We believe that the Bible is the word of God, right? It’s His inspired revelation to show us who He is and what He’s done. However, the term “word of God” is often used in the New Testament more specifically about Jesus. In Acts 12:24, when the word of God spreads, it’s the Gospel- the good news about Jesus- that is particularly being talked about. But actually, that’s a bit of a false dichotomy. It’s not that the Bible is over here on one side of the definition and Jesus is over there on the other side. The two are intimately linked together. The Bible is the word of God and it testifies to the word of God. One of the major characteristics of the holy Scriptures is that it points to Jesus from beginning to end.
Here’s one example from my own personal reading. I’ve been in the Old Testament book of Job recently. If you don’t know what Job is about, the first thing you need to know is that it’s a man’s name, not an occupation. Job was a wealthy and righteous man whose faithfulness was tested when everything was stripped away from him- family, health, dignity- everything. A number of friends attempt to comfort Job by assuring him that this has all happened because he’s secretly been a bad guy (if someone ever calls you one of Job’s comforters, that’s not a good thing). Job asserts that there’s no way this is true. In fact, he’d like to have an audience with God, though he knows this is likely not in the making. Here’s how he expresses his desire:
“If only there were someone to mediate between us, someone to bring us together, someone to remove God’s rod from me, so that his terror would frighten me no more. Then I would speak up without fear of him, but as it now stands with me, I cannot.”
Job 9:33-35
Do you hear Job’s longing? For someone to mediate between him and God? Someone to bridge that vast gap that exists between him and God? Someone to remove God’s rod from him? Someone who could bring about a new state of affairs where Job could speak to God freely? Is this not a fundamental human longing, even if it’s not acknowledged or expressed in the same way that Job does here? We want to know our Creator, we want to have a relationship with Him, but we know that we need a mediator. We need someone to make this happen.
I mean, come on! That’s not even subtle! That’s just a naked, blunt expression of exactly what Jesus came to do. 1 Timothy 2:5 says, “For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus.” We long for a mediator between us and God, someone to bridge the gap. That’s who Jesus is! That’s what he’s done! Hebrews 4 says,
“14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. 16 Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”
Hebrews 4:14-16
In Christ, you have a privilege that Job didn’t have and yet deeply desired: you can approach God’s throne of grace with confidence. Your mediator has come. God’s wrath against sin has been removed in your life through the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross.
You see what I mean? The Scriptures point to Him. Read the Bible with that kind of mindset. Jesus is the fulfillment of the longings of humanity, he is the fulfillment of our stories and The Story. This is good news!
