The Word for today:
Luke 24:36-53
Two disciples, disheartened over Jesus' death and confused over reports of his resurrection, were walking down the road to Emmaus, a little village not too far from Jerusalem.
When suddenly a "stranger" drew near and walked beside them. (It was Jesus himself, but their eyes were kept from recognizing him.) Then the stranger proceeded to teach the greatest Bible lesson ever taught, to a "class" of two students. What he taught them was this:
And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself. (Luke 24:27)
It wasn't the first time that Jesus had taught this lesson:
You search the Scriptures because you believe they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to me! (John 5:39)
If you believed Moses, you would believe me; for he wrote of me. (John 5:46)
The Bible isn't just about Jesus. The Bible is Jesus. Or, to say it another way, Jesus is the embodiment of scripture:
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. (John 1:1, 14)
We've tried to imagine what Jesus said along the way. The lesson, which began in yesterday's part 1, concludes today…
"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…
He is the Passover Lamb. (Exodus 12; 1 Corinthians 5:7)
He is a consuming fire. (Deuteronomy 4:24; Hebrews 12:29)
He is a refining fire. (Malachi 3:2)
He is our shield. (Genesis15:1)
And our great reward. (Genesis 15:1)
He is the Baptizer in the Holy Spirit. (Luke 3:16)
He is the Baptizer in fire. (Luke 3:16)
He himself would undergo the baptism of fire in the believer's stead. (Luke 12:49-50)
He is Manna, our daily bread. (John 6:58)
He is--What? (Manna means, "What is it?") (Exodus 16:15)
He's the question each one must answer:
"But who do you say that I am?" (Matthew 16:15)
He is the Vision of Ezekiel: mysterious and immaterial, enigmatic and unconfined. (Ezekiel 1)
He is the Presence, (Exodus 33:14)
the Pillar of Cloud and Fire, (Exodus 13:22)
Immanuel, God with us. (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23)
He is the Smitten Rock; (Exodus 17:6)
The stone cut out without hands. (Daniel 2:34)
He is the stone the builders rejected,
Which became the cornerstone. (Psalm 118: 22-23; Matthew 21:42)
He is the centerpiece of the sacrificial system;
The offerings are abstract renderings of him.
The feasts are impressionistic portraits.
He is Israel, the son called out of Egypt, (Hosea 11:1; Matthew 2:15)
who was tested in the wilderness. (Matthew 4)
He's the tabernacle, (Exodus 25-27)
the dwelling of God in the midst of his people.
He's the glory of the LORD. (Exodus 33:21-23; Matthew 24:30; 2 Corinthians 3:18)
He is the Star out of Jacob. (Numbers 24:17-19)
He is the Sun of Righteousness with healing in his wings. (Malachi 4:2)
He is the bright and morning star. (Revelation 22:16)
He is the Elect. (Isaiah 42:1)
He is the Anointed. (Isaiah 61:1; Luke 4:18)
He is the Plan.
He is the Promise and the Promise Keeper. (2 Corinthians 1:20)
He is the Lawgiver and the Fulfillment of the Law. (Matthew 5:17)
He is the Deliverer. (Psalm 18:2)
He is the Prophet like unto Moses; (Deuteronomy 18:15)
He is the cupbearer, who drank the cup of the wrath of God; (Nehemiah 1:11; Jeremiah 25:15; Matthew 26:42)
He is the fourth in the furnace with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. (Daniel 3:25)
He is prophecy's destination. (Revelation 19:10)
He is genealogy's terminus.
His blood cries out from Abel to Zechariah. (Genesis 4:10; Matthew 23:35)
Crying "Condemnation" to some, "Forgiveness" to others, (2 Corinthians 2:16)
it winds through scripture to the cross,
the scarlet thread which makes the whole cohere. (Joshua 2:18)
He is the Son of God; (Mark 1:1, etc.)
With no mother in heaven and no father on earth.
He is The Son of Man, (Ezekiel 2:1; Daniel 7:13; Matthew 8:20))
The Son of her Sorrow in his first advent,
The Son of His Right hand in the kingdom to come; (Genesis 35:18)
The Son of David; (Matthew 15:22)
The Son of Mary. (Mark 6:3)
He who has the Son has life;
He who does not, has not. (1 John 5:12)
To be without him is hell;
To be with him is heaven. (John 17:3; 1 John 5:20)
He encompasses his creation;
For He is all in all. (1 Corinthians 15:28; Ephesians 1:23)
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