Joseph, Zedekiah, and the Savior We All Need

I occasionally have the privilege of teaching adult Sunday School at my church, and recently I led a lesson on Zedekiah, the last king of Judah. His story has been rolling around in my head since then, and as I’ve been reflecting on the Christmas season, I’ve been struck by the juxtaposition of Joseph—Jesus’ earthly father—whose obedience and selfless character (Matthew 1–2) stand in sharp contrast to Zedekiah’s outright rebellion and pride (2 Chronicles 36). 

Joseph 

• When Joseph found out Mary was pregnant, despite the feelings of betrayal he no doubt wrestled with, he didn’t want to shame her and resolved to break things off quietly (Matt. 1:18–19). 

• An angel appeared to Joseph in a dream, told him not to be afraid to take Mary as his wife, and explained what was happening. He woke up, married Mary, refrained from consummating the marriage until she had given birth, and named the baby Jesus (Matt. 1:20–25). 

• Later, an angel told Joseph in a dream to take Mary and Jesus to Egypt and remain there until he received further instructions. He woke up and did just that (Matt. 2:13–15). 

• Again, an angel told Joseph in a dream to return to the land of Israel. He obeyed, but when he discovered who was ruling, he feared for his family’s safety and settled in Nazareth, a less prominent location in Israel (Matt. 2:20–23). 

It seems “He did as the angel of the Lord commanded him” was the theme of Joseph’s life! Each time Joseph chose obedience, he was faithfully fulfilling prophecy (Matt. 2:15, 22, 23) and confirming Jesus as the promised Messiah—the Savior of the world.  God even sovereignly used Joseph’s fear in returning to Israel to fulfill a specific prophecy (Matt. 2:23). As you can see, there are blessings in store for us and those around us when we obey! 

Zedekiah 

By contrast, we have Zedekiah, Judah’s final king. 

• He chose evil (2 Chron. 36:12). 

• He pridefully refused to listen to Jeremiah, God’s prophet at the time (2 Chron. 36:12). 

• He stubbornly and foolishly rebelled against King Nebuchadnezzar, who had set him up as king over Judah (2 Chron. 36:13). 

• He “stiffened his neck and hardened his heart” against turning to the Lord (2 Chron. 36:13). 

• He used his influence to incite rebellion among officers, priests, and all the people he was called to lead (2 Chron. 36:14). 

These verses sum up Zedekiah’s reign: 

“The Lord, the God of their fathers, sent persistently to them by his messengers, because he had compassion on his people and on his dwelling place. But they kept mocking the messengers of God, despising his words and scoffing at his prophets, until the wrath of the Lord rose against his people, until there was no remedy.” (2 Chron. 36:15–16) 

The Contrast 

The contrast between Joseph’s faithful obedience and Zedekiah’s outright rebellion is striking. Joseph is one of the very few Bible characters about whom nothing negative is recorded, while everything said about Zedekiah is negative and tragic. We all know no one is perfect – including Joseph, and no one is irredeemable – including Zedekiah. If I’m honest, some days I relate more to Joseph, and on others I lean toward Zedekiah’s side. 

One thing is certain: Joseph, Zedekiah, me—all of us—are great sinners in need of a great Savior. On my best, Joseph-like days, I need Jesus to rescue me from self-righteousness. On my rebellious, Zedekiah-like days, I need Jesus to convict me of sin, call me to repentance, and remind me of His abundant grace and mercy which is available to me because of His advent, faithfulness, death, burial, and resurrection. 

Why I Love Christmas 

I love Christmas because it reminds me of God’s compassionate willingness to empty Himself of His glory and become man. He lived the perfect life I could never achieve, yet took upon Himself the punishment for my sin that I alone deserve. 

In our passive or active rebellion, we are all worthy of the wrath of the Lord that rose against His people in Zedekiah’s day. But through the miracle of Christmas, God knew He would one day take that wrath upon Himself in our place. Jesus is our only hope. 

I’m not sure where on the Joseph ↔ Zedekiah pendulum you find yourself this holiday season, but no matter where you are—whether striving for perfect obedience or defiant in rebellion with stiffened necks and hardened hearts—Jesus offers eternal life through faith in Him. That’s why He came. 

Jesus is the remedy that Zedekiah, Joseph, and all of us long for, in this and every season. 

What will you choose? 

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