Jesus and Joseph: Interesting Parallels

Fathers are wonderful, and are examples for their children!  My father and my Husband, both great fathers, have taken great care through the years to show no favoritism among their children.  One of the patriarchs from the Old Testament did not use that child rearing approach.  Joseph was the “favored” son of Jacob.  It was obvious to all of his siblings that Joseph, one of the youngest, was set apart by Jacob’s gift of the “robe of many colors”, (Genesis 37:3). This Bible story provides examples to help fathers avoid similar heartache created by the jealousy caused by favoritism. Let us compare Jacob’s son and God’s son.

There are several parallels between Joseph from the Old Testament and Jesus in the New Testament:

Joseph interpreted dreams that were predictions of the future

           Jesus was the fulfillment of several Old Testament prophecies

Jospeh was the favored Son of Jacob

           Jesus was the favored Son of God

Joseph was highly respected by scholars for his dream interpretations

           Jesus impressed the leaders of the Temple with his knowledge while a young boy

Joseph received a gift robe of many colors

           Herod put a royal colored robe on Jesus and called him a King

Joseph was beaten and sold as a slave

           Jesus was beaten and crucified on a cross

Joseph felt superior to other people

            Jesus was humble, but knew he had a superior purpose

Joseph moved to Egypt as a result of persecution by his brothers

            Jesus moved to Egypt to escape persecution by Herod the Great

Joseph received a signet ring from the King of Egypt

            Jesus told a parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15:22-23) who received a ring from his father

Joseph was treated like a King

            Jesus was and is the King of Mankind

Joseph was exalted by Egyptians

            Jesus was exalted by Angels

Joseph used a cup to entrap his brothers

            Jesus shared a cup with his Disciples

Jacob was told by Joseph’s brothers that his son had been killed by a wild animal.  Jacob was devastated and mourned his son for 30 days.  He was inconsolable.  God also mourned the loss of his own son, Jesus. When Jesus died, the temple curtain split from top to bottom, there was an earthquake and the sun became dark. Jesus rose in 3 days to redeem all mankind who accept his gift.

Dear Lord: Thank you for your humble son who lived on Earth so we may live in Heaven with him.

Sherilyn Svien

Stephenville, TX