It All Points to Jesus

I love Christmas. We celebrate the birth of the King of Kings. We are reminded that God initiated a rescue plan to redeem us and reconcile us back to Himself. Where do we get our evidence that the birth of Jesus was the hinge point of history? Where do we learn that Jesus' birth changed everything and was the promised hope we were looking for? The Gospel accounts tell us the story of Jesus and what he accomplished, but it is the Old Testament Scriptures that show us why Jesus' birth is so important. It is the Old Testament that tells us that we should be expecting a king, a messiah, a Savior.

As Christians today we often ignore the Old Testament as if were just a bunch of history. Sometimes we view it as the story of the vengeful and wrathful God, only to give way to the loving God of the New Testament. Not only is this view wrong, it is downright heretical. God is unchanging. The same God who announced judgment and enacted judgment in the Old Testament, is the same God who brought Israel out of exile when they repented, spared the city of Nineveh, and promised to provide redemption through a Savior. When we begin to think about Jesus, we need to understand that he came as a fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecies and promises.

Jesus himself tells us that all of the Old Testament points to him. After Jesus' resurrection he appears to two men on the road. They did not recognize Jesus and were actually telling Jesus about what had happened to Jesus. In the midst of talking with them Jesus had to tell them the meaning of it all because they did not understand: ²⁵He said to them, "How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! ²⁶Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?" ²⁷And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself. - Luke 24:25-27 Jesus says that the Old Testament Scriptures point to him. Notice he even references every section of the Old Testament (Moses and the prophets). Jesus explains to them how the Scriptures (being Old Testament Scriptures at the time) pointed to and spoke of him. After Jesus leaves them they discuss how their hearts burned within them as he opened up the Scriptures.

It all points to Jesus. Remember this season that God communicates with us through His Word. Remember that God fulfills His promises. Remember that there is no difference between the God of the Old Testament and the God of the New Testament...God is not divided, there is but One God, distinctly understood in three persons (Father, Son, Holy Spirit). Remember that salvation was bought for you at a price. The price was the life of Jesus Christ, who became the sacrificial lamb, and who died a death in our place, that we might live. He who was rich became poor so that we who are poor could become rich (2 Corinthians 8:9). That richness is a life lived redeemed and justified before the Living God. Remember in the midst of all your family get-togethers, services, dinners, gifts, and all the festivities: it all points to Jesus.