Disclaimer

Disclaimer: I am not a Biblical scholar. All my posts and comments are opinions and thoughts formulated through my current understanding of the Bible. I strive to speak of things that can be validated through Biblical Scriptures, and when I'm merely speculating, I make sure to note it. My views can be flawed, and I thus welcome any constructive perspectives and criticisms!

Sunday, June 19, 2011

Luke: The Bible is about Jesus


Luke 18:31-34
Sermon by Pastor Mark Driscoll

Jesus is found throughout the Old Testament, as listed below in the following categories:
 
1. Christophanies (appearances or non-physical manifestations of Jesus)
Jesus walked with Abraham
Jesus walked with Moses
Jesus wrestled with Jacob
Jesus called Isaiah into ministry
Jesus is THE angel of the Lord

2. Types
Adam vs Jesus
Priest vs High Priest
Jesus is the King of kings
Jesus is the ultimate prophet
Animal sacrifice vs Jesus as Lamb of God
Temple vs Jesus (Upon His death, we no longer need to go to a holy place to be with God. We go to Jesus, and Jesus comes to us. There is one mediator between us and God--Jesus.)
The Shepherd is Jesus
Judges vs THE Judge

3. Analogous Service
Jesus is the last Adam
Jesus was slain although He was innocent
Isaac carried his own wood to lay down willingly as a sacrifice. Jesus carried his own cross to be the ultimate sacrifice for the whole man kind
Jesus is the greater Joseph, who will bring eternal prosperity to His people
Jesus is the greater Jacob, who wrestled with Satan and defeated Satan
Jesus is the greater Moses, who is the one and only mediator between God and His people
Jesus is the greater David, who will be THE King of kings and rule with greater kindness and compassion
Jesus is the greater Jonah, who WILLINGLY and LOVINGLY saves people even when they don't deserve to be saved (Jonah did it with a grudge, for the people he saved were his country's enemies)
 
4. Events
Example: The Book of Exodus foreshadows the coming of Jesus
This is a more advanced teaching, so I won't delve too deeply into this. Just understand that the entire Book of Exodus foreshadows the coming of Jesus. For example, Passover (painting of animal blood on door posts allowed the angel of Death to pass over homes of God's people) foreshadows how the blood of the Lamb would one day wash away the sins of His people.
On a side note, Exodus also shows us how Jesus sets us free. It is important to realize that we are NOT free. We may think we are free, but in reality, we are only free to choose our master: Be it money, power, drugs, sex... basically anything that makes us twinge when we think about having to give it up. We can choose to follow any of those, or we can choose to follow Jesus, to have Jesus free us. By following Jesus and by confiding in him, Jesus sets us free. For He is the ONLY master who will shelter us and protect us. All other "masters" will only prey on our weakness and expose our vulnerability.

5. Titles
Jesus is the First and the Last
Jesus is the Rock
Jesus is Life
Jesus is the Redeemer
Jesus is the Husband (The Church is His wife)
Jesus is the Son of Man
Jesus is the Son of God
 
6. Prophecy
1000 BC (that is, 1000 years BEFORE Christ was born)[Psalm 16:10] predicted Jesus' resurrection
[Psalm 22:16] predicted that Jesus would be crucified by being nailed on the hands and feet--This was written in a time that crucifixion hadn't even been invented!
[Psalm 41:9] predicted that Judas would betray Jesus

700 BC
[Isaiah 50:6] predicted that Jesus would endure all the sufferings to fulfill His prophecy

[Isaiah 52:13-14] predicted that Jesus' crucifixion would result in His body was so beaten that He becomes unrecognizable
[Isaiah 53:8-12] predicted that Jesus would die for our sins, even though He was sinless. It also predicted that despite the fact that Jesus was poor, He would be buried in a rich man's tomb (as corroborated by the Gospels). It also predicted that Jesus would resurrect and fulfill all prophecies. And so, just like what Jesus said when He breathed His last on the cross: It is finished! When Jesus died on the cross, His mission to save His people is complete. He alone fulfilled all requirements for being THE Savior. This is why there is only way to God; there is only ONE mediator between God and His people. And that ONE and ONLY way is Jesus Christ.