Joseph a Type of Christ

    PARALLELS

    I. JOSEPH, signifies increasing; he was the first-born of Rachel, and Jacob's beloved son: so Christ, in his human nature, in the days of his flesh, grew, and increased in strength, and in favour with God and man; and so also there shall be of his kingdom and glory in the world, who is the beloved of his Father.

    II. Joseph was very beautiful, and also excelled all his brethren in true virtue, Ge 37:3. So Jesus Christ is more beautiful than the children of men; he was full of grace and truth.

    III. Joseph was a man of great wisdom, able to expound deep secrets, &c. In Jesus Christ are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, who is therefore called the great Counsellor, and is that blessed Lamb, who hath prevailed to open the books, and loose the seals thereof; he hath the Spirit without measure, and thereby opens all the deep mysteries of God, that lay hid from ages and generations, &c.

    IV. He is called a fruitful bough whose branches run upon the wall, because out of him branched two tribes, Ephraim and Manasseh, Ge 49:22. Therein, saith Dr. Taylor, he was a Type of Christ, who is not only a fruitful bough, and called the branch, &c, but also a Root, from whom all the tribes of God branch out, and flourish. And whereas those trees are withered, Christ shall see his seed, and prolong his days, and they shall abide to eternity.

    V. Joseph was a type of Christ in his actions. (1.) He was sent by his father, to visit his brethren in the wilderness, who evilly treated him there: So Jesus Christ came to visit his poor people, who were wandering in the wilderness of this world; and when he came hither, was evilly treated by bis own brethren, the Jews, who conspired to take away his life; like as Joseph's brethren sought to deal by him. (2.) Joseph fed his brethren, and all his father's house: so Jesus Christ feeds the Church of God. (3.) Joseph being innocent, yet suffered many hard things: So did Christ. (4.) He did all the good he could for his brethren, who had ill deserved it from his hands: so did Jesus Christ deal by poor sinners, who had abused him, and still daily do. (5.) He taught his brethren the great duty of brotherly love; "See that ye fall not out by the way." So Jesus Christ, above all lessons, commends to us the new commandment of love, &c.

    VI. Joseph was a Type of Christ, not only in the actions of his life, and in respect of those things he suffered, and cruel temptations he met with, &c., but also in his advancement, and great preferment; he by being abased was raised to honour: so was Jesus Christ. Joseph was made a mighty Lord, and was next to Pharoah; so is Christ advanced in power and glory next to God himself. Every man was to bow to Joseph, Ge 41:43. So every one is required to bow the knee to Jesus Christ, Php 2:10. All were to go to Joseph, they were to depend upon his word. "Go to Joseph," saith Pharaoh, "and what he saith to you, do ye," Ge 41:55. So God the Father hath given Christ a name above every name; Ac 3:22-23. And whatsoever any sinner or believer wants, the Father commands them to go to Jesus, and to hear him in every thing that he shall say unto them. "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him," Mt 3:17.