Lord Open Our Eyes
“The secret things belong unto the Lord our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.” (Deuteronomy 29:29)
A friend of mine was talking with me about how many of the passages he was reading in the New Testament book of Hebrews concerning Jesus were hard for him to understand. He concluded that God must not want us to know certain things and made them intentionally obscure.
As the conversation continued, I discovered that almost all his reading was directed at the books of the New Testament. I suggested that with so little time spent in the Old Testament he was missing out on the story leading up to the Jesus I know he loved and wanted to know more about.
It reminded me of reading a statement attributed to B.B. Warfield, Professor of Theology at Princeton Seminary, who likened the Old Testament to a room "fully furnished but dimly lit." He suggested that the revealing of the gospel was present in the Old Testament, but in a shadowy form awaiting the clarity brought by the coming of Jesus Christ.
Just consider the encounter on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-35), where the resurrected Jesus walked alongside two disciples who were shrouded in sadness and confusion. They stood still, their hearts heavy with the weight of misinterpreted scriptures. In that moment, Jesus became their divine guide, speaking to them and unveiling the promise of His coming in “threads of text” woven throughout the book of Moses and the prophets. Though the specific passages He referenced remain a mystery, we witness the convergence of the best teacher with the best textbook to impart the ultimate lesson. Jesus Himself is the lesson, and His chosen medium—the Old Testament—serves as the divine roadmap to who He is and His redemptive work.
I told my friend that I learned from other, wiser believers than myself just how every Old Testament narrative, prophecy, and poetic verse points to the person and work of Christ. Though the light may have been dim, the essential elements of His suffering, His coming kingdom and subsequent glory were always present.
When we realize that we are not merely New Testament believers but whole Bible believers, finding Jesus Christ revealed in every part of scripture makes God’s master plan so much clearer.
Jesus’ teaching from the Old Testament to the disciples of Emmaus becomes an important lesson for us, revealing that the events of the Old Testament, though often dimly lit, are there to affirm the passages we read about the Him in the New Testament.
Paul often quoted the Old Testament and instructed Timothy to: “And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.” (2 Timothy 2:2)
It seems clear that we are called to follow Jesus’ lead in directing others to see the beauty of Christ revealed in all the scriptures – Old and New.
Lord, open our eyes to see what you have revealed about Christ in every page of the bible and not to neglect Your Words of Truth found in the Old Testament. I lift up to You, Psalm 119:18, as our prayer. Amen
“Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.”
Credit: Ron Kelley
A friend of mine was talking with me about how many of the passages he was reading in the New Testament book of Hebrews concerning Jesus were hard for him to understand. He concluded that God must not want us to know certain things and made them intentionally obscure.
As the conversation continued, I discovered that almost all his reading was directed at the books of the New Testament. I suggested that with so little time spent in the Old Testament he was missing out on the story leading up to the Jesus I know he loved and wanted to know more about.
It reminded me of reading a statement attributed to B.B. Warfield, Professor of Theology at Princeton Seminary, who likened the Old Testament to a room "fully furnished but dimly lit." He suggested that the revealing of the gospel was present in the Old Testament, but in a shadowy form awaiting the clarity brought by the coming of Jesus Christ.
Just consider the encounter on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-35), where the resurrected Jesus walked alongside two disciples who were shrouded in sadness and confusion. They stood still, their hearts heavy with the weight of misinterpreted scriptures. In that moment, Jesus became their divine guide, speaking to them and unveiling the promise of His coming in “threads of text” woven throughout the book of Moses and the prophets. Though the specific passages He referenced remain a mystery, we witness the convergence of the best teacher with the best textbook to impart the ultimate lesson. Jesus Himself is the lesson, and His chosen medium—the Old Testament—serves as the divine roadmap to who He is and His redemptive work.
I told my friend that I learned from other, wiser believers than myself just how every Old Testament narrative, prophecy, and poetic verse points to the person and work of Christ. Though the light may have been dim, the essential elements of His suffering, His coming kingdom and subsequent glory were always present.
When we realize that we are not merely New Testament believers but whole Bible believers, finding Jesus Christ revealed in every part of scripture makes God’s master plan so much clearer.
Jesus’ teaching from the Old Testament to the disciples of Emmaus becomes an important lesson for us, revealing that the events of the Old Testament, though often dimly lit, are there to affirm the passages we read about the Him in the New Testament.
Paul often quoted the Old Testament and instructed Timothy to: “And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.” (2 Timothy 2:2)
It seems clear that we are called to follow Jesus’ lead in directing others to see the beauty of Christ revealed in all the scriptures – Old and New.
Lord, open our eyes to see what you have revealed about Christ in every page of the bible and not to neglect Your Words of Truth found in the Old Testament. I lift up to You, Psalm 119:18, as our prayer. Amen
“Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.”
Credit: Ron Kelley
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