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Monday, December 5, 2011

The Beloved Son Sent and Rejected

Genesis 37:3-4 Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his sons, because he was the son of his old age; and he made him a varicolored tunic. 4His brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers; and so they hated him and could not speak to him on friendly terms.

John 1:11  He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him.

A beloved son of the father 
We read twice that Joseph was loved more than all of his brethren by his father.  This fact clearly caused animosity to arise against Joseph.  Then to add insult to injury, Joseph began to share a series of dreams that he had about himself and his family - dreams the depicted the family bowing down to him.  To hear that they were going to bow down to their youngest brother was just too much to bear. What was annoyance with a little brother quickly snowballed into outright hatred. 

A beloved son sent by the father to his brothers
Jacob, who is also called Israel, sends his beloeved son Joseph to check on his brothers who are supposed to be shepherding their father's flocks.  Since Joseph had a special relationship with his father, the Bible tells us that Jacob (israel) had made him a coat of many colors.  When Israel was ready to send his son, he called for him to get ready.  In Genesis 37:13, we see the sending off, and Joseph simply and voluntarily expressing his willingness to do the father's bidding. (Genesis 37:13).

God the Son, Eternally beloved by God the Father, was sent on that first Christmas
The Son loved the father, and did not go out of compulsion, but out of a willing love.  John 3:16 tells us familiar words regarding the Eternal Son doing His Father's will: "For God so loved the world that He gave His only Begotten Son, that whosoever believes on Him will not perish, but have everlasting life."

Just as Joseph was sent to his brothers, who would ultimately reject him, Christ experienced the same exact thing.  In John 1:11 we read: "He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him."  To further compound the level of rejection, we read in John 1:5 that the whole of humanity was in opposition to the One being sent to them. 

Thank the Lord for Christmas
Praise be to God for His grace.  Though God knew that the world and Jewish nation would reject Christ, He and the Son still followed through with the original plan of Christmas.  Saving grace was purchased and as a result, we read these words in John 1:12-13: "But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, 13who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God."

Thus the logic of John follows the logic of Genesis 37: The Father sent His beloved Son to those who would reject and betray him.  Once again the awe of Christmas is inseperable from the agony of Calvary.  What seemed to be a mission frought with danger and risk would be accomplished and victorious.  Why?  Because the babe in the manger would prove to be the Beloved Son who would overcome death, hell and the grave.