The Bible is an integrated history of God’s Plan for Salvation, that the Creator would send a deliverer to save humanity from itself. It has been said that the Old Testament is a representation of the Messiah concealed. The New Testament is a presentation of the Messiah revealed.
From the Creation, the Passover, the Resurrection and the Revelation, there is a theme that continues throughout the Bible. There are major personalities, prophets and prototypes that foreshadow the greater truths revealed within the divine plan. For example, Moses foretold: “The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your fellow Israelites. You must listen to him.” (Deut. 18:15). Scripture tells us, “And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself. (Luke 24:27)
Over the years, unknown Christian workers have gleaned from each book of the Bible the messianic revelation of God to His people. I first learned of this compilation by watching a video of a young boy who rhythmically recited the following litany.
Genesis – Creator & promised Redeemer; Exodus – the Passover Lamb; Leviticus – High Priest; Numbers – water in the desert; Deuteronomy – He becomes the curse for us; Joshua – Commander of the army of the Lord; Judges – delivers us from injustice; Ruth – our Kinsman-Redeemer; 1 Samuel – all in one, He is the Prophet/Priest/King; 2 Samuel – King of grace & love; 1 Kings – a Ruler greater than Solomon; 2 Kings – the powerful prophet; 1 Chronicles – Son of David that is coming to rule; 2 Chronicles – the King who reigns eternally; Ezra – Priest proclaiming freedom; Nehemiah – the One who restores what is broken down; Esther – Protector of his people; Job – Mediator between God and man; Psalms – our song in the morning and in the night; Proverbs – our wisdom; Ecclesiastes – our meaning for life; Song of Solomon – Author of faithful love; Isaiah – Suffering Servant; Jeremiah – the weeping Messiah; Lamentations – He assumes God’s wrath for us; Ezekiel – Son of Man; Daniel – the stranger in the fire with us; Hosea – faithful husband even when we run away; Joel – He is sending His Spirit to His people; Amos – delivers justice to the oppressed; Obadiah – Judge of those who do evil; Jonah – the greatest missionary; Micah – He casts our sin into the sea of forgetfulness; Nahum – proclaims future world peace we cannot even imagine; Habakkuk – crushes injustice; Zephaniah – the Warrior who saves; Haggai – restores our worship; Zechariah – prophesies a Messiah pierced for us; Malachi – sun of righteousness who brings healing; Matthew – the Messiah who is King; Mark – the Messiah who is a Servant; Luke – the Messiah who is a Deliverer; John – the Messiah who is a God in the flesh; Acts of the Apostles – the Spirit who dwells in His People; Romans – the righteousness of God; 1 Corinthians – the power and love of God; 2 Corinthians – He is the down payment of what’s to come; Galatians – He is our very life; Ephesians – the unity of our church; Philippians – the joy of our life; Colossians – holds the supreme position in all things; 1 Thessalonians – our comfort in the last days; 2 Thessalonians – our returning King; 1 Timothy – Savior of the worst sinners; 2 Timothy – leader of leaders; Titus – foundation of truth; Philemon – our Mediator; Hebrews – our High Priest; James – He matures our faith; 1 Peter – our hope in times of suffering; 2 Peter – the One who guards us from false teaching; 1 John – source of all fellowship; 2 John – God in the flesh; 3 John – source of all truth; Jude – protects us from stumbling; Revelation – King of Kings and Lord of Lords, The Alpha and the Omega, The Beginning and the End, and He is coming again and the One who makes all things new.
