Jesus is the key that unlocks the Hebrew Scriptures and divine “mysteries” to reveal the nature and purposes of God.
Not only does Jesus play the central role in unveiling God’s purposes, but he is also the very center of all the Father’s plans, especially the redemption of humanity. Only in Christ is the glory of the Creator of all things revealed, and only His Son is qualified to reveal His true nature. In him, all the promises of God find their fulfillment, their “yea” and “amen.”
The gospel of John presents Christ as the logos, the revelation of God that “became flesh” in Jesus of Nazareth. Yahweh made all things according to the logos, which has now been “made flesh.” In him, the glory of God resides, for he is the true and greater Tabernacle.
The “law” was given through Moses, but “grace and truth” came to be through the “only born son” who dwells in the “bosom” of the Father whom “no man has seen.” Therefore, Christ alone is qualified to “interpret” all that God is, and this is also why he who seen the Son has “seen the Father” – (John 1:14-18, 14:7).
Likewise, Jesus as the “Son of Man” is the “ladder” between the earth and the now “open heavens” on which angels “ascend and descend.” He is the only means by which men and women can “come to the Father.” He is the true and greater “sanctuary” foreshadowed by the Ancient Tabernacle, as well as by the later Temple “made-with-hands” in Jerusalem – (John 1:51, 2:17-22, 14:1-7).
In Matthew, Jesus came to “fulfill the law and the prophets.” And this he demonstrated by authoritatively declaring the true intent and meaning of the Law – “You have heard it said to them of old… but I declare to you!” Obedience to his words decides whether one is accepted or rejected on the last day – (Matthew 5:17-20, 7:21-23).
In Mark, he is the “beginning of the gospel,” the promised Messiah who “baptizes in the Holy Spirit.” At his baptism, heaven itself was “rent asunder” and the voice from heaven declared him to be “my beloved Son.” And at the Transfiguration, the same heavenly voice declared to the disciples – “This is my beloved Son. Hearken to him!”
Jesus was the designated Messiah of Israel and the authoritative “spokesman” for the Almighty. He is the light, the one who possesses the words of life – (Mark 1:1-11, 9:7).
In Paul’s letters, he is the “Son” who came from the seed of David, the one “who was distinguished as the Son of God by power, according to a spirit of holiness, through a resurrection of the dead.” In him, God has revealed the “mystery that has been kept hidden since times everlasting, but now is made manifest – (Romans 1:3-4, 16:25, 1 Corinthians 1:24, Colossians 1:26, 2:2).
Indeed, “Christ is the mystery of God” that was “hidden for ages and generations, but now has been manifested to his saints”:
- (Ephesians 3:8-11) – “To me was this grace given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to make all men see what is the dispensation of the mystery which for ages has been hidden in God, who created all things; to the intent, that now, to the principalities and the powers in the heavenlies, might be made known through the church the manifold wisdom of God, according to the everlasting purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
For that matter, “Christ crucified” is the very “power and wisdom of God” in whom “all His promises find their ‘yea’ and ‘amen’.” Indeed, he is the very “image of the unseen God,” and it is from his “face” alone that we acquire the “knowledge of the glory of God.” The ordinances and regulations of the Torah were but “shadows of the coming things,” but Jesus is the “body,” the substance that cast the shadows – (2 Corinthians 1:20, 4:4-6, Colossians 1:15, 2:16).
And in Revelation, the sacrificial “Lamb” is the only one in the entire Cosmos who is found “worthy” to open the “sealed scroll.” And in doing so, he unveils and executes its contents, a process that began on his arrival at the “throne” that will consummate in nothing less than the New Creation.
For this reason, all creation now declares him “worthy” to receive all power, glory, and authority, for “by his death, he redeemed men and women from every nation to become a kingdom of priests for God” – (Revelation 5:6-12).
Thus, Jesus is the one who now holds all authority, including the “keys to Death and Hades,” and the glorious “son of man” who “opens and no man shuts.” He is the key that unlocks Scripture, reveals ALL God’s mysteries, “shows us the Father,” fulfills all the promises of God, and executes the redemptive plans of Heaven, all while reigning on the “throne of David.”
Disciples Global Network 