I Am Jesus, Your Brother
The life of Joseph is a prophecy of divine judgment in the tears of God.
Today, in our hearing, Joseph unveils Christ as the brother who forgives the tribes of Israel, through tears.
Joseph goes down into hell, suffers for his brothers’ sustenance, and survives to announce their forgiveness, to embrace and kiss even those who betray and sell him into slavery for thirty pieces of silver.
You see, Joseph unveiled is Jesus—for his brothers and for all humans—a prophecy of Christ, a prophecy about how to become human as God is human in this world, so that when in the end Jesus is unveiled as the Lamb, forgiving and embracing all persons through tears, we join the sun, moon, and all stars—together with the tribes of Israel—bowing like sheaves to the Prince of Peace, and by the same Spirit who inspires the centurion say of the dead Christ, “Surely this man was the Son of God” to the glory of God the Father.
Then the Lamb, standing as though slain, will like Joseph say “You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good.”
Christians trust that “God works together with those who love God to direct all things towards the good,” (Romans 8:28), following our teacher Paul. We trust that God works as us for the good of all the things he created in six days.
As we gather on this seventh day, the day of God’s rest in the New Creation, to give thanks to God for the resurrection, this work we do together—our liturgy—is the work of God as our work. And the work of God we are celebrating in this Eucharist brings about the good for all.
Imagine with me Jesus saying the words of Joseph to the eleven in his post-resurrection appearances:
“‘Please, come closer.’ … So they came closer. And he said again, ‘I am Joseph, your brother, whom you sold into slavery in Egypt. But don’t be upset, and don’t be angry with yourselves for selling me to this place. It was God who sent me here ahead of you to preserve your lives. This famine that has ravaged the land for two years will last five more years, and there will be neither plowing nor harvesting. God has sent me ahead of you to keep you and your families alive and to preserve many survivors.’ … ‘Look! You can see for yourselves … I really am Joseph!’”
Joseph takes away his brothers’ shame. Joseph declares forgiveness and peace. Joseph is a forerunner of Jesus when he says to his brothers, weary and heavy laden from years of guilt: “Come closer to me.” In their fear of Joseph’s wrath, he kindly says, “Do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves.”
Remember this from Joseph/Jesus when you are afraid or uncertain: Judgment is forgiveness for all, with tears that stain the face.
This is what God looks like judging the world, like the tearful Joseph with his brothers; like us when—as his crucified body, as Joseph—we speak good to everyone who intends us evil.
The Lamb invites us to be Joseph now by loving and forgiving our enemies. The suffering of God and our suffering as his body is leading to a good for ALL:
“For God has imprisoned everyone in disobedience so he could have mercy on everyone” (Romans 11:32).
This is the conclusion of a sermon for Church of the Holy Redeemer, given August 20, 2023—the last of a two-part series.
Dear Father K - I have heard these words- “God works together with those who love God to direct all things towards the good,” - most of my life, but never never like this👇🏻
(Romans 8:28), following our teacher Paul. We trust that God works as us for the good of all the things he created in six days.
This entire sermon here is Life
Merci ✨
Thank you. I’m seeing this in the life of David who is showing up in the daily office. So many Christlike moves he makes. The peace of the Lord be with you as you minister on this day of rest.