READING THE BIBLE AS (8): Signposts to Christ & the Gospel

In this series of posts we’re exploring the different ways the Bible confronts the reader and the appropriate response to each.

#8 – READING THE BIBLE AS SIGNPOSTS TO CHRIST & THE GOSPEL

I used to read the Bible as a long, strange book of OT stories (e.g., David & Goliath, Noah and the Flood, Daniel in the Lion’s Den) that taught moral lessons but had little to do with the New Testament’s focus on Christ and the Gospel. Yet, we are very mistaken if we believe Christ and the Gospel only enters the story of the Bible in the New Testament. In fact, the entire Old Testament — Law and Prophets — serve as sign posts pointing us forward to the Christ who would come.  The OT is but “types and shadows” (Heb 10:1; 8:5) of the reality that came in Christ “in the fullness of time” (Gal 4:4). 

Jesus himself is the proof of this point.  Jesus said to the religious Bible teachers who knew the Scriptures backwards and forwards, “You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me” (John 5:39). This is a radically bold claim by Jesus!  Yes, according to Christ himself, all the OT Scriptures have himself as their ultimate goal.  And, as this incident seems to suggest, some people will read the Bible again and again and somehow miss Jesus who is found penetrating every page. 

Again, Luke tells us the story of the couple on the road who encountered the risen Christ and had their eyes opened to see Jesus penetrating the entire OT:  “Beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, [Jesus] interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself” (Luke 24:27). Yes, Jesus showed them how the entire Book was pointing them to himself.