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The Gospel of John - message 4
-- In the Beginning was the Word -- Jesus, the Word, is the Preeminent Theme of All Scripture January 2, 2011 VCF
The Word is preeminent "in the beginning", in the middle, in the process and through to the end. This word is Jesus Himself -- the Author and Finisher of Faith. For from him and through him and to him are all things To him be glory forever. Amen. Romans 11:36
Jesus is THE Preeminent theme of all Scripture -- And he said to them, "O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?" And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself. So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He acted as if he were going farther, but they urged him strongly, saying, "Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent." So he went in to stay with them. When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight. They said to each other, "Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?" Luke 24:25-32
And the Father who sent me has himself borne witness about me. His voice you have never heard, his form you have never seen, and you do not have his word abiding in you, for you do not believe the one whom he has sent. You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life. John 5:37-40
In the beginning was the Word . . . present and working the will of God
In Genesis . . . Jesus is the Promised Messiah whose heel will be bruised but who crushes head of Satan. And the offered Son, the true and heavenly Isaac, who was sacrificed for us. He is the seed of Abraham through whom the entire world was to be blessed.
In Exodus and Leviticus . . . Jesus is, "Christ our Passover Lamb" and our Exodus from "Egypt" (representing the world). He's the tabernacle in our midst and the High Priest who mediates between God and man who ever lives to make intercession for us.
In Numbers . . . Jesus is the serpent in the wilderness lifted up that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life.
In Deuteronomy . . . Jesus is the Greater Prophet than Moses with greater promises and a greater covenant; who not only teaches but writes His law in our heart. in Joshua . . . Jesus is Captain of our Salvation who goes forth conquering and to conquer. He makes us more than conquerors. In Christ we're always led in triumphal procession, and through us He spreads the fragrance of His knowledge everywhere. So that we confess greater is He that is in you than He that is in the world.
in Judges . . . Jesus is the Divinely Provided Leader who continually turns us back to God.
In Ruth . . . Jesus is the Kinsman/Redeemer who brings the unwanted Gentiles into covenant with God and makes them also part of His bride.
In Samuel . . . Jesus is the Greater King than David with a greater heart for God -- the Promised Messianic Ruler and Champion of His people
In Chronicles . . . Jesus is the Ultimate King who can bring about faithfulness to the covenant.
In Ezra . . . Jesus is the Greater Teacher who disciples the nation of believers and restores the principles of God.
In Nehemiah . . . Jesus is the Greater Builder of the church, of the temple and of a New Jerusalem.
In Esther . . . Jesus is the unnamed God who yet exhibits absolute and invisible control over all our circum-stances -- who is able to work all things together for good, to those who love God and are called according to His purpose.
In Psalms . . . Jesus is the exalted object of our greatest praise and desire -- the subject of God's predictive word -- the Son enthroned in Zion and יְהוָ֥ה רֹ֜עִ֗י לֹ֣א אֶחְסָֽר -- "the Lord My Shepherd" who cares for us all.
In Proverbs and Ecclesiastes . . . Jesus is our Wisdom and the Purpose for living.
In the Song of Solomon . . . Jesus is the Heavenly Bridegroom ever longing for His bride.
In Isaiah . . . Jesus is the Servant of the Lord, the Man of Sorrows and the Prince of Peace -- the Messianic offspring of David who fulfills all His will till all is made new.
In Jeremiah . . . Jesus is the Fountain of Living Water and the Judge of the rebellious.
In Lamentations . . . Jesus is the One who in the midst of greatest sorrow makes His mercies new every morning.
In Ezekiel . . . Jesus is the One who takes His presence with those who go into captivity. He is the Lord, ever present, who in grace will never leave or forsake the truly redeemed. But He builds an eternal and permanent dwelling for them in heaven.
In Daniel . . . Jesus is the 4th man in the fire who miraculously saves the three young Jews. He is the Rock of God not formed with human hands who breaks in pieces all the prideful and rebellious cultures and kingdoms of this world -- setting up God's eternal rule. In Hosea . . . Jesus is the One who faithfully brings back His remnant -- who heals their tragic unfaithfulness and still loves them freely.
In Joel . . . Jesus is the One who warns that without repentance the Day of the Lord, the Day of His Final Judgment will arrive on all. But He will in the Last Days pour out His Spirit on all the world through the gospel and make a new people for whom the Day of the Lord will be spectacularly glorious -- a 2nd coming of Jesus.
In Amos . . . Jesus is the One who raises up again after so long a time the Tabernacle of David. The Tent of Meeting with God, this time among both Jews and Gentiles and making of the two, one new man, all gathered to worship.
In Obadiah -- Jesus is Defender/Restorer of His people.
In Jonah . . .Jesus is the God of the Gentiles also.
In Micah . . . Jesus is Promised Ruler and Deliverer who is born in Bethlehem of whom it is written: Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression for the remnant of his inheritance? He does not retain his anger forever, because he delights in steadfast love. He will again have compassion on us; he will tread our iniquities underfoot. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea. 7:18-19
In Nahum . . . Jesus is our Stronghold in the day of trouble.
In Habakkuk . . . Jesus makes our feet like hinds' feet and takes us up into the high places of maturity in spirit.
In Zephaniah . . . Jesus is the Lord our God in our midst -- the Mighty One who will save, who will rejoice over us with gladness, who will quiet us by His love and will exult over us with loud singing.
In Haggai . . . Jesus is One who is appointed by God to shake up all nations -- even the heaven and earth -- to shake down -- to shake out all that is not founded on Lord and His righteousness of grace.
In Zechariah . . . Jesus is the One that we look upon who was pierced -- whom we pierced -- the One who pours out on the house of David a spirit of grace and pleas for mercy. 12:10
In Malachi . . . Jesus is the Son of Righteousness who rises with healing in His wings and scrubs clean the representatives of God.
In Matthew . . . Jesus is the often Predicted but now come on the scene, King of Israel and King of the World
In Mark . . . Jesus is Jehovah's Servant bringing in a kingdom of deliverance and healing and especially through the cross and resurrection.
In Luke . . . Jesus is the Son of Man
In John . . . Jesus is the Son of God
In Acts . . . Jesus is the Risen Lord active in His Church
In Romans . . . Jesus is One who justifies all who believe by grace and enables them to live for Him dedicated lives through the Holy Spirit.
In Corinthians . . . Jesus is the One we now see through a glass dimly as we navigate a very imperfect church life but whom we will ultimately see face to face. Who in the mean time we learn the priority of agape -- the special love of Christ. Patient and kind that does not envy or boast, that is not arrogant or rude, that does not insist on its own way, that is not irritable or resentful, that does not rejoice at wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth -- a love that bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things and endures all things. The love of Jesus that never ends.
In Galatians . . . Jesus is Author and Defender of true Christian liberty -- the liberty of God's amazing grace, a liberty that never takes advantage of grace in order to walk away from God and His will but instead walks in tune with the Spirit.
In Ephesians . . . Jesus is source of all spiritual blessing who loved us before the foundation of the world and will love us beyond the end of the world -- indeed, for all the ages to come.
In Philippians . . . Jesus has the Name above every Name who was obedient unto death, even death on the cross, that we might praise and love and cherish and obey Him and that we might rejoice in Him always -- and again I say, "REJOICE"!
In Colossians . . . Jesus is Exact Image of Invisible God
In Thessalonians . . . Jesus is our soon returning Lord
In Timothy and Titus . . . Jesus is the Practical Teacher and the One Mediator between God and man
In Philemon . . . Jesus is the Friend that sticks closer than even a natural brother
In Hebrews . . . Jesus is our Exalted and Compassionate High Priest, the Guarantor of all New Covenant blessings that we might endure all that this world throws at us and endure His discipline of faith to persevere.
In James . . . Jesus is called the Lord of Glory
In Peter's Letters . . . Jesus is the Shepherd and Guardian of our souls
In John's Letters . . . Jesus is that which was from the beginning which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands concerning the word of life. For the life was made manifest and we have seen it and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life which was with the Father and was made manifest to us
In Jude . . . Jesus is coming with 10,000 saints to close out history and consummate the kingdom of God
In Revelation . . . Jesus is the Unimaginably Pure Majesty reigning on High -- the Lamb that was slain but now crowned, adored and worshipped. Who with His own blood saved us and washed us from our sins. The King of Kings and Lord of Lords, alpha and omega, who reigns supreme in eternity. |
