5.Job: A Type of Christ

1. Mediator & Intercessor.

Intercession turns away God’s wrath. “And so, after the Lord had spoken these words to Job, the Lord said to Eliphaz the Temanite, “My wrath is aroused against you and your two friends, for you have not spoken of Me what is right, as My servant Job has. Therefore, take for yourselves seven bulls and seven rams, go to My servant Job, and offer up for yourself a burnt offering; and My servant Job shall pray for you. For I will accept him, lest I deal with you according to your folly; because you have not spoken of Me what is right, as My servant Job has.” (Job 42:7-8). Job served as a mediator between God and his friends. He used seven bulls and seven rams, representing a perfect sacrifice.

Jesus is our Mediator (1 Tim 2:5). “For by that one offering He forever made perfect those who are being made holy.” (Heb 10:14; NLT). 

2. Mocked.

A crowd mocked both men. Job 30:1, “But now they mock at me, men younger than I, whose fathers I disdained to put with the dogs of my flock.” Jesus was mocked. “Now the men who held Jesus mocked Him and beat Him.” (Luke 22:63).

3. Rejected By Friends, Accepted By God.

Job friends spoke some truths but condemned him many times. “So Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite went and did as the Lord commanded them; for the Lord had accepted Job.” (Job 42:1).

Jesus was rejected by His brethren (John 1:11). “And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” (Matt 3:17).

4. Cried out to God.

Both men cried out to God. Job 30:20, “I cry out to You, but You do not answer me; I stand up, and You regard me.” Jesus cried out with a loud voice. “And about the ninth hour, Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” that is, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” (Matthew 27:46).

5. Wealth But Became Poor.

Job was the wealthiest man in his days. “Also, his possessions were seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yokes of oxen, five hundred female donkeys, and a very large household, so that this man was the greatest of all the people of the East.” (Job 1:3-4). Then, he lost everything in one day. (Job 1:13-20). Jesus was rich but became poor for our sake. “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yt for your sakes, He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.” (1 Cor 8:9).

6. Blameless.

There is no human being without sin, but we have a testimony of Job. He is likened to Jesus because God Himself was pleased with Him. “Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?” (Job 1:8). “There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was blameless and upright, and one who feared God and shunned evil.”” (Job 1:1).

Jesus Is The Righteous One.

Malachi 4: 2 calls Jesus the “Sun of Righteousness.” In Jeremiah 23:5 and 33:15 calls Jesus “The Branch of Righteousness.” Jeremiah 23:6, “In His days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell safely; now this is His name by which He will be called: THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.”

• In Matthew 27:19, this is the testimony of Pilate’s wife, “While he was seated on the judgment seat, his wife sent him a message, saying, “Have nothing to do with that righteous and innocent Man; for last night I suffered greatly in a dream because of Him.” (AMP).
• Matthew 27:24 (AMP), “So when Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but rather that a riot was breaking out, he took water and washed his hands [to ceremonially cleanse himself of guilt] in the presence of the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this [righteous] Man’s blood; see to that yourselves.”
• The thief at the right hand of the Lord confesses: “We are suffering justly because we are getting what we deserve for what we have done; but this Man has done nothing wrong.” (Luke 23:41; AMP).
• Luke 23:47, “Now when the centurion saw what had taken place, he began praising and honouring God, saying, “Certainly this Man was innocent.”
• 1 Peter 1:19, “But [you were purchased] with precious blood, like that of a [sacrificial] lamb unblemished and spotless, the priceless blood of Christ.”

7. Exalted After Suffering.

Job was exalted after his suffering. “Now the Lord blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning.”  (Job 42:12).

Jesus was exalted after His suffering. “Therefore, God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Phil 2:9-11).

8. Spiritual Battle.

Job’s suffering was not directly because of his sin, but there was a spiritual contest. “And the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your power; only do not lay a hand on his person.” So, Satan went out from the presence of the Lord.” (Job 1:12). The Lord’s suffering was not physical but spiritual. “In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.” (John 1:4). “But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory, which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.” (1 Cor 2:7-8). Satan entered Judas to betray Jesus. “And after the sop, Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him that thou does do quickly.” (Jn 13:27; KJV). Jesus contended with the devil throughout His life. “Now, when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from Him until an opportune time.” (Luke 4:13; emp added).

9. Both Were Falsely Accused.

Although Job did not humbly submit to God to pardon him, his friends accused him wrongly. Job 19:1-2. “Then Job answered and said: “How long will you torment my soul and break me in pieces with words? Jesus was falsely accused. “For he knew that they had handed Him over because of envy.” (Matt 27:18). “Now the chief priests, the elders, and all the council sought false testimony against Jesus to put Him to death, but found none.” (Matt 26:59).

10. Encountered God.

God revealed Himself to Job and spoke to him personally. God gave a stern warning to Job because of all the statements he made about God. “Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind and said: “Who is this who darkens counsel by words without knowledge? Now prepare yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer Me.” (Job 38:1). Throughout chapters 38 to 41, God spoke till he repented in chapter 42. Jesus was God in the flesh. Right in His baptism, the heavens opened, and God spoke to Him. The Spirit abided and remained on Him throughout His ministry. He did everything based on what He saw the Father doing. (Jn 5:19).

11. Suffered Due to God’s Will.

There are suffering that comes to us directly because of our sins, and some of them aren’t the will of God. For example, it is not the will of God for people to perish or live in sickness, even though some Christians teach that God makes people sick. That isn’t true because I don’t have time to go into that. “Therefore, let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator.” (1 Peter 4:19). “He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.” (Matt 26:39).

12. Both Taught Us Not to Lust.

“I have made a covenant with my eyes; why then should look upon a young woman?” (Job 31:1). “But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” (Matt 5:28)