Jesus: Truer and Better
A basic principle of Christian theology is that the whole Bible is about Jesus. Jesus himself taught his disciples this: "Beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures" (Luke 24:27). Paul also spoke of "the gospel of God, which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures, concerning his Son..." (Romans 1:2).
But many of us are less than adept at seeing and savoring Jesus in the whole Bible. Tim Keller has been a big help to Will and me in this area. Keller preaches Jesus as the "true and better" of every character in the Bible. Here's a sampling:
Jesus is the true and better Adam, who passed the test in the garden and whose obedience is imputed to us.
Jesus is the true and better Abel, who, though innocently slain, has blood now that cries out not for our condemnation, but for our acquittal.
Jesus is the true and better Abraham who answered the call of God to leave all the comfortable and familiar, and go out into the void, not knowing whither he went, to create a new people of God.
Jesus is the true and better Isaac, who was not just offered up by his Father on the mount,but was truly sacrificed for us. And when God said to Abraham, "now I know you love me, because you did not withhold your son, your only son whom you love from me, now we can look at God, taking his son up the mountain and sacrificing Him, and say," now we know that you love us, because you did not withhold your son, your only son whom you love from us."
Jesus is the true and better Jacob who wrestled and took the blow of justice we deserve, so we, like Jacob, only receive the wounds of grace to wake us up and discipline us.
Jesus is the true and better Joseph, who at the right hand of the king, forgives those who betrayed and sold Him, and uses His new power to save them.
Jesus is the true and better Moses, who stands in the gap between the people and the Lord and who mediates a new covenant.
Jesus is the true and better rock of Moses who was struck with the rod of God's justice, and now gives us water in the desert.
Jesus is the true and better Job, the truly innocent sufferer who then intercedes for and saves his stupid friends.
Jesus is the true and better David, whose victory becomes his people's victory though they never lifted a stone to accomplish it themselves.
Jesus is the true and better Esther, who didn't just risk losing an earthly palace, but lost the ultimate and heavenly one, who didn't just risk his life, but gave his life to save his people.
Jesus is the true and better Jonah, who was cast out into the storm so we could be brought in.
Jesus is the real rock of Moses.
He is the real passover lamb, innocent, perfect, helpless, slain so that the angel of death would pass over us.
He is the true temple, the true prophet, the true priest, the true king, the true sacrifice, the true lamb, the true light, the true bread... The Bible's really not about you, it's about Him.
But many of us are less than adept at seeing and savoring Jesus in the whole Bible. Tim Keller has been a big help to Will and me in this area. Keller preaches Jesus as the "true and better" of every character in the Bible. Here's a sampling:
Jesus is the true and better Adam, who passed the test in the garden and whose obedience is imputed to us.
Jesus is the true and better Abel, who, though innocently slain, has blood now that cries out not for our condemnation, but for our acquittal.
Jesus is the true and better Abraham who answered the call of God to leave all the comfortable and familiar, and go out into the void, not knowing whither he went, to create a new people of God.
Jesus is the true and better Isaac, who was not just offered up by his Father on the mount,but was truly sacrificed for us. And when God said to Abraham, "now I know you love me, because you did not withhold your son, your only son whom you love from me, now we can look at God, taking his son up the mountain and sacrificing Him, and say," now we know that you love us, because you did not withhold your son, your only son whom you love from us."
Jesus is the true and better Jacob who wrestled and took the blow of justice we deserve, so we, like Jacob, only receive the wounds of grace to wake us up and discipline us.
Jesus is the true and better Joseph, who at the right hand of the king, forgives those who betrayed and sold Him, and uses His new power to save them.
Jesus is the true and better Moses, who stands in the gap between the people and the Lord and who mediates a new covenant.
Jesus is the true and better rock of Moses who was struck with the rod of God's justice, and now gives us water in the desert.
Jesus is the true and better Job, the truly innocent sufferer who then intercedes for and saves his stupid friends.
Jesus is the true and better David, whose victory becomes his people's victory though they never lifted a stone to accomplish it themselves.
Jesus is the true and better Esther, who didn't just risk losing an earthly palace, but lost the ultimate and heavenly one, who didn't just risk his life, but gave his life to save his people.
Jesus is the true and better Jonah, who was cast out into the storm so we could be brought in.
Jesus is the real rock of Moses.
He is the real passover lamb, innocent, perfect, helpless, slain so that the angel of death would pass over us.
He is the true temple, the true prophet, the true priest, the true king, the true sacrifice, the true lamb, the true light, the true bread... The Bible's really not about you, it's about Him.
posted by Bob | 10:28 AM
3 Comments:
Ummm...wow.
An absolutely incredible perspective...very moving and thought provoking. I love reading through the Old Testament with this framework and trying to see the ways in which the Prophets were referring to Jesus. This is great stuff.
wes
I love it! Thank you for sharing that!
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