“And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself” Luke 24:27 (NIV).
Understanding God’s Story …
The Bible tells one big Story composed of many smaller stories in two testaments. The account begins with God creating the world and placing the first man and woman in His garden to tend and enjoy it. It ends with Him creating a new world as the final destiny for the redeemed humanity. Between these bookends, God connects with Israel and then with Israel and the world in Jesus.
The climax of this grand narrative is Jesus’s life, death, resurrection, and ascension. He’s not merely a character in the story but the long-awaited Messiah, the very embodiment of God’s love and faithfulness. His presence is transformative, redeeming, restoring, and liberating. Paradoxically, many Israelites rejected Him, making it possible for the outsiders (Gentiles) to become insiders. In an unsurpassed act of grace, Jesus opened the door to abundant life and resurrection life, inviting both Jews and Gentiles into an eternal relationship with God.
Jesus’s coming filled out the details of the Old Testament. While no crucial new truths emerge in the New Testament, new things happen as the story progresses. These new things flesh out the truth, helping us understand the story more fully. Remarkably, the ending recapitulates the beginning, making right what originally went wrong. Thus, to fully understand the story, we must consider the end in the light of the beginning.
The teaching interwoven throughout the narrative is not a linear progression but an accumulation. Each part of the story should be understood in the context of the whole. In other words, the New Testament should be interpreted in the light of the Old Testament and vice versa. Each Testament enriches our understanding of the other, not just in deciphering specific texts but in considering their implications within the broader narrative. Ultimately, the entire story connects us to God from beginning to end.
Please comment. What are your thoughts about understanding God’s Story?
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Summary
The Bible is one unified story that begins with God’s creation and ends with the redemption of humanity in a new world. Jesus is the central figure whose life, death, and resurrection fulfill the promises of the Old Testament and offer salvation to both Jews and Gentiles. While the New Testament doesn’t introduce new truths, it unveils the details of God’s plan, helping us understand the Old Testament more deeply. To grasp the full narrative, we must interpret the Old and New Testaments together, as each enriches the understanding of the other, culminating in God’s eternal relationship with humanity.
FAQ 1. What is the Bible’s “big story” from Genesis to Revelation?
The Bible tells one unified story that begins with God’s creation of the world, continues through humanity’s fall and God’s covenant relationship with Israel, and culminates in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It concludes with the promise of a new creation where God dwells with His redeemed people forever.
FAQ 2. How does Jesus fit into the overall story of the Bible?
Jesus is the central figure and climax of the Bible’s story. He fulfills Old Testament promises, reveals God’s love and faithfulness, and brings salvation through His death and resurrection. According to Luke 24:27, all Scripture ultimately points to Him as the Messiah who redeems and restores humanity.
FAQ 3. Why is it important to read the Old and New Testaments together?
Reading the Old and New Testaments together is important because they form a single, continuous narrative. The Old Testament lays the foundation through promises, covenants, and prophecy, while the New Testament reveals their fulfillment in Christ. Together, they provide a fuller understanding of God’s redemptive plan.
© Scripture Union Canada
