Grace For The Journey

This is the fifth blog in our series on how the Bible is all about Jesus.  We have looked at of the events that God instituted in the Old Testament that point to Jesus.  We learned about Who Jesus in the Old Testament through titles.  We have also learned about how the prophecies in the Old Testament teach us about Who Jesus is, what He would do, and even where He would be born.  And, we at how the appearances of Christ in the Old Testament are further proof of Who Jesus is.  Today, we will see through the types and figures of the Old Testament more about Jesus.

In the Old Testament we see people who are created for a purpose but fail or come up short of their intended purpose.  We see Jesus through these types, but the message is clearly that Jesus is the only One who can accomplish the intended purpose and He it in so much of a bigger and better way!  Let’s look at 7 figures . . .

The Last Adam

History starts with the first Adam (Genesis 1:26-27).  Jesus is called the last Adam (1 Corinthians 15:45; Romans 5:12–21).

• The first Adam sinned; the last Adam did not sin and atoned for sin.
• Through the first Adam we fell; through the last Adam we can be saved.
• Through the first Adam there was condemnation; through the last Adam there is salvation.
• Through the first Adam we inherit a sin nature; through the last Adam we receive a new nature.
• Through the first Adam we’re born sinners; through the last Adam we’re born again as saints.
• The first Adam turned from God in a garden; and the last Adam turned to God in another garden.
• The first Adam was a sinner; the last Adam is a Savior of sinners.
• The first Adam yielded to Satan; the last Adam defeated Satan.
• The first Adam sinned at a tree; the last Adam atoned for sin on a tree.
• The first Adam brought thorns; the last Adam wore a crown of thorns.
• The first Adam was naked and unashamed; the last Adam was stripped naked and bore our shame.
• Everybody is born in Adam, but not everyone is born again in Jesus.

The Bible clearly teaches that Jesus is better and greater than Adam (that is what the entire Book of Hebrews is all about), or any son of Adam!

High Priest

In the Old Testament the priests mediated between people and God.  The Book of Hebrews details how Jesus fulfilled completely the character required of priests but also the duties of the High Priest (Hebrews 2:17; 4:15–16; 5:10).  God became a man to mediate between Himself and us.  This is why the Bible says in 1 Timothy 2:5, “For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.”  Our mediator is Jesus, not religion, not the church, not morality – but the person, Jesus Christ.  He is our truer and better priest who brings us to God and brings God to us.

Word of God

In the Old Testament the prophets speak for God.  Jesus is the Word of God (John 1:1, 14; Hebrews 4:12; 1 John 1:1; Revelation 19:13).  He was the clearest, most complete, and final “word” about God and His purpose (Hebrews 1:1-3).

Kings

In the Old Testament kings ruled and reigned.  The Bible teaches that Jesus is our greater King.

• Jesus is the ruler of the kings on earth (Revelation 1:5).
• He is the King of the nations (Revelation 15:3).
• He’s the King of kings (1 Timothy. 6:15; Revelations 19:16).
• He’s the King of the ages (1 Timothy 1:17; cf. Psalm 10:16).

He has a kingdom that will never end, a kingdom that has perfect justice and provision for all.

Shepherds

The shepherds we read about in the Old Testament who cared for their sheep give us a glimpse of Jesus as the Good shepherd and Great shepherd.  The Good Shepherd knows His sheep, cares for His sheep Psalm 23:1-6) … and laid down His life for His sheep (John 10:11, 14).

Judges

We read of judges who exercise justice in the Old Testament.  The Bible tells us in John 5 that the Father judges no one but has entrusted all judgment to the Son (John 5:22; cf. John 5:27; Acts 10:42).  Jesus is the true and greater judge.

The Temple

In the Old Testament the temple is the meeting place between men and God, designed after God’s dwelling place in heaven (1 Kings 8:29–30; Exodus 25:40).  According to the author of Hebrews, the temple served as “a copy and shadow of the heavenly things” (Hebrews 8:5).  Jesus spoke of His body as the temple of God (John 2:21).  He is the greater temple.  As the temple dwelled among men in the Old Testament, Jesus dwelled among us (John 1:14).  Today, we don’t go to a place to worship, but we go to a person to worship – His name is Jesus Christ.

Jesus came to be with us and to make our bodies a temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 3:16; 6:19; 2 Corinthians 6:16; Ephesians 2:21).  The presence of God dwells within us so that we can live not just a better life but live a new life.  Through Christ in us, we can, by the power of the Holy Spirit, be new people, living new lives by the presence of God, as the temple of God, to the glory of God, because we’re the people of God.

This is God’s Word For Today … This Is Grace For The Journey

Rest and Rejoice in this eternal truth!

Pastor Terry

Ephesians 4:7 – “But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it.”

Hebrews 4:16 – “Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”