Jesus as the Climax to God’s Revelation

What are the implications of 1 Kings 22 (the story of Ahab’s death)?  The first implication is that we must read the Bible with the right approach.   The second implication is that we must pay close attention to Jesus.

Sometimes when we read the OT, we’re tempted to think, “Well, that’s just the OT.  God doesn’t do things like that any more.  The OT is just a bunch of rules.  In the OT, God’s always smiting people and stuff.  But now things are different.  God had a son and He mellowed out.  The OT is about God’s judgment.  The NT is about God’s grace.”

People use this argument to get themselves off the hook.   They think that we can ignore God’s warnings and not face the consequences.  But we need to remember that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.   The God of the OT is the God of the NT.   God shows wrath and grace in the OT.   He shows wrath and grace in the NT.   God is consistent.

In Hebrews 1, the author tells us that Jesus Christ is the climax to the story of Scripture.  He is the culmination of the Bible.  “Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son” (Heb. 1:1).

So, in the same way that God spoke Ahab through the prophets like Elijah and Micaiah, He has spoken to us through his Son, King Jesus.     If there were consequences for ignoring the prophets in the OT, there are even greater consequences for ignoring God’s own Son, King Jesus.  Consider Hebrews 2:1-3.

Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it.  For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable, and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution,  how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation?

In other words, if God was serious about His Word during OT times, God is even more serious about His Word now that we are under the New Covenant.  Jesus is the climax to the whole story of Scripture.  Pay close attention to the Word of God spoken through Jesus Christ.  If you honor God’s Word, God will bless you.  But if you ignore God’s Word, you do so at your own peril.

Related articles

• William Varner on whether Jesus Christ is king (creationconcept.wordpress.com)
• The Bible is the Word of God (counselofafriend.wordpress.com)
• Matt Chandler on David and Goliath. How should I interpret OT narratives? (anchorforthesoul.org)