Why is Joseph considered an Old Testament picture of Christ?
Joseph is an Old Testament picture of Christ because many events in his life were repeated almost exactly in Christ's life. Christ was the beloved Son of the Father, loved intrinsically; Joseph likewise was a beloved son. Joseph was also given the coat of many colors.
Les explains that Joseph almost fills the rest of the book of Genesis. Although he seldom treats the Joseph story verse by verse because most people know it, he highlights a few things. In verse 2, Joseph is seventeen, feeding the flock with his brethren and bringing their evil report to his father. In verse 3, Jacob loved Joseph more than all his children. Les says that in Joseph's life there are many things that will be repeated almost exactly in the life of Christ, so Joseph is that Old Testament picture of Christ. The first parallel he notes is that Christ was the Son of the Father, the beloved Son whom the Father loved intrinsically, and so was Joseph. Joseph was given the coat of many colors.