Why Joseph?

When you only get one shot at something, you want to make it count. The Christian drama team I help to run is as short-term as ministries come. In many places, we are in and out in a day. We get one chance, sometimes only an hour, to communicate truth through the telling of a Bible story. Now, after

four months and nearly 100 shows, I want to answer a very common question.

“Why Joseph?”

With only an hour to hit people with the gospel, why not the life of Christ? Why not the crucifix? Why write a play about Joseph?

For those of you haven't seen Out of The Pit, it follows the story of Joseph, as accounted in Genesis, and highlights some comparisons between this Old Testament figure and the person of Christ. I chose Joseph because I see him as unique in the Biblical narrative; unique in that he is described as a sinless man. While he certainly sinned at times in his life, it is interesting to note that in the Joseph narrative there is no Bathsheba, he kills no Egyptian, and he doesn't come from a past of persecuting the church. The author of Genesis describes him in such a way as to make him stand out among his Biblical buddies.

Most major Old Testament characters have traits or life experiences that are repeated in the person of Jesus. Moses stands between God and man and asks that his life be taken in place of the people (Exodus 32:32). Joshua saw victory given and sin defeated (Joshua 2:24). Jeremiah tells the people that if they carry a yoke (much like a cross is carried) they will live, but if they do not, they will die (Jeremiah 27, Matthew 16:24).

The event we focus on in Out of The Pit is the fact that Joseph is placed into the ground, and then rises out to become a ruler. The first time, he is placed into a well by his mocking brothers, and the second time into a prison by Potiphar. It's an imperfect picture of exactly what happened to our Saviour. Jesus is placed into His grave after being rejected by his Jewish brothers. Like Joseph, he was condemned and punished though he had done nothing wrong.

While the gospel may centre around the event of the crucifixion and resurrection, it's divine message of redemption had been echoing through history hundreds of years before Jesus was born. And this was no mistake on God's part – He chose to unveil salvation slowly. To use people as His divine object lesson. When we see the Old Testament characters as imperfect images of who our Saviour would someday be, we have taken the first step into unlocking the message behind a gospel that has been unfolding since time began. In the theological world we call tools like this 'hermenutics.' Little keys that unlock the meaning of big passages.

Sometimes people need to be equipped to find truth on their own, rather than having it spoonfed to them. I grew up reading the Bible, but I never knew what it meant. No one ever showed me all the great Old Testament 'study tips' the writer of Hebrews seems to use so well. So I read up to Malachai like every good pastor's kid. And when I hit the gospels, I found the same well-combed, loving, gracious and one dimensional Jesus most people in North-American churches have cheapened him to be. You need the backstory – the wrath and redemption, the blood and the sacrifices, to understand Jesus.

Joseph isn't just a godly man...he is an image of who Jesus
would be.

And you can't be taught that. As great as Sunday School is, people need to discover Jesus for themselves. To read his story and say, 'Wow! Look at this guy!' So the best teachers will always be ones who let students discover things for themselves. And that's what we try to do with Out of The Pit. Give people the tools to discover Jesus for themselves. He's hidden inside the Old Testament, and when you can find Him on your own, you're headed somewhere great.

When you've found the Bible to be more than just a book, you've found the beginning of the true gospel. After all, Jesus Himself is the Word (John 1:1), and this truth is prominently stated as a prelude to His life. John's introduction to Jesus as a man is, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us,” (John 1:14). You can not have Jesus the man without taking Him as Jesus the Word. Those Old Testament truths were His. Those stories, about Him. And His gospel is reflecting off of every single letter from Genesis to Revelation

So we tell the story of Joseph. And we teach one,very basic hermenutic. We hand a little 'key' to adults and children alike and invite them to discover the Biblical narrative for themselves. One hour to teach truth. And the simple message of Scripture is all this dying world needs.