Do you like the Old Testament? Do you understand it? There is a key to understanding these ancient books. Are you aware that the key is . . .

Do you like the Old Testament? Do you understand it? There is a key to understanding these ancient books. Are you aware that the key is . . .

Jesus?

Christ Himself tells us He is the key in John 5:39-40 and Luke 24:27. What this means is that you must interpret the Old Testament against an understanding of the revelation of the New Testament. The Jewish nation is still in the dark concerning God because they have ignored the key of translation. Have you?

Our adult Sunday School classes ae currently doing a study on Messiah as revealed in Isaiah. It is amazing the amount of material available in the Old Testament concerning Jesus, His Person, and His Work. For example, within the verses of Isaiah 53 we find the Cross, the Resuurection, the Second Coming, and the basics of salvation. This is all New Testament revelation, the mystery that Paul talks about God providing him to tell the churches.

Yet, if one understands the basics of the New Testament, the Old Testament becomes a wealth of knowledge, information, and theological notes about your life, your death, and your reconciliation to God. Isaiah may not have envisioned the church age, failed to appreciate the true need for nothing but faith without the Law, and combined the Cross and the Second Coming, but he has the outlined nailed down perfectly.

That's why it is necessary to accept the words of Jesus that the Scriptures are written about Him, both the Old and New Testaments. When you come to appreciate that the entire story of the Bible really concerns God, Messiah, man, man's fall, and man's reconciliation, then as your advance in information, the earlier details come to light and make great sense.

It is sad that the nation of Israel failed to appreciate God's Word. They failed to understand the spiritual nature of God's revelation and the true power of sin.This is the key mistake, the failure to pay attention to their own Scriptures. For example, Isaiah tells us Messiah would heal the blind, an event not found within the pages of the Old Testament. So, here comes Christ healing the blind, and the nation ignores the meaning behind the event.

This is why we need to view the Old Testament against the background of the New. When we truly add Jesus as He is revealed in the New Testament, then, and only then, the Old Testament comes to life.

What an amazing God we have. What a great blessing His Words are for our lives. Take time to read and study the Old Testament. This will provide you with a fuller and richer picture of God and His Son, our Savior. We truly are blessed to have such a faithful, loving God.

Jim A