The Bible #5 – Its Focus
Gwang Hyuk Rhee was a Korean artist who drew Bible word art. In one drawing he wrote all the words from the Gospel of John line-by-line with shaded letters, some thick and some thin, so when you stand back they reveal a picture of Jesus Christ praying.
He expressed in art what is the focus of the entire Bible – Jesus.
What God revealed in the Old Testament points to Jesus Christ in the New Testament. Jesus himself recognized this.
After Jesus rose from the dead, “beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained” to two men on the way to Emmaus “what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself” (Luke 24:27).
To his eleven disciples Jesus later added, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms” (Luke 24:44).
We find Christ everywhere in the Bible.
Jesus is the new Adam. Through the disobedience of the first Adam came sin and death. Through the obedience of the second Adam came righteousness and new life (Romans 5:19; 1 Corinthians 15:22).
Jesus is the promised seed of Abraham. The promise to Abraham that all peoples on earth would be blessed through him was fulfilled in Jesus (Galatians 3:8).
Jesus is the greater Moses. Just as Moses led the people of God out of captivity in Egypt and to the Promised Land, Jesus leads us out of captivity to sin and into our inheritance in Christ (1 Corinthians 10:3).
Jesus is the superior son of David. David lived and died and was remembered as a man after God’s own heart. Jesus lived and died and rose again and ascended to heaven and is seated on God’s throne and will come again in power (Acts 2:29-34).
Jesus is the prophet’s Prophet. He spoke the truth with authority and power, not just in one nation, but for all people (Hebrews 1:1-2).
Jesus is the suffering Servant. He sacrificially carried the sins of the world, and then through his people extends his redemptive message and healing mission (1 Peter 2:4, 9).
Christ is the heart and central theme of the Bible. Albert Simpson called his Bible commentary series “Christ in the Bible.” From Genesis to Revelation, the message revolves around the person and ministry of Jesus Christ. All things reveal him and point to him.
~ Pastor Dave
