Pointing to Jesus

I love making collages. It’s like a treasure hunt, you never know what you’ll find and what’s the final result! 

I start my hunt with all the magazine pages in what I call my “Cut Up” box. I select pictures, audition them on my journal page to see what I like. Sometimes I use washi tape from my “tool” box. 

"Go to Joseph and do whatever he tells you." Genesis 41:55

This is what the mighty powerful Pharaoh told the starving people of Egypt. Does it not sound familiar? This is exactly what Mary, the mother of Jesus, told the servants in the wedding at Cana (John 2:5). This is just one of the many parallels in the story of Jesus and Joseph.

In the study of the Bible, scholars say that Joseph is one of the clearest and most detailed "types" of Christ. This means, I think, that some aspects of Joseph's life are prophetic of Jesus' life. Both were betrayed by their "brothers", Joseph sold into slavery, and Jesus sold for 30 pieces of silver by Judas. Both Joseph and Jesus were tempted but did not sin. Both were falsely accused. Both were 30 years old when their lives took a significant turn. Joseph was 30 years old when he was made Prime Minister of Egypt, and Jesus started His public ministry at 30 years old. Both became rulers after a period of humiliation. Joseph was put in jail for some time, and we know what happened to Jesus! For both Jesus and Joseph, even their own "brothers" did not accept them. As Joseph's brothers hated him, so did the Jews, a lot of them, hate Jesus and did not believe what He said. As Joseph was stripped of his many colored coat, so was Jesus stripped of his clothes. Just as Joseph was not recognized by his brothers when they came to ask for grain, so too Jesus was not recognized by the Jews as their Messiah. Just as God allowed the suffering of Joseph to save His people, so too did He plan that Jesus' suffering would save us all. There are many other parallels in Scripture that can be cited, just as there are many stories in the Old Testament that point to Christ.

I was thinking, does MY life point to Christ? Can someone look at my life, and say that I am a "type" of Christ? They say that a Christian's life is the world's Bible. Most people do not open and read the Scriptures, but if we live as we are supposed to live, following Christ, then the world can look at us, and see Him!