JESUS EXPOSITION OF THE WORD

Three days earlier, the Messiah was crucified, dead and buried. This left His disciples devastated, even though the Scriptures testified about  these things concerning Jesus. Sadly, there hearts were focused on earthly things and cannot comprehend the resurrection of Jesus Christ. They refused to believe God’s word and the evidence of the empty tomb (Luke 24:13-26).

And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself. Luke 24:27 ESV

This verse testifies that the whole of Scripture is about the Lord Jesus. Most importantly, the Scriptures should be read in light of God’s work through Jesus. Crucially, all Christian preaching should be centred on the Person, life and work of Christ. However, the disciples lacked understanding of true spiritual truths. Hence, the Word who is Jesus interpreted the Scriptures about Himself.

The question is, what would that survey of scripture would have been like. Well, Jesus started with Moses. In his closing messages, from the book of Deuteronomy, Moses spoke about a Prophet that God will raise among His people. Since then the Israelites were looking forward to this Prophet and the command was that they should listen to Him (Deuteronomy 18:5).

After the feeding of the five thousand, some of the people began to perceive that Jesus might be that Prophet. Possibly because the miracle of the feeding of the five thousand alludes to Moses feeding the people manna from heaven, obviously it was God that rained down the bread from heaven. Most assuredly, Jesus was the fulfilment of Moses prophecy. He is the ultimate Prophet (John 6:14, Hebrews 1:1-4). 

Importantly, the law that Moses mediated, revealed Jesus holy nature as God but also He fulfilled it. Furthermore, the tabernacle and the sacrificial system were pointing to the perfect Lamb of God (Hebrews 10:1-10).

In Jesus’s exposition of the Word, the mystery of the brazen serpent would have possibly been a feature. The real life event that happened in the wilderness was a parable of how salvation can be granted to those who believe.

The symbolism is that the Son of Man will be man’s representative but will not be a sinner like them. They have been bitten by the fiery serpent which is Satan but if they look to the raised One on the pole they will be healed. How true it is when we look to the cross believing in the One who hung on it (Numbers 21:8-9, John 3:14-15).

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?

Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning? Psalm 22:1 ESV

The penultimate words of Jesus before He died were predicted by David. Jesus is the eternal King who will suffer first before He enter His glory. This was the point Jesus was driving home to the disciples as He interpreted the scriptures concerning Himself.

Isaiah was the main Messianic Prophet who spoke of a Mighty God and Eternal King. However, this Eternal King is also the Suffering Servant. Furthermore, Isaiah gave a detailed account of Jesus trial, crucifixion, death and burial (Isaiah 9:6-7, 53:1-12). 

Similarly, Daniel spoke of the Son of Man who is a Heavenly figure that will judge everyone at the end of the age but also will reign forever. At the same time, the Anointed one will put an end to sacrifice and atone for sin (Daniel 7:13-14, Daniel 9:24-26). Also, Jeremiah declared that God will raise up a Righteous Branch that will reign forever with righteousness and justice (Jeremiah 23:5-6).

Prior to the Prophets, one of the Patriarchs Jacob prophesied about the King who will descend from the tribe of Judah ( Genesis 49:10). Nonetheless, the suffering of Christ was first proclaimed by God to Adam and Eve in Eden. Therefore, it was always Jesus destiny to suffer first before He enter His glory ( Genesis 3:15).

For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol,

or let your holy one see corruption. Psalm 16:10 ESV

The spirit of prophecy was bestowed on David and that prophecy in this instance was Christ. According to David, Christ will not stay on the grave and in Psalm 110:1 He will be exalted to God’s right hand. Hence if the Messiah will reign forever but at the same time suffer for His people. It stands to reason that He will suffer first before He enter into glory.

They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?” Luke 24:32 ESV

After Jesus exposition of the Bible, He opened the eyes of their hearts and they were transformed. They grasped the truth of the risen Christ and walked back to Jerusalem empowered with renewed faith. Lastly, the only way one can be transformed is to have a Christ-Centred approach to the Bible. Ultimately, the heart that is illumined by the Spirit to see Christ’s glory will be transformed (John 16:13-14, John 1:14).