Below are notes to a sermon preached Sunday evening, December 21, 2003, at Gospel Light Baptist Church, Albany, Georgia. For more outlines, including zipped files of my sermon outlines of recent years, click on the link at the bottom of this note, and go to our website:
JOSEPH AND JESUS HIS BRETHREN KNEW HIM NOT
by Michael D. O'Neal                    Pastor, Gospel Light Baptist Church                Albany, Georgia

Scripture Reading: Gen. 42:1-8

Text: Gen. 42:8

Genesis 42:8 And Joseph knew his brethren, but they knew not him.

Introduction: In studying your Bible, you should eventually progress to the point that you look for JESUS on every page, either in plain view, or in prophecy, or in picture. One of the greatest, if not THE greatest, of all pictures of our Lord in the Old Testament is the man named Joseph. We say that Joseph is a "type," or prophetic picture, of Christ because so many characteristics of his life matched those of the Lord Jesus Christ.

When I read our text I cannot pass it by without stopping to remind you not only of what happened to Joseph, but what happened to Jesus.

John 1:10-11 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. 11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.

Join me again this morning as we remember the words of the Savior:

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 Jesus referred to the fact that Joseph's brethren did not recognize him, 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 invite you to look with me for JESUS, in the story of Joseph's first appearance to his brethren, as I speak on the subject:

JOSEPH AND JESUS - HIS BRETHREN KNEW HIM NOT

I. HE WAS BORN AMONG THEM,
BUT HIS BRETHREN KNEW HIM NOT

Joseph's brethren were unable to get over the wrapping for the gift of their salvation - Joseph.

Romans 1:3 Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh;

A. He was born in peculiarity
1. The son of Jacob's old age
2. Jesus was supernaturally virgin born

B. He was born to a people
1. Both were born to Israel

C. He was born for a purpose
1. Joseph - salvation from a great dearth
2. Jesus - salvation from a great damnation

II. HE BELONGED TO THEM BUT HIS BRETHREN KNEW HIM NOT

John 4:9 Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans.

A. He was fashioned like them
1. Family resemblance

B. He had a fondness for them

C. He had favoritism toward them
1. Joseph gave them the best of the land for grazing their cattle.
2. Jesus came to the Jew FIRST.

III. HE WAS BETRAYED BY THEM, BUT HIS BRETHREN KNEW HIM NOT

Luke 23:34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.

Acts 3:17 And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers.

1 Corinthians 2:8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

They did not realize that they were betraying

A. Their own family

B. Their own friend

C. Their own future

IV. HE BROUGHT SALVATION TO THEM, BUT HIS BRETHREN KNEW HIM NOT

Genesis 50:20 But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.

A. He supplied life in Egypt
1. Bread
2. John 10:10; 3:16

B. He supplied land in Egypt
1. The BEST of the land
2. There is a place in God's will for you in this world, serving Jesus, and it's the very BEST place for you to be!

C. He supplied liberty in Egypt
1. Jews, shepherds were normally abhorred in Egypt
2. Joseph gave them liberty!

Conclusion:

John 1:10-12 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. 11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not. 12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

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