THE PROTOTYPE

 

Elder Bruce R. McConkie taught that all prophets are types of Christ (“The Promised Messiah, p 448).  A prophet is one who has the testimony of Jesus and knows by the power of the Holy Ghost that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. Who can forget the promises God made to Joseph of Egypt and his prophecies as quoted by Lehi in the Book of Mormon? (2 Nephi 3) I was amazed to read how his life and mission also typifies the life and mission of Jesus:

1.       Joseph was the favoured son of his father; so was Jesus (see Genesis 37:3; Matthew 3:17; Mormon 5:14)

2.       Joseph was rejected by his brothers, the Israelites, as was Jesus (see Genesis37:4; John 1:11; Isaiah 53:3; 1 Nephi 19:13-14)

3.       Joseph was sold by his brothers into the hands of the Gentiles, just as Jesus was (see Genesis 37:25-27; Matthew 20:19)

4.       Judah, the head of the tribe of Judah, proposed the sale of Joseph. Certain leaders of the Jews in Jesus’ day turned Jesus over to the Romans. Judas (the Greek spelling of Judah) was the one who actually sold Jesus (see Genesis 37:26; Matthew 27:3)

5.       Joseph was sold for twenty pieces of silver, the price of a slave his age. Christ was sold for thirty pieces of silver, the price of a slave of His age (see Genesis 37:28; Matthew 27:3; Exodus 21:32; Leviticus 27:5)

6.       In their attempt to destroy Joseph, his brothers actually set up the conditions that would bring about their eventual temporal salvation. By being sold, Joseph became the deliverer. Jesus, by being given into the hands of the Gentiles, was crucified and became the Deliverer for all mankind.

7.       Joseph began his mission of preparing salvation for Israel at age thirty, just as Jesus began His ministry of preparing salvation for the world at age thirty (see Genesis 41:46; Luke 3:23)

8.       When Joseph was finally raised to his exalted position in Egypt, all bowed the knee to him. All will eventually bow the knee to Jesus (see Genesis 41:43; D&C 88:104)

9.       Joseph provided bread for Israel and saved them from death, all without cost. Jesus, the Bread of Life, did the same for all men (see Genesis 42;35; John 6:48-57; 2 Nephi 9:50)

-          Old Testament Student Manual Gensis – 2 Samuel, p 97

How much You must love those

Who bear witness of Thy holy name.

Thy prophets, Thine everlasting friends,

Thine angels who herald

Thy gospel and Thy name;

To the ends of the earth they speak

And their words forever remain.

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: Jesus by Land of Dreams)