Love and forgiveness: Joseph, Jesus and us.

Genesis 45:3-11, 15          Luke 6:27-38

A sermon in two parts:

Introduction to first reading

 

We all know the story of Joseph, thanks to Tim Rice & Andrew Lloyd-Webber’s “Joseph and his amazing technicolour dreamcoat”.

But today we hear a part of the story which rather gets glossed over in the rush to a happy ending in the musical.

Joseph, the Pharoah’s second-in-command, is directing the storage of food during the famine in Egypt. His father Jacob, unaware that Joseph is even alive, has sent his other sons to Egypt for food, as the famine is also affecting them, in Canaan. Joseph finally decides that it’s time to reveal his identity to his brothers.

 

Genesis 45:3-11, 15

 

Talk 1

We have heard what must have been a very tense moment for the brothers, as they realise that the very brother they tried to kill, and then sold into slavery, Joseph, is standing in front of them. He is now a high-ranking Egyptian official, who could probably order them killed there and then.

No wonder they are stunned into silence.

But Joseph is ready to forgive his brothers and to be reconciled.

After all that has happened, Joseph sees the hand of God running through his life. And explains to his brothers

God sent me before you to preserve life.

 

In fact, God is named by Joseph four times in the little speech we heard.

Unlike the musical, the Biblical account of the story of Joseph is a story of how God has worked through all that has happened, or perhaps despite all that has happened, to bring God’s people to a place of safety.

 

Taking the story as a whole, we see God at work, using Joseph to save his people.

 

In fact, if we look at the story as a whole, we see that the work of God in the story of Joseph is an early echo of the work of God in the story of Jesus.

 

Here are some aspects of the Joseph story which could remind us of the story of Jesus:

He had promises of divine approval (in Joseph’s dreams, and at Jesus’ baptism)

He was sold for pieces of silver (Joseph by his brothers, Jesus by Judas)

He was stripped of his robe (Joseph again by his brothers, Jesus by the Roman soldiers)

He was falsely accused (Joseph by Potiphar’s wife, Jesus by the religious authorities)

He stood before rulers (Joseph before Potiphar, Jesus before Herod & Pontius Pilate)

He is the instrument God uses to bless his people and give them bread (Joseph acts to prepare Egypt for the famine, Jesus feeds the 5,000)

He saves his rebellious brothers from death when they realise who he is (this is the story of Joseph we have heard today, and soon we will begin Lent and our reflection on Jesus’ saving acts).

 

The story of Joseph tells us this is how God acts in human lives to bring about the salvation of God’s people.

The story of Jesus shows us God acting in a uniquely divine human life, to save all God’s people, the whole world.

 

I think that reading the story of Joseph can help us to prepare for Lent, as it casts a new perspective onto the story of Jesus.

 

(Where it is possible, I will show the congregation this video from Joseph, King of Dreams - a wonderful declaration of faith from Joseph as he lies in prison)

 

Luke 6:27-38

 

Talk 2

Fascinating as it is to see the similarities in the stories of Joseph and Jesus, there is of course a massive difference. Joseph was an unwitting victim of his brothers’ jealousy, which led to an extraordinary story, through which God acted to bring rescue to God’s people in Canaan. Joseph, finally elevated to the position he dreamt of at the start, is wise enough to see God at work and to forgive his brothers.

 

But Jesus comes, as the Son of God, to actively embrace his father’s will. He calls disciples, he heals the sick, and in the reading we have just heard he teaches those who will listen how to live as children of God.

 

The key is love. And Jesus is very detailed about what love looks like:

Love your enemies

Do good to those who curse you

Turn the other cheek

Give to those who beg from you.

And the golden rule

Do to others as you would have them do to you.

Then Jesus points out that this love is not easy, but is something that goes beyond the bounds of what might be considered reasonable.

Do not just love those who love you – love your enemies.

Do not lend, hoping to get back – be truly generous.

In short ‘be merciful as your Father is merciful’.

 

Then Jesus expresses what the love of our merciful father looks like:

"Do not judge, and you will not be judged;

do not condemn, and you will not be condemned.

Forgive, and you will be forgiven;

give, and it will be given to you.

A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over,

will be put into your lap.”

 

If you read it quickly, what Jesus says starts off sounding like common sense – be loving and forgiving, treat others as you want to be treated and other people will treat you well in return.

But on closer inspection Jesus is setting the standard very high -

Love your enemies, give unstintingly, be utterly merciful.

And not because a punishing God demands this of you, but because you are trying to be like a merciful God, who gives to those who loves a full measure of love, pressed down and still overflowing in your lap.

 

Jesus gives a wonderful picture of the mercy, love and grace which is poured out to all God’s children, to all of us... so of course we should be loving, kind and forgiving to others.

 

Returning to Joseph, Joseph learned the hard way that God was with him in all his trials even bringing good from evil.

But Jesus teaches his followers from a position of grace. Since God is so abundantly generous with his love, we can afford to be generous with our love.

 

As Lent begins in 10 days, and as Easter approaches, we will see that the Jesus who taught these things to his followers also lived them to the uttermost – self-giving, forgiveness, mercy – and all from Jesus who shows us the extremity of God’s love for us.

And as we read the story of Jesus, we will be challenged to believe in him, follow him and love like him.

To the glory of God the Father.

Amen.