pictures of Jesus

The Word for today:
2 Samuel 15:1 -- 16:14

mark this: 2 Samuel 15:10-14

The Bible is highly prophetic. Much of Bible prophecy has already been fulfilled--exactly as foretold by scripture.

Some biblical prophecy awaits fulfillment. When it is fulfilled, we can expect it to be fulfilled in the same way--exactly as foretold by scripture.

So the concept of the prophetic Word is readily understood by many.

But prophecy is not only announced in words. Much of the Bible's prophecy is announced via "pictures"--the actions and events in your Bible. In this way, the Bible is highly cinematic. The Bible is as much a movie as it is a book.

In our passage today, God's choice as king--David--will be rejected and forced from the city. The people's choice--Absalom--will for a brief time be hailed as king, but the trappings of his own beauty--the source of his pride--will entangle him and defeat him. Thereafter, the rejected King will return to his rightful place.

There is so much in the previous paragraph which is prophetic of Jesus Christ and his kingdom that it is beyond the scope of this blog to convey. But the Bible student will start to recognize what that stern old preacher, or that wild-eyed teacher, or your mom used to say as she taught you the Bible: Jesus is on every page, every chapter and verse, in every jot and tittle (1) of scripture. He is prophesied in word and in picture.

As you seek his heart and come to know him better and better, the movie unfolds before your very eyes. You'll begin to find Jesus in every scene, every frame!

Just a quick peek at the parallels...

Absalom embodied perfection: There was no blemish in him. (2).
Lucifer was created perfect in all his ways, but iniquity was found in him (3). It was not put there by God. Lucifer created it.

In all of Israel there was none to be so much praised for his beauty as Absalom (4).
Satan was lifted up because of his beauty. (5).

Later, the mark of Absalom's beauty, his long hair (6), would ensnare him, entangling him in a tree (7). Absalom, like Satan, was literally lifted up because of his beauty (8). His beauty, the source of his pride, would be his demise and death.

Voices were planted to proclaim on signal that Absalom reigns in Hebron! (9)
Just so, voices prevailed as they rejected God's King, Jesus--shouting, We have no king but Caesar! (10). In both cases, the same people who had welcomed the rightful king turned against him.

Ahithophel, one of David's closest friends and advisers, deserted him to join forces with Absalom (11). One of Jesus' seemingly closest friends would turn him over to the religious leaders (12).

After a time in exile and rejection, the anointed king, David, returned. God's anointed--Messiah Jesus--will return in just the same way he left (13).

And these are just surface parallels. They are upheld by a foundation of spirtual parallels which run deep beneath them.

If you will, reread today's passage of scripture. Look up the footnoted scriptures provided at the bottom of this blog entry. You will see prophecy, and you will see Jesus.

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(1) Matthew 5:18/KJV; (2) 2 Samuel 14:25; (3) see Ezekiel 28:15; (4) 2 Samuel 14:25; (5) see Ezekiel 28:17; (6) 2 Samuel 14:26; see Ezekiel 28:17, as in 5 above; (7) 2 Samuel 18:9; (8) Ezekiel 28:17; (9) 2 Samuel 15:10; (10) John 19:15; (11) 2 Samuel 15:31; (12) Matthew 27:1-5; (13) Acts 1:11