Jesus is the Key
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” - [Photo by Jessica Yong on Unsplash].
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.”
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