Below are notes to a sermon preached Sunday morning, October 19, 2003, at Gospel Light Baptist Church, Albany, Georgia.
JESUS AND JOSEPH THE SPECIAL SON
Scripture Reading: Genesis 37:1-11
Text: Genesis 37:3
Genesis 37:3 Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of many colours.
Introduction: Throughout the Old Testament there are types, pictures, and prophecies of the Lord Jesus Christ. Perhaps the greatest PERSONAL type of our Lord, in that so MANY of the events and characteristics of his life were prophetically similar to those of our own Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, was Joseph, the son of Jacob. This morning we are going to
look in the Genesis account of this man, looking for JESUS. After all, this is our HIM BOOK, for it’s ALL about HIM! … even as our Lord said:
John 5:39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.
and again in that chapter:
John 5:46 For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me.
Perhaps the Lord spent some time going thorough the account of Jacob’s life when He met with two of His disciples after the resurrection,
Luke 24:27 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.
This morning I want to point out four ways in which Joseph was a SPECIAL son, even as our Lord Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son of God.
First notice,
I. JOSEPH HAD A SPECIAL AFFECTION FROM HIS FATHER
Genesis 37:3 Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age ...
A. Because of his birth
1. “the son of his old age” – Perhaps Jacob counted Joseph’s birth as being one with more special divine help
2. Jesus came into this world super-naturally, through the virgin birth
B. Because of his behavior – Genesis 37:2b
1. He was godly at age 17.
2. As an obedient son, he told his father of the evil deeds of his brethren
3. John 8:29 And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.
C. John 10:17 Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.
II. JOSEPH HAD A SPECIAL ADORNMENT FROM HIS FATHER
Genesis 37:3B … and he made him a coat of many colours.
A. Jesus was adorned with glory in eternity
B. Jesus was adorned with godliness on earth
III. JOSEPH HAD A SPECIAL ANIMOSITY FROM HIS BRETHREN
Genesis 37:4 And when his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him.
A. Because of the words he proclaimed
Jesus’ words were sometimes
1. Stern
2. Sharp
3. Sarcastic
B. Because of the wisdom he possessed
C. Because of the works he performed
IV. JOSEPH HAD A SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT ABOUT THE FUTURE
2 DREAMS
Genesis 37:10 And he told it to his father, and to his brethren: and his father rebuked him, and said unto him, What is this dream that thou hast dreamed? Shall I and thy mother and thy brethren indeed come to bow down ourselves to thee to the earth?
He announced through a dream
A. The supremacy he would have
1. This was fulfilled when he became second in command to Pharaoh
B. The submission that would be given to him
1. This was fulfilled at the same time.
2. This reminds us of the promised reign of Christ (Revelation 11:15)
3. This also reminds us of the time in eternity, possibly at the Great White Throne Judgment, when every knee shall bow (Philippians 2:5-9).