The Bible Is For You, Not About You
There are two fundamental ways to read Scripture. One is the "Me" approach - reading the Bible as a rulebook for self-improvement, asking, "What must I do?" This approach sees the Bible as a roadmap to life. This is not totally wrong. The Bible is in some way a roadmap as to what you should and should not do. The other is the “Jesus” approach - reading Scripture as a unified story of redemption, asking, "What has Jesus already done and what is He doing? Reading the Bible from this perspective, does not merely look for principals, encouraging stories, or success keys. It looks for Jesus. In the words of 19th century English preacher Charles Spurgeon, "Whenever I get hold of a text, I say to myself, 'There is a road from here to Jesus Christ, and I mean to keep on His track till I get to Him.' ... So must we do, brethren; we must have Christ in all our discourses, whatever else is in or not in them." As an aside, this is a reason I say every sermon and Bible study must have a logical, sequential, and complete presentation of the Goepel. The “Me” approach says the Bible is about you. The Bible is not about you. I know suggesting this might jostle you a bit, because everything in culture, and in a great deal of preaching, says the exact opposite. Culture says, “You deserve, you deserve, you deserve… everything is for you, and if it does not happen for you just as you deserve, you have the right to become disappointed and mad at God.” Everything in culture and in much Bible teaching and preaching says you are intrinsically valuable…it is all about you. You are number one. To be told you are not, is a slap in your spectacular and uniquely wonderful face. Until you realize the Bible is for you, but not about you, it will not be formative for you. The Bible is all about Jesus and what He has done and is doing for you. So, when you find Jesus in the Word, you find yourself in Him, for “as He is, so are we in this world” (1 John 4:17, cf. Colossians 3:3). Reading Scripture from the “Jesus” approach sees that the Bible is about Jesus. Contrary to popular belief, the Bible is not simply a collection of ethical principles, moral platitudes, or abstract life lessons - it is about Jesus.
Jesusis in all of Scripture, because all Scripture either points to or is fulfilled in Him. Seeing Jesus in all of Scripture reminds you He is your life (Galatians 2:20), the hero of your salvation, and you are entirely accepted before God through Him. While every verse in the Scripture is not directly about Jesus, as in giving a neat Christological statement, the message of each book is about Him. The holistic intention of a given passage ultimately frames the message of God’s Word in such a way you see God’s design concerning Jesus. Jesus’ in Luke 24:46-47 indicates, there is no part of Scripture that does not bear its witness to Jesus. In this passage Jesus appears to some disciples after His resurrection. To help them understand what the Old Testament says about Him and the purpose of His death and resurrection, Luke writes, “beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted for them the things concerning himself in all the Scriptures” (Luke 24:27). Jesus also tells His disciples, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you—that everything written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms must be fulfilled” (Luke 24:44). These verses teach all Scripture is about Jesus and is ultimately fulfilled in Him. This even includes the parts of the Bible that do not seem to allude to Jesus on the surface. The Bible is God’s revelation of Himself through Jesus. The Old Testament foreshadows Jesus. The New Testament reveals Jesus. So, whether you are reading the Beatitudes in the New Testament or the genealogies of the Old Testament, the grand aim is to unfold the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ (11 Corinthians 3:18).
From beginning to end, the Bible is an epic story about Jesus:
Genesis to Deuteronomy is the foundation for Jesus.
Joshua to Esther is the preparation for Jesus.
Job to Song of Solomon is the longing for Jesus.
Isaiah to Malachi is the expectation of Jesus.
Matthew to John is the life and ministry of Jesus.
Acts is the continued work and spreading of the fame of Jesus and the growth of His Church.
Romans to Jude is about living for Jesus.
Revelation is about the return, reign, and rule of Jesus
To further summarize Jesus’ place in all of Scripture
The Old Testament says, Jesus is coming.
The Gospels say, Jesus is here.
The book of Acts is Jesus is proclaimed.
The epistles are Jesus explained.
Revelation says, “Jesus is coming again”.
Understanding this, you can see every part of the Bible ultimately points to Jesus as the "true and better" fulfillment. As Tim Keller wrote, “You will find Jesus is the true and better Adam who passed the test in the garden, His garden – a much tougher garden, and whose obedience is imputed to us. Jesus is the true and better Abel who though innocently slain – has blood that cries out, not for for our condemnation, but for our acquittal, Jesus is the true and better Abraham who answered the call of God to leave all the comfortable and familiar and go into the void not knowing whither He went. Jesus is the true and better Isaac who was not just offered up by His Father on the mount but was truly sacrificed for us all while God said to Abraham. “Now I know you love Me because you did not withhold your son, your only son, whom you love from Me.” Now we at the foot of the cross can say to God, “Now we know You love me because You did not withhold Your Son, Your only Son whom You love, from me.” Jesus is the true and better Jacob who wrestled and took the blow of justice we deserve so we, like Jacob, only receive the wounds of grace that wake us up and discipline us. Jesus is the true and better Josephwho is at the right hand of the king and forgives those who betrayed and sold him and uses his power to save them. Jesus is the true and better Moses who stands in the gap between the people and the Lord and who mediates a new covenant. Jesus is the true and better Rock of Moses who struck with the rod of God's justice now gives us water in the desert. Jesus is the true and better Job. He's the truly innocent sufferer who then intercedes for and saves His foolish friends. Jesus is the true and better David whose victory becomes His people's victory though they never lifted a stone to accomplish it themselves. Jesus is the true and better Esther who did not just risk losing an earthly palace, but lost the ultimate heavenly one, who didn't just risk His life, but gave His life, who did not say, “If I perish, I perish,” but said, ‘When I perish, I will perish for them to save My people.’ Jesus is the true and better Jonah who was cast out into the storm so we could be brought in. He is the real Passover Lamb. He is the true temple, the true prophet, the true priest, the true king, the true sacrifice, the true lamb, the true light, the true bread.”
Failing to grasp this reality, you will only see the Bible as a collection of moral examples and stories, for you to plug yourself into. In this way you become the hero or point of every Biblical passage and story. This only leads to pride or the ultimate judge of your own obedience; which leads to exhaustion, depression, anxiety, or even anger. Reading Biblical narratives as life lessons (e.g., "you are David, so conquer the giants in your life") reduces the Bible to moralism, making it a story of what you must do rather than what Jesus has already done for you. You are not David. David is not a moral example of courage to be emulated for overcoming personal, financial, or marital "giants." Putting yourself in David's shoes puts an impossible moral weight on your shoulders. You are the terrified Israelites. In 1 Samuel 17, the Israelites stand cowering in their tents. They are paralyzed and completely unable to fight the giant themselves. Jesus is the true and better David, who steps onto the battlefield on your behalf as your substitute and champion. He fought and defeated the ultimate giants - sin and death - on the cross. This, of course is the Gospel - the free gift of salvation (Romans 6:23b), from God (John 3:16), through Jesus (Romans 5:8), by faith (Ephesians 2:8-9), evidenced by repentance (Acts 3:19; 11 Corinthians 7:10), and a life of obedience (Ephesians 2:10; Ezekiel 36:25-27
Reading the Bible from a “Jesus” approach, you are invited to be caught up in the love of God and your position in Christ (Colossians 3:3); not as the main character, but as adopted sons and daughters who find life by losing it in Him. Then, as you live your life in Him, you interact with the Scriptures. Only then will the Bible transform you into who you are in Jesus – spotless and holy (Colossians 1:22), just (Romans 5:1), and righteous (11 Corinthians 5:21). Christ is your salvation. But He is also your sanctification. You do not become a Christian and then sanctify yourself through moral striving, Biblical application, or trying to muster up good virtues. That is not what it means to be formed in the image of Christ. You must let Jesus be formed more and more in you through the means of grace – Bible reading and study, prayer, worship, the sacraments, confession and repentance – empowered by the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:11, 13). In this way, as you read Scripture, it begins to shape and form you. It helps you become more like Jesus because you can see and experience Him everywhere through it. Paul says it like this: “Because of him, you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption” (1 Corinthians 1:30). Through the Gospel God united you with Jesus. He made Him to be wisdom itself. Jesus made you right with God, made you pure and holy, and freed the guilt of sin (Romans 8:1), the power of sin (Roman 6:14), and in heaven, the presence of sin (Revelation 21:27).
Seeing Jesus in every Biblical passage is spiritually enlivening, empowering, and freeing. Reading the Bible in this reality, something special will happen to you. Seeing Jesus in the Bible, not only brings salvation, but just as the disciples on the road to Emmaus experienced their hearts "burning" as Jesus explained the Scriptures, seeing Jesus in the Word stirs affection, gives assurance, and creates joy and hope. So, every time you open your Bible, ask the Holy Spirit to help look for Jesus until you find Him. Doing this, you shift from a “Me” centered approach of reading the Bible, to a “Jesus” centered approach; and all the words of the Bible will become beautiful words, wonderful words of life. Are you ready for an exciting road trip to Emmaus? Are you ready to receive an infusion of life and experience glorious transformation? Then, start your adventure with an honest prayer. Come to the Father and say, “Father, open my eyes to see Jesus in all His glory, beauty, and love toward me. I am ready for an Emmaus Road experience. I am ready to receive an impartation of life and be transformed!”
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus
There's just something about that name
Master, Savior, Jesus
Like the fragrance after the rain
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus
Let all Heaven and Earth proclaim
Kings and kingdoms will all pass away
But there's something about that name
Jesus - The mere mention of His name can calm the storm
Heal the broken, raise the dead
At the name of Jesus, I've seen sin-hardened men melted, derelicts transformed
The lights of hope put into the eyes of a hopeless child
I've heard a mother softly breathe his name at the bedside of a child, delirious from fever
And I've watched that little body grow quiet and the fevered brow cool
I've sat at the bedside of a dying saint, her body wracked with pain
Who in those final fleeting seconds
Summoned her last ounce of ebbing strength to whisper her sweetest name, "Jesus, Jesus"
Emperors have tried to destroy it, philosophies have tried to stamp it out
Tyrants have tried to wash it from the face of the earth
With the very blood of those who claimed it
Oh, yet it still stands
And there shall be that final day when every voice that has ever uttered a sound
Every voice of Adam's race shall raise in one mighty chorus to proclaim the name of Jesus
For in that day every knee shall bow, and every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord
So, you see, it was not mere chance that caused an Angel one night long ago
To say to a virgin maiden, "His name shall be called Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, Jesus"
Oh, there is something, something about that name
All God’s people said – Amen and Amen!
Tom Anderson
