Exaltation of Messiah

What goes up, must come down, but in the kingdom of heaven, what goes down, must go up.

THIS WEEK'S TORAH PORTION:

Miketz (מקץ | From the end)

Torah: Genesis 41:1-44:17

Haftarah: Zechariah 2:14-4:7

Gospel: Luke 4:16-31

Exaltation of Messiah

Our Master Yeshua teaches that “the greatest among you shall be your servant. Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled; and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted” (Matthew 23:11-12). In the kingdom of heaven, what goes down must go up. Joseph’s life illustrates the principle.

Joseph went from being the first and greatest among his brothers to the lowly place of slave and prisoner. He suffered two decades of injustices before experiencing a sudden, dramatic reversal. Pharaoh gave Joseph authority over Egypt and lavished gifts upon him. He said to him, "You shall be over my house, and according to your command all my people shall do homage; only in the throne I will be greater than you" (Genesis 41:40). The sudden reversal of Joseph’s circumstance compensated him for the twenty years of misfortunes he had suffered since his brothers sold him into Egypt. The rabbis say, “This alludes to Messiah son of Joseph because he will also be compensated for his sorrows.”

Joseph’s descent into Egypt can be likened unto the descent of the soul of Messiah. Like Joseph, He took “the form of a bond-servant” and “humbled Himself” (Philippians 2:7-8). Joseph lost his princely place in his father’s household and took the low estate of a slave and prisoner. The same might be said of the righteous, exalted soul of Messiah. Pharaoh highly exalted Joseph, lifting him from his low estate to take a station over all Egypt. Regarding Yeshua, Scripture says, “For this reason also, God highly exalted Him” (Philippians 2:9).

The story of the exaltation of Joseph illustrates the exaltation of Messiah. Pharaoh gave Joseph his signet ring, the seal of Pharaoh’s own name and authority. Likewise, the LORD exalted Yeshua “and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name” (Philippians 2:9); that is, the authority of His own sacred name.

Pharaoh clothed Joseph in garments of fine linen and gave him one of his own chariots. Mystical literature refers to the throne of God as “The Chariot” because Ezekiel saw a vision of the throne of God carried along on wheels (Ezekiel 1:15-21). Just as Pharaoh gave Joseph his own chariot, so too, the Almighty has given Messiah a seat on His own throne. Revelation 7:17 calls the Messiah “the Lamb in the center of the throne.” As Joseph went forth, criers ran before his chariot, saying, “Bow the knee!” (Genesis 41:43). God exalted Yeshua “so that at the name of Yeshua every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth” (Philippians 2:10).

Pharaoh gave Joseph authority over his own household, saying, “You shall be over my house” (Genesis 41:40). The LORD placed His Son over the house of God. Pharaoh gave Joseph authority over everything in Egypt except himself. He said, “According to your command all my people shall do homage; only in the throne I will be greater than you.” (Genesis 41:40) So too, regarding Messiah. God put all things under Him except Himself:

For He has put all things in subjection under His feet. But when He says, “All things are put in subjection,” it is evident that He is excepted who put all things in subjection to Him. (1 Corinthians 15:27)

-First Fruits of Zion