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The Continuity of the Bible

Adult Class

Winter 2005/2006

Lesson 9: The Sacrifice of Jesus

            Peter reminds us that God's plan for the redemption of humanity was fixed before creation, and the prophets pointed steadily forward to the fulfillment of God's plan (1 Peter 1:10-12, 20-21). We have skimmed over the working of God's plan in history as we noted the covenant with Abraham and his children, the expansion of the covenant through Moses along with the events of the Exodus, and the further refinement of the covenant in the family line of David and the monarchy. Even in the disaster of the Exile, God reminded Israel that His plan was not thwarted or sidetracked. God was not finished; there was much more to come.

            For 400 years, God remained silent as His plan continued to unfold in the life of Israel. Then, when the time was exactly right and everything was in place to bring about the redemption of the world, He sent His Son (Galatians 4:4). Jesus is clearly the fulfillment of God's plan for redemption. But where does the story of Jesus start?

• For Matthew, the story starts with Abraham.
• For Mark, the story starts with the prophetic promise of the work of John the Baptist.
• For Luke, the story starts with the parents of John the Baptist.
• For John, the story starts before the beginning.

            All of them saw clearly that the story started before the birth of Jesus and even before the conception of Jesus. Matthew especially stresses Jesus as the fulfillment of ancient prophecies. He makes eleven direct links to Old Testament prophecies. Even the genealogy he records is designed to show that Jesus is the product of the watershed events of Israel's history and that He is distinctly of royal lineage.

            All the things God pointed toward through the pages of the Old Testament find their fulfillment in Jesus:

• Jesus identified John as the messenger who was to precede the Messiah-Matthew 17:10-13.
• John the Baptist recognized Jesus as the Messiah-John 1:29-34.
• Jesus understood Himself to be the Messiah-John 5:39-40.
• Jesus understood Himself to be the fulfillment of the Servant passages in Isaiah 52:13-52:12-Matthew 20:26-28.
• Jesus described His ministry as the fulfillment of God's plan-Luke 4:16-21.
• Jesus identified a new covenant in His blood-Luke 22:20.
• Jesus explained the overall plan of God culminating in His death, burial and resurrection-Luke 24:25-27.

            In addition to these, the chronological and geographical facts of Jesus' life discharge the ancient predictions regarding the time and place of the Messiah's birth, His life activities and His mode of death and disposition of the body. Beyond question, the 39 books of the Old Testament point forward to the life, ministry, death and resurrection of Jesus and the establishment of God's redemptive plan in Him.

            In the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus, God established His new covenant. It is important to review the features of a covenant here. A covenant can be defined as "a binding agreement defining a relationship." This agreement usually involves three features:

1. An agreement that includes a response. This agreement specifies the performance of the relationship-how the parties are to interact with each other.
2. A ceremony that serves as a formal beginning of the relationship. This often involves sacrifice and the sharing of a meal.
3. A permanent sign as an ongoing witness to the covenant.

            In Christ, the elements of the covenant are in place, but we are not included in the covenant until we formally accept (respond to) the offer of relationship.

1. The agreement involves God redeeming us and reclaiming us as His own. For our part, we agree to full allegiance to Him and a life of holiness according to His terms.
2. The ceremony that serves as a formal beginning of our relationship is an enacted identification with Jesus, the one who brought about the covenant. He serves as the sacrifice that inaugurates the covenant, and when we are baptized we identify with Him in His death, burial and resurrection. The covenant meal is renewed each week as we participate in the Lord's Supper.
3. The sign of the covenant is the indwelling Holy Spirit of God within us, serving as a constant identification of the people of God (Ephesians 1:13-14).

            God's eternal purpose has been the redemption of humanity. With the life, ministry, death, burial and resurrection of Jesus, He has instituted His redemptive plan. It remains for us to accept His covenant by fulfilling the initiation ceremony, then continuing to live in the covenant relationship and thereby realize the benefits of our relationship with God through Jesus Christ.

            From before the creation of the world, God planned our redemption and restoration. He worked His plan out in the history of the world and the covenant is available to all people now. But until people accept the covenant and bind themselves to God through Christ, they are not yet in the relationship with God that will redeem them and restore them to full humanity.