Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!
John 1:29
Some commentators debate as to where John got this notion from. Where does it come from in the Old Testament?
Lamb is mentioned and often seen in the context of sacrifice but connected with the Exodus and Passover. What lifts it out of that context and into this new sense of the Saviour of the World? What indeed, except God’s foreknowledge of His plan and purpose in the Christ Child. And His revelation to John. Remember all of Israel was waiting for Messiah but they missed Him because He came as Messiah, the son of Joseph (the suffering servant) and not Messiah, the son of David, (The Reigning King).
But what is even more amazing is the name given to Jesus in John 4:42 – The Saviour of the World. Wow those Samaritans certainly had Jesus sorted as to who He was.
Take careful note of this:
Genesis records for us that Pharaoh gives Joseph the name “Zaphenath – Paneah”. What does Zaphenath – Paneah mean? If it is Hebrew then the root it comes from is “Zaphan Paneah”,
The meaning is obscure. In some Bibles (like the NIV) there may be a footnote on it and the footnote reads “revealer of secrets” or “God speaks and lives”. Well, that is taking those roots and trying to make something out of them. But it is really forcing the text.
For a long time I have thought to myself why would it be Hebrew? If Pharaoh gave the name to Joseph why would it be a Hebrew name that he gives him? Wouldn’t it be an Egyptian name? He already has a Hebrew name. Pharoah is more likely to give Joseph an Egyptian name. If that is the case then the trail ends there because I don’t read Egyptian. I don’t know Hieroglyphic script nor do I know Demotic script. I can’t follow the trail any more.
Then one day some years ago I was reading a book in my library doing some study on something else and I came across something that thrilled me. I read that the script I have pictured below for you is the Egyptian Demotic Script for Zaphenath – Paneah. I don’t know how it is broken up. It is pronounced …Zaphenath – Paneah. I don’t know whether it reads from right to left or left to right. But the writer went on to say that the root has the meaning “Redeemer of the Age“ or “Redeemer of the world”. I got excited and came bounding out of my study shouting “Eureka, eureka”. Well almost. Tania asked my why I was so excited and I told her the significance. Her response? “So?”
That is exactly what Joseph was. And here in the text is an Egyptian Pharaoh, an Egyptian ruler giving to Joseph that name. But the marvellous point is that “Christ is also called “Redeemer of the World“ by the Samaritans at the well of Sychar in John 4. Many see in Joseph a type of Christ. The Bible has it all figured out who Christ is. No doubts, it is just we who have to get our heads around it. Have a great day, pregnant with the presence of Jesus.
Sorry today is a long one. But I thought you would want to know some of the detail on this one. Interact with me by email or Facebook to give me your feedback so I can tailor these Bible Gems to suit you my readers. Let’s work on this together to make it the best it can be.
He who slings mud generally loses ground.
Anon
Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass…it’s about learning to dance in the rain.
Ian Vail
Lord, Help me learn to dance in the rain.
Ian Vail