Rooting for the Underdog

Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. Matthew 4:10

We love rooting for the underdog. It's just the American way or the human way.

Even in classical Western literature, there is always an underdog that has a problem to solve. That underdog is sometimes called the Jesus figure, the innocent one who always get the worst of the situation but in the end is the hero. It could be we got the idea to write those types of stories from the source, Bible stories. 

We've been looking at how the Old Testament was a picture of the coming of Jesus, a picture of the birth, life, death, and resurrection of our Savior. The story of Joseph is another story with that message. Joseph was the son of Jacob and Rachel. Jacob's other sons, except for Benjamin born later, were from different wives. Joseph was the favored son. He was given a beautiful coat of many colors. As a teen, he had dreams of being a ruler over his family. There was so much hostility between him and his brothers, his brothers wanted to kill him. Instead, they sold him down into Egypt. 

In Egypt, Joseph was Potiphar's slave. In all he did, he was honest and became the trusted slave until Potiphar's wife had ideas of her own. Joseph would not do wrong because he was trusted but mostly because he wouldn't sin against God (Genesis 39:9). Potiphar's wife Jlied about the situation and had Joseph imprisoned in a dungeon. 

After two years and continuing to serve God and help others, Joseph was brought before Pharoah to interpret a dream. Joseph was then put in charge by Pharoah. Joseph collected enough grain in seven years to feed Egypt and the rest of the known world including his own family. 

When Joseph revealed himself, his brothers were afraid for their lives. Joseph had only love for them. Even after their father died, the brothers begged Joseph not to harm them. Joseph knew all he had gone through because of his brothers was part of God's plan to "save much people alive" (Genesis 50:20). 

Now how is Joseph a Jesus figure? He was His Father's only Son. He was sent first to the Jews, God's chosen people, who rejected Him and had Jesus crucified. Joseph's brothers thought they had sent him to his death. 

Jesus never sinned, though He was tempted. Jesus always did good for others.  Jesus went down into the grave because of jealousy. Think of Joseph going into the dungeon because of the jealousy of Potiphar's wife. 

Jesus came out of the grave and sits at the right hand of the Father. Joseph came out of the dungeon to be Pharoah's right-hand man. Joseph was a savior to all the known world, even his family.

Jesus came to seek and to save. He saves all who call upon His name. Joseph gave food to save the lives of all who came to him. One day all the world will know Jesus came to seek and to save us all. 

They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea. Isaiah 11:9

Hey Kids:

Do you like rooting for the underdog? Do you like reading books that have a problem to solve? 

Try finding the Jesus figure in the book you are reading. 

Make a list of the ways the hero of the book is like Jesus. 

Does the main character try to always do the right thing?

Does the right thing always seem to get him/her in trouble?

How is the main character helpful?

How is the problem solved? 

How can you write a story with a Jesus figure? It may just be a witnessing tool! 

Blessings, 

Gail