The Scriptures that Speak of Christ

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The Scriptures that Speak of Christ
Jesus is the Subject of the Bible John 539
You study the Scriptures diligently because you
think that in them you have eternal life. These
are the very Scriptures that testify about me
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The Scriptures that Speak of Christ
Jesus is the Subject of the Bible Luke 2427,
44-45 And beginning with Moses and all the
Prophets, he explained to them what was said in
all the Scriptures concerning himself. He said
to them, This is what I told you while I was
still with you Everything must be fulfilled that
is written about me in the Law of Moses, the
Prophets and the Psalms. Then he opened their
minds so they could understand the Scriptures.
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The Scriptures that Speak of Christ

• Jesus is the Subject of the Bible
• Wondered what he said
• Problem is I looked for list of predictions (the
  trees)
• Looking for which verses related (rather than
  ALL)
• Or, look for moral examples for me to learn from
• Two preoccupations (predictions and moral
  examples) hinder us from understanding the OT
• NT give us proper understanding
• Equip you to read the OT with perspective on
  Christ

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The Scriptures that Speak of Christ

• What the Old Testament IS (and is not)
• Not
• Collection of predictions and prophecies about
  Jesus to prove
• Plan A that failed Jews couldnt keep the Law so
  God sent Jesus as plan B
• A source for us to find a personal nugget of
  self-help (Daily Bread approach)

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The Scriptures that Speak of Christ

• What the Old Testament IS (and is not)
• Is
• Account of Gods work win back all lost at the
  Fall
• Source to understand our identity
• Who am I?
• Where did I come from?
• What is my purpose in life?
• Where is history going?
• Why am I here?
• How do I relate to others?
• How do I make decisions?

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The Scriptures that Speak of Christ

• Purpose of the class
• Christianity is not a personal relationship with
  Christ as much as it is an identity that is
  rooted in Christ
• Christianitycooperating with Gods work in
  Christ to restore all that was lost at the fall
• Jesus and his Old Testament Story
• Jesus and his Old Testament Promise
• Jesus and his Old Testament Identity
• Jesus and his Old Testament Mission
• Jesus and his Old Testament Values
• Woven together Law, Prophets, Psalms

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The Scriptures that Speak of Christ

• References
• Knowing Jesus Through the Old Testament
  (Wright)
• To Understand the Bible Look for Jesus
  (Geisler)
• Beyond the Obvious (DeYoung and Hurty)
• Last caveats
• Happy for questions or clarifications
• Not an Old Testament Survey course
• Not spending time on specific books or passages
• Introduction on how to do your own study
• Powerpoints at Emmanuel website

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The Scriptures that Speak of Christ
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The Scriptures that Speak of Christ
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The Scriptures that Speak of Christ
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The Scriptures that Speak of Christ

• Every great story has a back story
• This is how we understand the opening of NT
  (Matthew 118)
• This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came
  about
• For the Jews Each name had a story
• Not just a dry list of names any more than Thor,
  Captain America, Hulk, Black Widow are to
  Americans

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The Scriptures that Speak of Christ

• The NT opens in dramatic style
• OT history followed by 400 years of silence
• Suddenly God breaks into history at Christmas
• Drama is accentuated because of OT backstory
• Matthew 11-17 opens whole NT (gospel to Jews)
• Why not get on with the story? Virgin
  conceptions, mysterious Kings of east, priests
  going dumb, intrigue with Joseph, mangers, inns,
  shepherds
• Wont understand the story without the larger
  context that goes back centuries
• Mt. 11-17 is the previously on Lost update

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The Scriptures that Speak of Christ

• Summary and schematic history
• Jesus (v. 1) Abraham and David (two key
  characters)
• Three expanding sections (v. 17) Abraham-David
  David-Exile Exile-Jesus
• Every Jew knew the stories, names, events
• 17- verse summary of 1400 pages
• Matthew You can understand Jesus properly if
  you see Him in the light of this story that he
  completes and brings to climax.

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The Scriptures that Speak of Christ

• Continuity of the Testaments
• OT-NT link interfacing two great Acts of Gods
  drama
• Act One God prepares the world for
  Prophet/Priest/King (the drama is set)
• Act Two Messiah is Revealed (climax)
• Climax of story needs a build-up
• OT helps understand in two directions
• Forward Oh, I see where this is going
• Backward Oh, I see where that came from
• Studying OT like watching a movie that you notice
  more subtleties each time you watch it See Jesus

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The Scriptures that Speak of Christ

• Continuity of the Testaments
• Consistent content
• Establish Israel over the nations
• Bring justice to the earth
• Gather in and bless the nations
• Consistent pattern
• Gods purpose is increasingly revealed
• Progressive revelation

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Jesus Old Testament Story
Christ
Exile
David
Abraham
Matthew 11-17
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Jesus Old Testament Story

• Jesus was a real Jew (son of Abraham)
• Jesus was a real man family ancestry culture
• Not abstract composite human being (in our image)
• Jewish man from a Jewish town with Jewish
  relatives
• Jesus of Nazareth (Jamaal-Compton Gustavo-NH)
• Historical source (not mythological place in
  clouds)

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Jesus Old Testament Story

• Jesus was a real Jew (Son of Abraham)
• God made a promise to Abraham (Gen. 121-3) Go
  from your country, your people and your fathers
  household to the land I will show you. I will
  make you into a great nation, and I will bless
  you I will make your name great, and you will be
  a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and
  whoever curses you I will curse and all peoples
  on earth will be blessed through you.
• Content Great nation curse/judgment bless
  nations

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Jesus Old Testament Story

• Jesus was a real Jew (Son of Abraham)
• Jesus belongs to a people existing for a purpose
  bigger than themselves
• Abrahams people are set apart for all humanity
• Abrahams line has destiny, purpose, mission
• Matthews geneology underscores universal purpose
• Long list of fathers - four mothers
• Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, Bathsheba
• Awkward/irregular past (context for Mary)
• All Gentiles (foreigners)
• Jesus is heir of a mixed Jewish-Gentile line

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Jesus Old Testament Story

• Jesus was the Son of David
• Royal line of David - King of the Jews
• Matthew kingly ancestry (Luke legal geneology)
• OT expectation of Messiahs coming to rule as
  King
• Israel as political ruler
• Justice, liberation, restoration on earth
• Consolidation of the nations through Israel
• Son of David evoked universal purpose of Israel
• Blessing to the nations (Abraham) expanded (David)

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Jesus Old Testament Story
Jesus was the Son of David Ps. 728-14 May he
rule from sea to sea and from the River to the
ends of the earth Israels rule. May the desert
tribes bow before him and his enemies lick the
dust. May the kings of Tarshish and of distant
shores bring tribute to him. May the kings of
Sheba and Seba present him gifts. May all kings
bow down to him and all nations serve him
consolidation of the nations. For he will
deliver the needy who cry out, the afflicted who
have no one to help. He will take pity on the
weak and the needy and save the needy from death.
He will rescue them from oppression and violence,
for precious is their blood in his sight
justice, restoration.
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Jesus Old Testament Story

• Jesus was the Son of David
• Abrahams promise expanded in more detail through
  David political and social
• Jews understood the rich meaning of Son of
  David as what that would mean geopolitically
• Abraham bless Israel bless nations
• David Israel as ruler justice to the earth
  ingathering nations

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Jesus Old Testament Story

• Jesus is the end of the OT preparation (v.17)
• Frequent use of 3s/7s (completeness/perfection)
• OT schema falls into three timespans of nearly
  identical generations (of 147x2)
• Abrahams promise - Davids reign (1900-1000)
• David - destruction of monarchy exile (1000-600)
• Exile - Messiah (throne of David 600 B.C. - 5
  A.D.)

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Jesus Old Testament Story

• Jesus is the end of the OT preparation
• God is a God of history
• God is bringing about an eschaton (ultimate
  event, end-time event eschatology)
• In Jesus this anticipation is complete (The time
  is fulfilled, the Kingdom of God is at hand)
• In Jesus, the forces have landed at Normandy
• Jesus completes the period of anticipation

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Jesus Old Testament Story

• Jesus is the beginning of NT fulfillment
• An account of the genesis of Jesus, the messiah
• Connect Genesis 24 and 51 (This is the account
  of the heavens and the earth when they were
  created, when the Lord God made the earth and the
  heavens This is the written account of Adams
  family line.
• Deliberate use of genesis announcing new
  beginning
• John reference to Genesis 11 - In the
  beginning was the Word, and the Word was with
  God, and the Word was God.
• Mark 11-3 and Luke 1-3 OT Jewish references

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Jesus Old Testament Story

• Jesus is the beginning of NT fulfillment
• Jesus end of anticipation/beginning climactic
  episode
• Last time on DS9And now the conclusion...
• All this is being said in Mt. 11-17 with greater
  power than Dodger/Muppet/Marvel images
• Jesus is the end of the OT and beginning of NT

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Jesus Old Testament Story

• The Story Summarized Creation to Abraham The
  problem
• God created the heavens and the earth with man
  created in Gods image
• Man rebelled against Gods rule (Fall)
• The rest of the Bible is the account of Gods
  intent to win back all that is lost at the Fall
• Gen.11-315
• Gen. 315-Rev. 22
• Gen. 3-11 frames the problem of mankind global
  corruption and violence, Flood, Tower of Babel
• Gen. 12 Introduces the answer through Abraham

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Jesus Old Testament Story

• The Story Summarized Abraham to David
• Elderly childless couple, promise to solve the
  problem
• Contrast to Tower of Babel, God would solve the
  problem through a nation, a Son to bring blessing
  on a global scale
• God is established as a God who promises to act
• Through a nation (Abraham, Isaac, Jacob
  Israel)
• Under which all the nations can benefit
• Migrating to Egypt, Israel enslaved and exploited

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Jesus Old Testament Story

• The Story Summarized Abraham to David
• God liberates Israel reveals new name (Yahweh)
• God recognized as liberator and Redeemer for the
  oppressed
• Exodus becomes the model of Biblical redemption
• God gives Israel an upgraded sense of identity
• Fresh revelation of His relationship with His
  chosen people
• Among all the nations, lovingly gives them
  revelation on how to live
• Different from the pagan nations of the earth
  (holy different for unique purpose)

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Jesus Old Testament Story

• The Story Summarized Abraham to David
• God gives Israel an upgraded sense of identity
• Instructions to protect and care for the weakest
• Instructions on feasts, festivals, and events to
  help shape their cultural identity
• Rescue and relationship first Law came second
• Law never meant to gain or retain relationship
• Misread OT Law as a means of salvation
• Meant for the purposes of God for that time
• Establish Israel as Gods instrument
• Restore justice to the earth
• Consolidate the nations under Gods Rule

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Jesus Old Testament Story

• The Story Summarized Abraham to David
• Series of ungrateful responses to Gods
  deliverance
• God brings them to a geographical land for His
  purposes
• At Conquest, brings an end to Canaans demon
  worship building up during Egyptian bondage
• Judges up and down disobedience and renewal
• Driven by desire to be like other nations
• Rejected God as King asking for human ruler
• God redeemed action into vehicle of His own
  purpose Kingship a central part of overall plan

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Jesus Old Testament Story

• The Story Summarized David to Exile
• David consolidates Israel politically in land
  promised to Abraham
• Natural arc from Abraham to David
• Borders secured, nation established, living in
  relationship to God
• Davidic covenant Like Abrahamic promise, David
  promised a Son with eternal significance (more
  detail)
• Solomon extended Israels influence building the
  temple envisioned by David

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Jesus Old Testament Story

• The Story Summarized David to Exile
• Temple physical focal point of Gods presence
  with his chosen (holy) people
• Solomon slipped into oppression and idolatry
• Rehoboam extended oppression
• Overflowed into civil war and rebellion
• Schism between nations (Israel and Judah)
• Dark history of idolatry and renewal
• Always a faithful remnant

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Jesus Old Testament Story

• The Story Summarized David to Exile
• Judah more faithful than Israel, but each in
  gradual decline into idolatry and injustice
• God sent prophets to call people to Gods ways
• Growing oppression of the poor
• Increasing corruption in the markets and courts
• New ways to worship demons (foreign gods)
• Forgotten purpose as a holy nation (for nations)
• 721 BC Assyria exiled Israel and imported
  Gentiles
• Judah held on longer with renewal
  (Hezekiah/Josiah)

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Jesus Old Testament Story

• The Story Summarized David to Exile
• Judah eventually fell to apostasy and Gods
  discipline
• Temple destroyed
• People exiled to Babylon in 587 BC
• Complete reversal of the promise
• Monarchy was gone
• Promised land was gone
• Under Gentile rule

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Jesus Old Testament Story

• The Story Summarized David to Exile
• Matthews list of unjust Jewish kings a reminder
  their evil actions and prophets who spoke against
  them
• Key characteristics of God are previewed in Jesus
• God is sovereign and is approached only by grace
• God rules in righteousness and expects ethical
  behavior
• God values morality above religious duties

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Jesus Old Testament Story

• The Story Summarized (Lessons of David-Exile)
• God is determined to keep His promise
• Established Israel as His agent of redemption
• God is patient to take time to accomplish purpose
• God prefers to do his work through His people
• If they wont cooperate, Hell work through exile
• God is a God of justice he wont put up with
  oppression forever before He acts
• God is sovereign over all the nations, not just
  Israel
• Exile shapes and molds Israels identity

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Jesus Old Testament Story

• The Story Summarized Exile to Jesus
• Exile lasted 70 yrs. (destruction to rebuilding
  temple)
• Exile shows
• Gods redemptive intention (e.g. Esther)
• Prophets shaped interpretation of historical
  events
• Spoke of hope for return
• Expanded understanding of Gods purposes
• Messiah King coming to restore Israel
• To bring justice, teaching, and salvation
• To the ends of the earth

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Jesus Old Testament Story

• The Story Summarized Exile to Jesus
• Israels return God returned them in dramatic
  fashion
• Cyrus, the pagan king
• Ezra the priest
• Nehemiah the cupbearer-leader extraordinaire
  restored dignity and identity
• Encouragement of prophets Haggai and Zechariah
• Israel in tatters and sluggish in purpose
  (Malachi)
• Israel still not sovereign nation
• Greek rule brief independence Rome in 63 B.C.

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Jesus Old Testament Story

• The Story Summarized Exile to Jesus
• Lessons from the exile
• Profound chastening effect on the psyche of
  Israel
• Exile was punishment for Israels disobedience
• No desire to go through exile again
• Increased devotion to the Law
• Great anticipation to hasten Messiahs coming
• Restore Israel politically
• Restore justice (punishment of wicked)
• Gather in the nations under Israel

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Old Testament View of History
Individual Gentiles invited into nation
Israel Come and See One identity One culture
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Old Testament View of History
Individual Gentiles invited in
J
Israel Come and See One identity One culture
Restore Israel politically
Gather the nations into worldwide peace
Messiah brings justice

1. Destroy enemies and restore justice
2. Establish Israel
3. Consolidate the nations

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Jesus Old Testament Story

• The Story Summarized Exile to Jesus
• Messianic anticipation sincere and comprehensive
• Systemic (not just religious but also political)
• Not just by the pious fringe but by all
• Four approaches to Israels three-fold
  restoration
• Pharisees strict obedience to laws
• Sadducess cooperation with Roman government
• Zealots violent overthrow of Roman government
• Essenes withdraw from society in personal piety

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Jesus Old Testament Story

• The Story Summarized Matthews 17 verses
• Creation and the problem
• The solutions through Abraham, then David
• Exile and discipline of Israel, creating
  anticipation for Messiah
• God is sovereign in history
• God is working through Israel
• God has an agenda for the nations
• God is at work in other nations as well
• God is about to bring all to conclusion through
  Jesus

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Jesus Old Testament Story

• Lessons about Jesus OT Story
• OT events created desperation for God to act
• Exodus political, economic, social, spiritual
  liberty (not from sin, but Egyptian oppression)
• OT history revealed they were not free from a
  greater tyranny of the devil
• Bigger problem than cannot be solved politically
  or religiously
• Many OT deliverances of God increased hunger for
  a permanent, lasting solution (through Messiah)
• O Come, O Come Immanuel (Advent Longing)

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Jesus Old Testament Story

• Lessons about Jesus OT Story
• What happened not only for us, it was also for
  them
• Not simply object lessons for our benefit
• Not fictional characters (Frodo, Aragorn or
  Aslan)
• Real people in slavery, and were really liberated
• Significance of Jesus actions dont diminish
  previous acts of God (Exodus was not eradicated
  by the cross)
• The exclusive choosing of Israel doesnt mean God
  is less interested with other nations (God so
  loved the world that he chose Israel)

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Jesus Old Testament Story

• Lessons about Jesus OT Story
• The God of the OT is the same God of the NT
• Agenda never changes (solving a global problem)
• His character never changes
• His tactics change based on mans response to God
• People of God have always been saved by faith
  alone, OT or NT (Rom. 117, 41-17)
• Jesus did not come to start a new religion
• Build on everything God had done up to that point
• Without OT, temptation to format Jesus to fit
  what we need or want, which inevitably distorts
  him

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Jesus Old Testament Story

• The key understanding Jesus replaces Israel
• Israel Gods instrument to solve the worlds
  problems
• OT Israels success and failure toward that end
• NT Jesus carries forward Gods agenda
• Jesus personifies the nation
• Jesus replaces Israel as Messiah, Savior, King
• God chose Israel and now chooses Jesus

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Jesus and Israel
Individual Gentiles invited in
J
Israel Come and See One identity One culture
Church Go and Tell One identity Many cultures
Judgment against world
ISRAEL Gods Son JESUS
Nations into Israel through Son (Jesus)
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Jesus Old Testament Story

• The key understanding Jesus replaces Israel
• Making a single man the instrument of Gods work,
  it can then become universal in scope
• Gods plan could not be achieved by a nation
• As Messiah of Israel, he could be Savior of the
  World
• Jesus could be the second Adam, the head of a new
  humanity (Rom. 4-5, Gal. 3)
• Galatians 329 If you belong to Christ, then you
  are Abrahams seed, and heirs according to the
  promise.

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Jesus Old Testament Story

• Summary
• Bible is about Gods work in Christ to win what
  was lost at the Fall
• Not predictions, moral examples, for personal
  benefit (forest, not isolated trees)
• OT is the backstory (Act 1) for NT climax (Act 2)
• Expanding schema Abraham/David/Exile/Jesus
• Jesus was a real Jew and a real human
• Jesus is the end of the OT and beginning of NT
• Threefold OT understanding Israel, judgment,
  nations
• God is the same in OT and NT saved by grace not
  Law
• Jesus took Israels place as Gods instrument