WHY JESUS IN FIVE?
Our goal is to find Jesus in ALL the Scriptures
The Problem
Is the Bible about being a better leader? Having a better marriage? Raising better kids? Getting promoted or finding your purpose or dream? Many people read the Bible looking for what they need to do to better their relationship with God, their friends, their spouse, their kids, or their co-workers. They are looking for God to help them in their circumstances. Many times they are looking for self-help material and miss the entire point of the Bible. Additionally, Christians get confused by the Old Testament, and even some pastors have said we need to get away from the Old Testament because it is confusing or barbaric. Andy Stanley has claimed that the message of Christianity doesn’t start with Genesis, it starts with Jesus. Unfortunately, when we don’t what the Bible is truly about, we only read the verses we like (most likely out of context) or we allow it to collect dust on our bookshelves.
The Solution
There are a lot of great long form podcasts and articles about the Old Testament, New Testament, and finding Jesus in all of the Scriptures. I have been encouraged, strengthened, and gained a lot of knowledge and comfort through podcasts like 30 Minutes in the New Testament, 40 Minutes in the Old Testament, Fighting for the Faith, The Word of the Lord Endures Forever, and sermons from John MacArthur, Voddie Bacham, Paul Washer, R.C. Sproul, and others. However, many people don’t have time to listen to over thirty minutes of content (even if I think they should make the time because of how this content can help them grow spiritually). The podcasts Fighting for the Faith and 40 Minutes in the Old Testament have opened up my mind to see that the Bible truly is about Jesus Christ. From Genesis to Revelation, Jesus is the foundation and the center of the entire Scriptures. He is the one who as truly God and truly Man lived the sinless life we could never live, was crucified as our substitute, bore the wrath of God in our place, was buried, and rose bodily from the dead for our justification. He reconciled us back to God, and we are saved by grace through faith in Him alone.
We find Christ in all the Scriptures. In the Old Testament He is predicted, in the Gospels He is revealed, in Acts He is preached, in the Epistles He is explained, and in Revelation He is expected.”
- Alistair Begg
What Does the Bible Say?
“And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.” – Luke 24:27 (ESV)
And Paul went in, as was his custom, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures [the Old Testament], explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus, whom I proclaim to you, is the Christ.” – Acts 17:2-3 (ESV)
“Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ.” – Colossians 2:16-17 (ESV)
“For since the law has but a shadow of the good things to come instead of the true form of these realities, it can never, by the same sacrifices that are continually offered every year, make perfect those who draw near.” -Hebrews 10:1 (ESV)
What Does Jesus Say?
“Then He [Jesus] said to them, ‘These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.’” – Luke 24:44 (ESV)
[Jesus said], “You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life.” – John 5:39-40 (ESV)
You may read the quote from Alistair and the verses above and agree, but would you or I be able to find Jesus in the stories, poetry, wisdom, or prophecies in the Old Testament? I certainly wouldn’t be able to find every instance, but that’s the goal of this ministry. I want to discover Jesus in all of the Bible with you.
So, Why Jesus In Five?
I’ve been practicing Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and, by God’s grace, have had the opportunity to share Christ and pray with and for the men and women I’ve been training with after our classes. I’ve been sharing Christ from the Old and New Testaments with them in just around five minutes. I thought, “If I can share Christ with them in five minutes, then I’d like to share Jesus with others in the same amount of time.”
That’s why it’s going to be my goal to present Christ from the Old/New Testaments in articles and videos in five minutes. Christ’s the one who saves. He’s the one the Bible is about. And He’s the one we need to go to and put our hope in during every circumstance of our lives.