Like Joseph in Genesis 37, Jesus also was given and wore a royal coat of many colors. This is what we discover when we begin to observe and understand the Bible from a canonical perspective.
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Earlier that week, on Friday afternoon, Jesus’ body was taken down from the cross, as dead as a dead man can be. In their view, Israel’s Messiah wasn’t expected to suffer and die. But Jesus certainly did suffer and die. He died tragically while hanging on a cross, the death-penalty usually reserved for criminals. What a total let-down for the hearts of Jesus’ followers. They failed to see that coming. Thus, their hopes and expectations were dashed and discouragement set in. Three days of sheer hopelessness.
After listening to their thoughts and troubles—like a good disciple-maker and counselor that he was--Jesus identified their problem as foolishness and a slow-heart of faith. They were slow to believe all that the Scriptures had promised. The engine of their faith had slowed down. From there, Jesus showed them from their own Bible—the TaNaKh—how their longed-for Messiah first had to suffer before entering his glory.
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Now all of this discussion about “canonical study” and “historical narratives” and “narrative typology” could sound like it’s reserved for scholars and theologians, the really smart people. But it’s not. The Bible was written to humanity; God has revealed Himself to regular people like you and me.
Let’s look at an easy question that gets resolved through observing a pattern in the Pentateuch. I say an “easy question” because it got asked in my toddler’s children’s Bible last night. But it’s not a child’s question, because it’s one that I and many other adults I know still discuss.
Basically, the question is would anyone have done things differently than Adam and Eve in their choice to disobey God (by taking and eating the fruit from the forbidden tree)? I think we know the answer is “no,” but how do we prove that from the text? Is this even a question that’s answered for us in the narratives of the Pentateuch? And of course, my answer is “yes.”
Let me demonstrate with some of the parallels I observed.
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The biblical character known by the name of Joseph is not usually found in the same sentence as the resurrection of Christ. Joseph and Easter Sunday seems worlds apart. Even more strange is to find the name of Adam associated with Joseph and with Jesus Christ. But mere appearances can be deceiving. The story of Joseph in Genesis 37-50 is linked integrally with Adam who lost Paradise and with Jesus who regained access Paradise for the sons and daughters of Adam. The Bible was written canonically. When we begin to read the Bible canonically, all the dots—Adam—Joseph—Jesus—begin to connect into a seamless story.
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You can make a difference this New Year, but not if you pursue the American Dream. Live a comfortable life, work at a good job, enjoy good health insurance, own a two-car garage, provide a good education for the kids, and then enjoy a retirement program that will allow you to kick back and take it easy. That is the typical American Dream, but it is certainly not God’s plan for Jesus’ followers. Yet, the vast majority of professing Christians choose this plan as their life’s goal. The contradiction with Scripture is real. Jesus’ life contradicts it at every step. The Savior invested His energy, His days, and heart into a small group of people. Jesus was the trainer of the twelve, the discipler and equipper who consciously poured His life into a small group. After His ascension, that well-trained group would continue His unfinished task. Leaders, life-changers are not born. Leaders are made. Life-changers are developed.
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