"Christ Meets Us in the Book "

On an Easter Sunday just a few years back, Pastor Sergei Marchenko preached a sermon titled "Sunday Afternoon." He wanted to consider the effects of Jesus' resurrection, and how Christ meets us "on the road, in the book and at the table."

It was the middle section that really caught my ear, and elicited a rightful applause. It's a joy for me to show people the many and varied ways we can see Christ in all of Scripture. I've shared several different versions of "Jesus is the True and Better." I also frequently recommend three books: "The Jesus Storybook Bible" for kids and up, "The Stranger on the Road to Emmaus" for pre-teens and up and "The True Story of the Whole World" for those at higher reading levels. Each book can help supplement the understanding that the whole Bible really is the story of Jesus.

Similar to but a bit longer than "Jesus is the True and Better," Pastor Sergei compiled a phenomenal overview of Christ throughout Scripture shared below with permission. You can also listen to the entire sermon here.

I truly love that none of the resources shared here are anywhere near comprehensive, and that every similar exposure and consideration deepens my love for my Lord and His Book.


Christ Meets Us in the Book

“And he said to them, ‘O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?’ And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.”

Jesus takes them through the Bible to show them why they should not have been surprised that he died and rose again. The Bible is about Jesus. It is his book and he meets us there.

In Genesis he is the creator and the offspring promised to bruise the serpent’s head.

In Exodus he is the lamb whose blood on the doorframe caused the Lord to pass over the house and spare the firstborn of God’s people.

In Leviticus he is the holy high priest and the perfect sacrifice.

In Numbers he is the bronze serpent lifted high so that even a glance at him has the power to neutralize the venom in our veins.

In Deuteronomy he the great prophet who speaks on God’s authority. In Joshua he is the commander of the Lord’s army standing with his drawn sword in his hand.

In Judges he is the deliverer who saves his people out of the hand of those who plunder them.

In Ruth he the kinsman - redeemer.

In 1&2 Samuel, 1&2 Kings, 1&2 Chronicles he is the Prophet, Priest, and King.

In Ezra & Nehemiah he is the one who brings his people home, the restorer and rebuilder of the city of God.

In Esther he is the Invisible protector and preserver of his people.

In Job he is the mediator, the arbiter between God and man who can lay his hand on them both. He is of whom Job said: I know that my Redeemer lives, and at last he will stand upon the earth.

Psalms are the songs of Jesus, songs about Jesus, and songs sung to Jesus.

In Proverbs & Ecclesiastes he is the wisdom of God.

In the Song of Solomon he is the bridegroom in love with his bride.

In Isaiah he is the suffering servant who was pierced for our transgressions and crushed for our iniquities; upon whom was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with whose wounds we are healed.

In Jeremiah he is the righteous branch.

In Lamentations he weeps over the devastated city.

In Ezekiel he is the son of man.

In Daniel he is the fourth person in the furnace with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.

In Hosea he is the faithful husband forgiving his adulterous wife.

In Joel he is the Sender of the Spirit. In Amos he is the restorer of the fortunes of Israel.

In Obadiah he is the just judge over his people’s enemies.

In Jonah he is the one who pities the great city.

In Micah he is the ancient ruler to be born in Bethlehem.

In Nahum he is the avenger of his people.

In Habakkuk he is the answer to the prophet’s questions.

In Zephaniah he is the LORD God in the midst of his people, a mighty one who will save, who rejoices over them with gladness, quiets them by his love, and exults over them with loud singing.

In Haggai he is the shaker of heaven and earth, the shaker of nations, who will fill his temple with glory.

In Zechariah he is the pierced Messiah.

In Malachi he is the sun of righteousness with healing in its wings.

And the disciples on the road to Emmaus only had the Old Testament. We have the whole Bible.

In the Gospels his life, death and resurrection are recorded.

In Acts his life, death, and resurrection are preached.

In the Epistles his life, death, and resurrection are explained and applied.

In Revelation his return is anticipated.

Jesus is the true hero of all Bible stories.

Every blessing in the Bible is ultimately given to us in Christ. Every curse is the Bible is ultimately borne by Christ for the sake of his people.

Every genealogy culminates in Christ. Every teaching has Jesus as its chief subject. Every poem whispers his name.

Every promise is "yes" and "amen" in Christ Jesus, our Lord.

He is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end, King of kings and Lord of lords. Amen and amen.

"Jesus is the True & Better" video reboots

A few years back I first heard "Jesus is the True and Better" at a local church, and posted both a text version and a video presentation (in which I really appreciate the greater context of the talk and the "ministry implication" at the end). I've frequently shared those threads ever since to help teach people in a quick overview how to see Christ through all of Scripture.

Since then, a few new videos have been produced using the same or similar dialogue, and I really enjoy the creativity involved. Of the three, you may find one more appealing than the others, and I encourage you to share one or all of these with friends to help them also understand Scripture and see Jesus in a deeper way.

is the Bible mostly about you? or Who?

We're often taught that the Bible is about us and what we need to do and how we can relate to various characters throughout. But is that really what it's all about?

Much of the audio in this video matches the text found in the previous post. These have been incredibly helpful to share with youth and adult alike in understanding the Truth of Who Scripture is all about and seeing that it all points to Jesus.

Jesus is the true & better

I heard this quoted in a sermon earlier this year and wanted to share. I've been involved with a lot of discussions on this very reality lately, and it is never a bad time to get a good reminder about the wonder of who the Lord is, Perfect God and Perfect Man.

This focuses on how various individuals and events highlighted in the Bible point to Him. They could not be completely perfect. They could not completely obey. They could not completely fulfill. They could not completely save. Neither can we. Only Jesus did, does and can. And it's only in Him that we find all that we need.

Read on...

"Jesus is the true and better Adam who passed the test in the garden and whose obedience is imputed to us.

"Jesus is the true and better Abel who, though innocently slain, has blood now that cries out, not for our condemnation, but for acquittal.

"Jesus is the true and better Abraham who answered the call of God to leave all the comfortable and familiar and go out into the void not knowing wither he went to create a new people of God.

"Jesus is the true and better Isaac who was not just offered up by his father on the mount but was truly sacrificed for us. And when God said to Abraham, 'Now I know you love me because you did not withhold your son, your only son, whom you love from me,' now we can look at God taking his son up the mountain and sacrificing him and say, 'Now we know that you love us because you did not withhold your son, your only son, whom you love from us.'

"Jesus is the true and better Jacob who wrestled and took the blow of justice we deserved, so we, like Jacob, only receive the wounds of grace to wake us up and discipline us.

"Jesus is the true and better Joseph who, at the right hand of the king, forgives those who betrayed and sold him and uses his new power to save them.

"Jesus is the true and better Moses who stands in the gap between the people and the Lord and who mediates a new covenant.

"Jesus is the true and better Rock of Moses who, struck with the rod of God’s justice, now gives us water in the desert.

"Jesus is the true and better Job, the truly innocent sufferer, who then intercedes for and saves his stupid friends.

"Jesus is the true and better David whose victory becomes his people’s victory, though they never lifted a stone to accomplish it themselves.

"Jesus is the true and better Esther who didn’t just risk leaving an earthly palace but lost the ultimate and heavenly one, who didn’t just risk his life, but gave his life to save his people.

"Jesus is the true and better Jonah who was cast out into the storm so that we could be brought in.

"Jesus is the real Rock of Moses, the real Passover Lamb, innocent, perfect, helpless, slain so the angel of death will pass over us.

"He’s the true temple, the true prophet, the true priest, the true king, the true sacrifice, the true lamb, the true light, the true bread.

"The whole Bible is about Him."


Attribution note: The pastor who originally sent me this article was uncertain of attribution. I have since learned it is understood to have originated from Pastor Tim Keller, whose voice is heard in the video in this later post.