Just after his resurrection, Jesus appeared to a couple of his disciples on the road to Emmaus, and began to explain to them—from Moses and all the prophets, how every story in the Old Testament had been about him. He was trying to give them confidence that he really was who he had told them he was.
You might think that the resurrection itself was enough proof. But evidently Jesus believed it would be even more convincing to show them that every single page of a book written by more than 30 different authors over the space of 1,500 years had consistently told one story, and it was all about him.
We don’t know exactly what he said that day, but I imagine it would have sounded something like this:
In Genesis, I was the Word of God, creating the heavens and the earth. In Exodus, I was the Passover Lamb, whose blood was sprinkled on the doorposts of your heart so that you could escape the bonds of slavery. In Leviticus, I was the temple, the holy place where you met with God. In Numbers, I was your ever-present guide, your pillar of cloud by day and pillar of fire by night. In Deuteronomy, I was the prophet coming who is greater than Moses.
In Joshua, I was the conquering warrior leading you into the Promised Land. In Judges, I was the broken Savior rising up to rescue you. In Ruth, I was your kinsman-redeemer. In 1&2 Samuel, I was the pure-hearted shepherd king, who rushed out to face your giants all alone. In 1&2 Kings, I was the righteous ruler.
In 1&2 Chronicles, I was the restorer of the kingdom. In Ezra, the faithful scribe. In Nehemiah, the rebuilder of the walls. In Esther, I was your advocate, risking my life to restore you to royalty.
In Job, I was your living Redeemer. In the Psalms, I was the one who hears your cries. In Proverbs, I am wisdom personified. In Ecclesiastes, I am the meaning that lets you escape the madness. In the Song of Solomon, I am your lover and your bridegroom.
In Isaiah, I was the Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace, wounded for your transgressions and bruised for your iniquities. In Jeremiah, I am the Spirit that writes God’s laws on your hearts. In Lamentations, I was the weeping prophet. In Ezekiel, I was the river of life bringing healing to the nations. In Daniel, the fourth man in the fire. In Hosea, I was the ever-faithful husband pursuing my unfaithful bride. In Joel, I was the restorer of all that the locusts have eaten.
In Amos, I was your burden bearer. In Obadiah, the judge of all the earth. In Jonah, the prophet cast out into the storm so that you could be brought in. In Micah, the everlasting ruler born to us in Bethlehem.
In Nahum, the Avenger of God’s elect. In Habakkuk, your reason to rejoice even when our fields are empty. In Zephaniah, I am the great Reformer. In Haggai, the cleansing fountain. In Zechariah, the pierced Son whom every eye on earth will one day behold. And in Malachi, I am the Sun of Righteousness rising with healing in my wings.
But the Bible doesn’t end there. He wasn’t just promised. He came.
In Matthew, he’s the King of the Jews. In Mark, he’s the Son of God. In Luke, he’s the Savior born to us in the city of David, Christ the Lord. In John, he’s the Word become flesh, dwelling among us. In Acts, he is Christ the risen Lord, proclaiming salvation to the nations.
In Romans, he’s the Justifier.
In 1&2 Corinthians, the Spirit at work in the churches.
In Galatians, he is the righteousness imputed to us by faith.
In Ephesians, our righteous armor.
In Philippians, the God who meets our every need.
In Colossians, the firstborn of all creation.
In 1&2 Thessalonians, he’s descending from heaving with a shout, coming to meet us together in the clouds. In 1&2 Timothy, the one mediator between God and man. In Titus, our faithful pastor. In Philemon, our Redeemer, restoring us to service. In Hebrews, our great high priest.
In James, the life at work in our faith. In 1&2 Peter, our living cornerstone. In 1, 2, and 3 John, our advocate, pleading his righteousness in our place. In Jude, he’s God our Savior, the one who keeps us from stumbling and presents us blameless in his presence with great joy.
And in Revelation, he’s the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end, the Lamb slain before the foundation of the world, the King of kings and the Lord of lords.
It’s always only ever been about him. He is the center of it all.
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