A couple weeks ago a friend asked me if I had a post or a story about Joseph.

“Which one?” I asked. “Many colors, Jesus’ stepdad, the garden guy, or aka Barnabas?”

My friend was looking for “many colors.” But I was intrigued that there are four.

I mentioned yesterday that I’m talking about some projects that are on my mind. The first was about Lent. This one is about Bible biographies.

I would love to spend time writing biographical sketches of people from the Bible with simplicity and clarity, glimpses of the people who live inside the words. To see more than the simple snapshots contained in my ten words to my friend: “Many colors, Jesus’ stepdad, the garden guy, or aka Barnabas?”

What we remember of Joseph Number One is that he got a Broadway show with Donny Osmond. But what did he learn being exiled from his family and being spoken to by God and being honored by Pharaoh?

What we remember of Joseph Number Two is that he was around the manger when Jesus was born and that he’s not around when Jesus is grown up. But what does it mean to be “faithful to the law” and to want to show compassion (Matthew 1)?

What we remember of Joseph Number Three is that he was from Arimathea. But what are the implications of being rich, a follower of Jesus, a member of the council, and approaching Pilate for Jesus’ body?

What we remember of Joseph Number Four is approximately nothing, other than, when we look it up, seeing that he was called Barnabas.

I know that many people never learned what I’ve mentioned. That’s why compelling telling of their stories helps. Because we remember stories. We are stories.

So whose story would you like to tell?

—

I’ll write tomorrow about a way to do this, if you want to.