In the previous lesson, we talked about Jesus as our Life Source, as He called Himself “the Vine” in John 15:1. We discussed how we need to receive from this Vine daily, even moment by moment so that we would not turn to pornography or sexual impurity to quench our “thirst.”
Today, I want to share with you an illustration of Jesus being the Vine, the life-giver for all who come to Him. Our purpose is to see how we get free from sexual impurity by receiving daily life from Jesus and abiding in Jesus.
This illustration begins with something that Joseph’s father, Jacob, says about Joseph as Jacob was on his deathbed: “Joseph is a fruitful vine, a fruitful vine near a spring, whose branches climb over a wall” (Genesis 49:22 NIV).
Question 1. What did Jacob call his son, Joseph, in Genesis 49:22?
It’s revealing to see how Joseph became the vine—that is, the life source for his family. As we review the following summary of Joseph’s life together, can you see Jesus in it?
Joseph was greatly loved by his father, but his brothers hated him.
One day Jacob sent Joseph to go and check on his brothers who were working in a neighboring town. As the brothers saw Joseph coming, they plotted to kill him and ended up selling him into the hands of Ishmaelites for pieces of silver. These Ishmaelites took Joseph to Egypt, where he became a slave.
While in Egypt, Joseph was falsely accused of a crime he did not commit, and so he was thrown into a dungeon and placed right between two criminals. To one of the criminals, Joseph brought good news of life, and to the other, he brought a message of death.
Finally, because the Lord was with Joseph, he was raised out of the dungeon, and he was exalted to the right hand of Pharaoh where he became second-in-command and lord of all. God told Joseph that there was a severe famine coming to the land of Egypt, and so Joseph organized the gathering and storing of grain during the good years to prepare for the famine to come.
Question 2. How does Joseph’s life point you to the gospel: the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ?
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Christopher writes, "Wow, I didn't see this before but now it is so clear, the gospel is in the story of Joseph. Joseph was rejected from his family just like Jesus, then he was sent was sold for pieces of silver by his brothers. Jesus was sold for pieces of silver by Judas. And In Egypt, Joseph was falsely accused and was sent to prison. Jesus was falsely accused and was crucified. Joseph was placed right between two criminals. One of the criminals had good news from Joseph and the other hand he had a message of death. When Jesus was on the cross one of the thieves recognized Jesus as Savior and Lord and he asked for forgiveness and went to Paradise the other thief didn't recognize Jesus as Savior and Lord so he did not go to Paradise. Finally, Joseph was raised out of the dungeon and was exalted at the right hand of Pharaoh where he became second-in-command and lord of all. Joseph saved his people and the Egyptians from the famine and death. Today Jesus saves all the Nations from our anemic lives and offer us eternal life!"