“For if you believed Moses, you would have believed me;
for he wrote of me.”
John 5:46

I started reading my book on Old Testament Messianic prophecy this weekend. I tell you what, it’s a heavy read. It’s actually way above my paygrade, more in line for post-graduate work than your ordinary person on the street. Still, we should be reading above our level, and there is plenty that I do understand to keep me interested.

The first part simply defines the task at hand. Words are defined and schools of thought are laid out. You see, not everyone comes up with the same conclusions. Liberal Christianity would lead one to the understanding that the OT isn’t pointing to Jesus, while others will say the entirety of it points to Jesus. More on more, denominations are downplaying or even denying what was once held to be true. Whether OT or NT, our church leadership is drifting farther from the idea that Christ is God.

I’m not one of those. Why? Because I am strangely drawn to OT passages that to me speak of the Messiah and is embodied by Jesus. We’re all familiar with this first verse, but how about the second?

Isaiah 9:8 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and he name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Psalm 2:12 Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled.

Both of these speak Messiah to my Spirit. Even the first time I read Psalm 2, I just knew it was talking about Jesus!

That’s not to say I’m right, but I have this sense in so many other passages that the entire OT seems to me to be a book about Jesus. In my view, the entire bible is Jesus’ autobiography! The whole thing is about him – and his redemption of his people.

So, yes, I naturally lean towards Jesus as Lord and that he is revealed everywhere in scripture. That wasn’t always the case. My own inclination is to go another route. All of humanity does that – unless God intervenes. Only then are eyes, ears, and hearts opened to the saving power of the gospel. That is God’s doing, not man’s.

Satan knows the bible, yet he always uses it for his own purposes, always to discredit God and lead all away from the truth. Ultimately, the Father of Lies wants people to worship him, and he starts by discrediting God with our own sinful desires. It’s no wonder that so many universities are anti-Jesus. It’s no wonder that so many seminaries are as well.

Yet, when all is said and done, you and I won’t be able to point this way or that for excuses. We’ll be left all alone, face to face with Jesus, standing in judgment to this question:

“But who do you say that I am?”
Matthew 16:15

On that day, there will be no explanations. You will be either his or you will not. You don’t want to be on the wrong side of that.

Anyway, I want to know more about Jesus, and this is the way the Spirit is leading me. You’ll probably be reading more about this in the days, weeks, and months to come.

Father, what a gift you have given us in the bible. The more I dig, the more I find. Science, archeology, history, prophecy, you name it! Any angle I go, I find Jesus. What a joy it is! Amen!

Copyright © 2020 Scott Powers