August 17, 2006

Christ "In All the Scriptures" by Ian Potts

The whole Bible has one central message, one theme, one subject, running right through it, from Genesis to Revelation, like a crimson cord threaded through each and every word – that message regards the person and the work of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. The message is clear – it concerns “Christ and Him Crucified”. Wherever we read in the scriptures, Old Testament or New, it is Christ who is being spoken of and it is Christ for whom we should look. To miss Christ – both His person and His work - is to miss the very heart, the very essence of the message of the word of God.

In Acts 8:32-35 we read of the Ethiopian eunuch in his chariot. The eunuch needed the Holy Spirit to open his understanding in the scriptures. But the message which Philip preached unto him from those Old Testament scriptures was clear – they spoke of Jesus. Jesus Himself confirmed this fact to the disciples in Luke 24:27 where we read: “And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.” Elsewhere we read that the scriptures testify of Christ: “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me” (John 5:39).

But not only has God given us the scriptures which testify of Christ, but the Holy Spirit, through the written word of God, testifies of the Living Word – the Lord Jesus Christ - that those chosen out of the darkness might comprehend the Light and believe on His name (John 1:12): “But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me” (John 15:26). How we need the Comforter, the Spirit of truth to give us eyes to see and ears to hear what wondrous things the Lord Jesus Christ has done in dying to save sinners. May God be pleased to give grace to see Christ in “all the scriptures”. By Ian Potts