to Potiphar and, in a sense, a servant to all of Egypt and Israel later in his life. Jesus made himself nothing. God and Creator himself became human and took on the nature of a servant. Jesus told us that the greatest among us would be our servant.
Both Joseph and Jesus began their intense ministry or life’s work at the age of thirty. Both were despised because of their justice. Joseph’s brothers responded very harshly when he told them his dreams of the sheaves of grain and the stars. When Jesus arrived in his hometown, the people’s response to him was not kind either:
“Then they scoffed, He is just the carpenter’s son, and we know Mary, his mother, and his brothers: James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas. All his sisters live right here among us. Where did he learn all these things? And they were deeply offended and refused to believe in Him. Then Jesus said to them: ‘A prophet is honored everywhere except in his own hometown and among his own family.’ And for this reason he did very few miracles there, because of their unbelief ”(Matthew 13: 55-57).
Joseph, through his wise counsel, saved multitudes from hunger and suffering. Jesus miraculously fed five thousand people. Joseph stored grain that is used to make bread products. Jesus told the crowd that it was not Moses who gave the bread from heaven but his Father who gave the true bread of life. “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry” (John 6:35 NIV). Both were humbled and untouched by the glamor and wealth that could have been theirs. They showed love and compassion to both Jews and Gentiles.
Both Joseph and Jesus were persecuted by false witnesses and overcame great temptations. Potiphar’s wife, who laid a conniving trap of adultery in front of Joseph, was denied without question. She also made malicious false charges against him that resulted in his imprisonment. This was all part of God’s plan for Joseph, Egypt and Israel and it worked out for the best. After fasting for forty days, when Jesus was at his weakest point physically, he had the strength to resist and overcome the wiles and temptations of the devil. Jesus was falsely accused by the chief priests and the elders. Both, although persecuted and hated by some, returned evil with good.
If the ministry and works of Joseph and Jesus could be summed up in two words, they could be forgiveness and reconciliation. When the eleven brothers stood before Joseph in Egypt, fearing for their lives, Joseph told them not to worry or be angry with themselves. He forgave them realizing that everything was according to God’s purpose. Regardless of the suffering he had to go through, he forgave. Jesus, while hanging on the cross near death, cried out, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they are doing” (Luke 23:34 NIV). Joseph married an Egyptian woman. Jesus’ bride is his church, which is made up mostly of Gentiles.
Both Jesus and Joseph prophesied freedom. Joseph told his brothers that God would come to his aid and lead his descendants out of Egypt to the land promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Jesus also prophesied freedom for his people. In John 8:32 He told them “you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (NIV) and “I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever” (John 14:16 NIV ). Jesus also prophesied that his followers would be taken to a better land.
While being persecuted, Jesus and Joseph were stripped of their robes. Joseph’s beautiful coat of many colors made by his father was torn from him by his brothers. The governor’s soldiers stripped Jesus naked, put a scarlet robe on him, and braided a crown of thorns to put on his head. Both were placed in a well for three days. Joseph was thrown into an empty cistern and Jesus was put in a tomb. Joseph’s brothers smeared his tunic with the blood of a goat to blame wild animals for Joseph’s death. Jesus’ death was on Passover day. A goat is sacrificed for atonement for sins at Easter.
During José’s imprisonment period, he was placed in close proximity to two other prisoners, the Cupbearer and the Baker. The life of the Butler was spared and the life of the Baker was lost (Gen. 40:1-18). When Jesus was hanging on the cross, there were two criminals with him, one on his right and one on his left. One of the criminals was shouting insults at Jesus while the other was repenting. Jesus said that whoever repented had been forgiven and would live with Him in paradise.
Although both were mocked and criticized, eventually both Joseph and Jesus rose to great positions of power and majesty. Both inspired confidence in those around them and in those who read about them. They both became a lord (Lord). Joseph became second in command and sat at the right hand of Pharaoh. Jesus is seated at the right hand of God the Father.
The last days
Jesus was betrayed for thirty pieces of silver. Joseph was sold for twenty. Both were given for the price of a slave. The lives of Joseph and Jesus are examples of a “rags to riches” story. Joseph was taken out of the well, from the empty cistern; sold into slavery and demoted to prison. However, God the Father brought him through it all to one of the highest positions on earth. Jesus certainly was not born into wealth. He was taken to Egypt when he was a baby to stay alive. He was admired by some and hated by others. At the end of his physical life he was scourged, beaten, cursed, spat upon, and crucified. The lowest form of death. However, God “elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him a name that is above all other names, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow in heaven, on earth, and under the earth.” and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Phil 2:9-11).
When Joseph’s brothers told Jacob that he was still alive, Jacob was stunned and did not believe it. Joseph was as dead to Jacob. When Mary announced the resurrection of Jesus to her disciples, they did not believe it either, “they [the apostles] They did not believe the women, because their words seemed foolish to them” (Lk 24:11).
Both José and Jesús were not recognized by their own family and friends. Joseph, after being promoted in Egypt and Jesus, after being resurrected. After everything, from punishment and ridicule to the joy of saving people’s lives and personal relationships with God, they both became royal people.
conclusion
Joseph lived the life of a servant. A servant of Potiphar, the citizens of Egypt, his family, and God. He preserved the Israelite nation and the lineage of Jesus. There really are many striking parallels between the lives of Joseph and Jesus. Joseph prefigured Jesus Christ. Many of the things that Joseph did for Egypt and Israel in the physical typify what Jesus has done or will do on a much larger scale, spiritually, for all mankind.
The parallels in the lives of Joseph and Jesus are not a matter of coincidence for speculative purposes only. God the Father has a plan for humanity that He is working out in intricate and precise detail. The Tanakh (Old Testament) points directly to Jesus Christ and the life of Joseph is a prime example. Joseph was a true servant of God.